Which dog should I get?

September 18, 2005 4:22 PM

I want a dog. What breed, if any, would best suit an active young man living alone in a flat/apartment with no garden/yard?

I've been putting off buying a dog for several years now (I'm 30), mainly because I wanted to wait until I settled down and bought a house with space for the pet to run around etc. But work commitments and buying a flat/apartment on the 5th floor mean I'm kinda resigned to at least another few years of city living. I really want a dog now but obviously this is no place for the Border Collie I've always wanted (my family have always had Collies). I work from home 4 days a week and have access to parks etc. Any suggestions for a companion of similar affection, intelligence etc but with a little less need for space, constant exercise and company. Or should I get a goldfish?

posted by brautigan to Pets & Animals (32 answers total)

Apartment living is always sub-optimal for dogs, but I know several people who have pugs in apartments and both humans and their canine companions seem quite happy.

Be aware though that pugs have their own sets of challenges.
posted by FlamingBore at 4:28 PM on September 18, 2005

I have a cattle dog in an apartment, and she is very happy. It works because a) they aren't dogs that take advantage of a yard unless their owner (or a cow) is outside anyway, and b) I take her outside for awhile twice a day, every day. That last bit is a huge burden that would exist with any dog, especially on the 5th floor in the city, and I'm not sure I would undertake it willingly again. So, I would recommend getting a cat. Get one in the kitten stage that you can bond with and wrestle with and train to be doglike. Maine Coon Cats are supposed to be very smart. If you work from home so much you can make this a very close connection.
posted by dness2 at 4:40 PM on September 18, 2005

Don't think about size; it isn't really important. A Great Dane or greyhound can be a fabulous apartment dog, since they spend most of their time being consummate couch potatoes (so long as they get their walkies). Little terrier-ists, on the other hand, are walking bundles of angry energy and can be bad choices for apartments.

You've had border collies... are you saying that you want a dog that's high-drive, smart, biddable, etc, but just less so than a border? A border collie, but not as much?

If that's what you mean, I'd look at other herding breeds, but you'd still want a pretty thorough training program with any of them. Not Aussies, which are almost as completely-fucking-nuts OCD maniacs as border collies. Shelties, corgis (both Pembroke and Cardigan), and vallhunds come to mind immediately, each with their own plusses and minuses.

What I'd really do is go to a few dog shows, walk around, talk to people, meet lots of dogs, read more about the candidate breeds. You'll get a better sense of what a breed is like, and people will usually be direct and straightforward about whatever the disadvantages of their dog breed are.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:46 PM on September 18, 2005

ROU_Xenophobe is right: the size of the dog isn't necessarily an indicator of how much exercise it needs. Many large dogs do fine in apartments, if they get taken out for walks regularly.

Working from home as much as you do is super- many dogs are happy to have someone around, even if you aren't interacting with them- they are pack animals, and like to be with their pack (i.e., you.)

Have you considered adopting a dog from a shelter? Shelters or Rescue groups often know a lot about the dog's temperament, and an older dog will be both housetrained and perhaps more mellow to hang out with.
posted by ambrosia at 4:57 PM on September 18, 2005

I would recommend getting an adult dog from a rescue organization. The destructive puppy stage is over, sometimes they will already be housetrained and you can get a pretty good idea of their personality and temperment. There are so many great adult dogs out there who would love to have a new home.

I have two mixed breed (pug) dogs and they are just wonderful.
posted by krisobi at 5:00 PM on September 18, 2005

You might want to look into the Bouvier de Flanders. I grew up with them, and they are smart and nondestructive and awesome--plus they're big. We had them in a small house (with a yard) and I don't remember them being big exercise dogs; they mostly laid around inside and out. Also, they aren't big barkers. And like I said above, they are super smart. I'd never have another kind of dog.
posted by dame at 5:13 PM on September 18, 2005

Oh, I forgot: they aren't attention whores either. Ours would be alone all day and while they were thrilled to see us when we got home, it wasn't a problem.
posted by dame at 5:15 PM on September 18, 2005

1) How big is your apartment? Do you need a small(er) dog because you just don't have much space in your apartment or because you're expecting them to need less exercise (not necessarily true).
2) Is there a reason you're not considering a mix/rescued dog? In my experience purebreds seem to have more health problems due to overbreeding, and if you're looking at older dogs to adopt, you can see what each individual dog's personality is like--because breed doesn't determine everything.
3) Keep in mind that small dogs can be quite yappy and manic. I work at a doggie daycare center (dogs running around in a large open space indoors), and the "small dog" (jack russell/pug/puggle/boston terrier) afternoons are far more difficult and chaotic, IMO, than the afternoons with the labradors and shepherds.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:19 PM on September 18, 2005

I'm in a similar situation -- want a dog, live in an apartment, would feel bad about not having a yard for them.

