shorthorsemom
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Hi, There are quite a few small sized dogs that tend to be calmer. The important thing to remember is that your puppy needs training at a young age. People so often carry the smaller breeds around like a fashion accessory dress them up in silly clothes and neglect the training, It isn't that smaller dogs are so much more nippy than larger breeds, it is more often how they are raised. Spoiling and carrying and treating small dogs like a baby will create a tyrant fairly frequently. That all said, I encourage you to visit a local obedience school advanced classes and check out how well behaved well trained dogs of all sizes can listen to their owners and do just about anything.
I would also try to "pick the dog" not the breed. I have been pleasantly surprised by several breeds I may have never considered in the past, but they were calm, well mannered and easy to train.
In an apartment your herding breeds can sometimes get a bit bored, you can do almost any type of dog, but you need to provide mental stimulation and an outlet for all that energy the dog wll have once you are home so if you would rather lounge when you get home than go out and jog with a dog, choose lap breeds rather than hunting or herding type breeds. I love the mini aussies, but they do have quite a bit of energy..
I personally think Poms are TERRIFIC little dogs. They are brilliant, highly trainable and are quite happy being your best buddy. I think the pom is a great choice of a small apartment dog. I also like the chinese cresteds... If you must have a dog with hair, pick the powderpuff chinese crested. They are smart, highly trainable and fairly quiet except for a little yodel every now and again right after you leave for the day. I have three and have done quite a bit of obedience with them. Other breeds to consider, maltese, shihtzu, cavalier king charles spaniel.
I know you want a puppy, but one thing to consider would be a young dog from a breeder that is between 6 months to 1 year of age. Breeders often hold onto some of their more special puppies until they see how the bite is going to be on the dog. If that puppy doesn't get a show type coat, or their bite goes off slightly, they offer these dogs with a neuter contract at pet quality prices. The advantage for you is that you get a dog that has been highly socialized, probably housetrained, crate trained, and walks nicely on a leash as dogs considered for a show career are socialized at a young age nicely. You are still getting a puppy but are spared trying to figure out the temperament on a tiny 8 week old furball. Transition to a new home around this time can be easy and the puppy will still bond to you.
7 hours away is too long for a puppy at first so you might want to consider having someone come in and let the pup out during the day, or consider puppy daycare, but caution, pick a good daycare, not one of those MC-Daycares where the dogs eliminate indoors while somebody goes around and cleans it up. Hope this helps, I have been training dogs all my life, I have 5. Three chinese cresteds, one tibetan spaniel and a collie. I adore greyhounds too for a couch potato large breed that will lay around alot and doesn't require a lot of grooming. All non shedders require extensive grooming by rule of thumb. best wishes and good luck on your search.
PS, if you don't want a shelter dog, consider a dog that has been in a foser home instead.. You will find that foster homes are very upfront and honest aobut their dogs and all their habits. They don't want the adoptee to bounce back so they screen individuals and know the dogs temperament and work hard to make a good successful match
PS check out petfinder.com on the internet... put in size of dog, male female, zip code and let petfinder screen and sort for you dogs in your area. Also most local dog clubs will have puppy referral numbers and breeder listings.
I would also try to "pick the dog" not the breed. I have been pleasantly surprised by several breeds I may have never considered in the past, but they were calm, well mannered and easy to train.
In an apartment your herding breeds can sometimes get a bit bored, you can do almost any type of dog, but you need to provide mental stimulation and an outlet for all that energy the dog wll have once you are home so if you would rather lounge when you get home than go out and jog with a dog, choose lap breeds rather than hunting or herding type breeds. I love the mini aussies, but they do have quite a bit of energy..
I personally think Poms are TERRIFIC little dogs. They are brilliant, highly trainable and are quite happy being your best buddy. I think the pom is a great choice of a small apartment dog. I also like the chinese cresteds... If you must have a dog with hair, pick the powderpuff chinese crested. They are smart, highly trainable and fairly quiet except for a little yodel every now and again right after you leave for the day. I have three and have done quite a bit of obedience with them. Other breeds to consider, maltese, shihtzu, cavalier king charles spaniel.
I know you want a puppy, but one thing to consider would be a young dog from a breeder that is between 6 months to 1 year of age. Breeders often hold onto some of their more special puppies until they see how the bite is going to be on the dog. If that puppy doesn't get a show type coat, or their bite goes off slightly, they offer these dogs with a neuter contract at pet quality prices. The advantage for you is that you get a dog that has been highly socialized, probably housetrained, crate trained, and walks nicely on a leash as dogs considered for a show career are socialized at a young age nicely. You are still getting a puppy but are spared trying to figure out the temperament on a tiny 8 week old furball. Transition to a new home around this time can be easy and the puppy will still bond to you.
7 hours away is too long for a puppy at first so you might want to consider having someone come in and let the pup out during the day, or consider puppy daycare, but caution, pick a good daycare, not one of those MC-Daycares where the dogs eliminate indoors while somebody goes around and cleans it up. Hope this helps, I have been training dogs all my life, I have 5. Three chinese cresteds, one tibetan spaniel and a collie. I adore greyhounds too for a couch potato large breed that will lay around alot and doesn't require a lot of grooming. All non shedders require extensive grooming by rule of thumb. best wishes and good luck on your search.
PS check out petfinder.com on the internet... put in size of dog, male female, zip code and let petfinder screen and sort for you dogs in your area. Also most local dog clubs will have puppy referral numbers and breeder listings.
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