what is best dog for us
We lost our two dogs to old age in the past 3 years. Our yellow lab was my best friend in the whole world and our rescue dog helped change my life. Now we are both retired and are looking to get a sma...
Forum Discussion
I'll be the contrary voice and say that I don't like online breed selectors. I've not yet found one that doesn't give some pretty bizarre results. I've played around with several of them a lot, intentionally giving answers that should result in a certain breed showing up as highly recommended, and yet that breed wasn't one of the results at all. I always urge people to use them with caution, and to take the results with many grains of salt.
Along the lines of what ToedToes said -- when considering breeds I always recommend that people pay as much or more attention to the negatives of a breed as they do to the positives. The negatives are what make a dog hard to live with. Too many people just consider the positives and think those will outweigh any negatives, but it doesn't always work that way.
It might help if you told us a bit more about what you're after in a dog --
What does "smaller" mean to you?
Is shedding an issue?
How much grooming do you want to deal with, or do you mind having a dog professionally groomed?
How much exercise are you willing/able to provide? What type?
Do you prefer a high energy dog or one who is calm and laid back?
Do you have young children around often?
Along the lines of what ToedToes said -- when considering breeds I always recommend that people pay as much or more attention to the negatives of a breed as they do to the positives. The negatives are what make a dog hard to live with. Too many people just consider the positives and think those will outweigh any negatives, but it doesn't always work that way.
It might help if you told us a bit more about what you're after in a dog --
What does "smaller" mean to you?
Is shedding an issue?
How much grooming do you want to deal with, or do you mind having a dog professionally groomed?
How much exercise are you willing/able to provide? What type?
Do you prefer a high energy dog or one who is calm and laid back?
Do you have young children around often?