Don't laugh, but I wouldn't understimate a toy poodle. My ex-girlfriend had an apricot toy poodle and it was the best damned dog I've ever met. Most people roll their eyes when you mention a poodle, but this guy was full of personality, very affectionate, was NOT yappy, lots of energy but still very much a lap dog (loved his belly rubs), and a bonus (for me, at least) was that poodles have hair instead of fur, so my allergies were not an issue. Poodles are also known to be one of the smartest breeds of dog around.

Some people will warn you about a poodle's general fragility (they do have some problems with their hind legs) but I could still rough-house (within reason) with him and he would regularly go on 3-mile runs with his owner.

And you don't HAVE to get their hair cut into those little poofs, either.

I'd get one tomorrow but I haven't gotten over the apartment/no yard thing -- I don't work at home and don't like the idea of them only be able to go to the bathroom when I think about it.
posted by robbie01 at 5:22 PM on September 18, 2005

Not exactly what you asked for, but I want to suggest that you do NOT get a Basenji. Basenjis are the noblest breed of all (I have two), and many apartment dwellers are attracted to them because they are smallish, don't smell much at all (they clean themselves rigourously), and don't bark. But they really really need a good outdoor space to run around in, and that space really must be fenced in. Moving from an urban house with a 20' x 30' backyard to one with a 25' x 60' backyard made ALL the difference with our dogs.

Just behind the Basenji in nobility is the wonderful pug (hi docgonzo) and they seem very amenable to many different kinds of situation.

If you like short haired dogs that are larger than pugs, I have heard GREAT things about Boxers. Very friendly and trainable, and apparently tolerate apartment living quite well as long as they get their walks.
posted by mikel at 5:44 PM on September 18, 2005

I second robbie01. My parents have a poodle/Bishon mix that is apricot color. It is incredibly mellow - I always describe it to my friends as a "stoner" dog. But it'll get out and be physical when encouraged by my parent's manic Maltese (hate that dog).
posted by mullacc at 5:46 PM on September 18, 2005

Is there a reason you're not considering a mix/rescued dog?

The advantage of a purebred is that you can reliably bet on it having a particular set of characteristics, which can matter if those characteristics are important to you. That's less of a concern with adult adoptions, obviously, and no bet is ever 100% certain.

In my experience purebreds seem to have more health problems due to overbreeding,

Mutts might be less likely to have some problem than a given breed is, but they're probably at danger for a wider variety of different and exciting problems. Dogs of a given breed are likely to share the same problems, but mutts still get cancer and dysplasia and heart defects, and all of them die too.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:53 PM on September 18, 2005

We love our Boston Terriers and they do well in our apartment. They were originally bred as companion dogs which means that they don't necessarily need a ton of exercise. They also have short hair, don't shed a lot and are therefore less likely to cause allergy flair ups.

That said, if you work a lot and can't be home often, reconsider any dog. And BT's especially. Being bred for companionship they need it as well.

Good luck.
posted by terrapin at 5:54 PM on September 18, 2005

I have a basset hound and he is just about as mellow as any living creature could possibly be. We got him from a dog rescue also so didn't have to go through any training. As for exercise, well he doesn't need much. I usually take him for a ride in the car and he seems to think that is exercise.
posted by meta87 at 6:32 PM on September 18, 2005

ROU_Xenophobe: Mutts are likely to be healthier than purebreds because they're drawing from broader gene-pools:

the less genetic diversity among members of a breed, the more likely both animals in a breeding pair may contribute recessive alleles (or other variants of genes) that could lead to disease in their offspring.--a mutt's parents have more genetic diversity than any pair of purebreds could have.

AFAIK, it's not an issue of known dangers in purebreds vs. unknown dangers in mutts but rather unknown dangers in both (things that any dog is prone to, by virtue of, well, being alive and being a dog) and, in purebreds, known dangers in addition, due to the more limited gene pool.

I'm not knocking purebreds, but unlike personality characteristics (which vary, obviously, from mutt to mutt), the presence or absence of genetic disease isn't something you can pick out just by spending some time with a dog.
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:47 PM on September 18, 2005

Pretty much what ROU_Xenophobe said. Certainly consider a smaller herding breed, they still need exercise and a job to do (organized activity like herding or agility), but they don't tend to need quite as much as a BC. I strongly second going to shows and talking to breeders about dogs.

With regard to rescues, with some exception, it's important to remember that many dogs end up in rescue/shelters for reasons specific to how good (or not) they are as housepets. A good rescue is a good way to go, but remember that unless the dog has been in foster care for some time, nobody will have a really solid idea of what the dog's temperament is like.

Greyhounds are an excellent choice for your situation, I think (and the nice thing is, rescue Greyhounds are in rescue for the most part because they're no longer/never were useful as racing dogs, not because of temperament or behavioural issues), they are couch potatoes in temperament as a general rule, are usually quiet, have no problem spending time alone and will take as much or as little exercise as you want to give them on a daily basis as long as they get a good long walk or run a couple of times a week. They also tend to be very sweet and affectionate, but not overly needy (most spend their first few years on the track living in a crate when they're not working, so they're comfortable spending time alone).

In my experience purebreds seem to have more health problems due to overbreeding, and if you're looking at older dogs to adopt, you can see what each individual dog's personality is like--because breed doesn't determine everything.

Badly-bred purebreds (not overbred, overbreeding is only applicable in the sense that popular breeds tend to have a higher percentage of unethical breeders churning them out) have problems, but nobody should be supporting unethical, backyard breeding anyway. Buying a purebred from an ethical breeder is in fact your best guarantee of having a healthy dog in mind and body, and an ethical breeder will always take the dog back if it doesn't work out. Ethical breeders know their breed inside and out, are well aware of genetic issues in different lines, health test their breeding stock and breed carefully to turn out healthy dogs. The flipside of this coin is that you have zero knowledge of the parentage of most mixed-breed dogs, and you see plenty of health problems in mutts as well (people who allow their dogs to breed indiscriminately are sure not doing health testing and only allowing their intact male German Shepherd to breed with the neighbour's intact female Golden if both dogs have clear hips, elbows and hearts, neh?) - there's a lot of confirmation bias which goes on in thinking that mutts are intrinsically healthier, you see hip dysplasia, heart problems, skin problems and pretty well every problem in mutts that you find in purebreds, the difference is that a purebred from an ethical breeder is far LESS likely to have them, and will be health guaranteed. Breed does determine a great majority of things: size, coat, general temperament, instincts, exercise needs, etc. Buying a well-bred purebred from an ethical breeder is as close as you can get to a guarantee that you will get a healthy dog with predictable traits. You can't suss out the presence or absence of genetic disease by spending time with a dog, but a breeder who's done their research well and knows their lines can do everything possible to make sure the dogs they breed don't have any issue. I am not knocking mutts, I have had them myself, but there are a lot of common misconceptions about what things like "hybrid vigour" actually mean to dogs (not much, if anything) and purebred dogs in general.

We got him from a dog rescue also so didn't have to go through any training.

Regardless of what breed you choose, or where it comes from, ALL dogs need training. It's beneficial to the dog, beneficial to the owner, establishes fair and appropriate relationships, and well-trained dogs are happy dogs. I cannot think of any dog which would not benefit from regular training. Being a rescue doesn't mean a dog doesn't need training, and I'm surprised a rescue would tell you otherwise. Training is a lifelong thing, not something that's "done" after an eight-week course or whatever.

Good luck in your search brautigan, I suggest you do some research into rescued Greyhounds, they're truly lovely dogs and I think just might be a great fit for your situation. Feel free to email me if I can be of any help, email's in my profile.
posted by biscotti at 7:06 PM on September 18, 2005

Poodle.

Yeah, I know, they're not "real" dogs as far as many folks are concerned, but they're perfect. Hypo-allergenic, non-shedding(*), smart, and eager to please. Get a small one (miniature, toy, or teacup) so you can easily hold it: a properly spoiled poodle's feet should generally not touch the ground for at least the first year. :-)

Working from home is great, particularly until it's trained. It won't chew or dig like a Fox Terror, it won't stink when it's old like a Basset Hound, and once it figures out what you want, a leash is an accessory to make the neighbors happy.

(*)I'm no biologist, but they have "hair" rather than "fur." I make the disclaimer because some biology teacher along the way splained that hair is a kind of fur. Whatever. They don't shed.
posted by phrits at 7:22 PM on September 18, 2005

We just got a Pomeranian mix, and he seems like he'll be fine in the apartment - as soon as we can potty-train the cute little bastard. Looks like he's mostly Pomeranian, but there's something else in there.

I'd second the Basset Hound. I once saw their exercise needs summarized as "one end of the couch to the other", and met one who didn't raise his head when a fire engine pulled up and stopped right beside him with sirens blaring. The dog just laid there and kept drooling. I was disturbed by the sea of slobber though, being a neat freak about everything except myself.
posted by davy at 7:23 PM on September 18, 2005

May I suggest the redbone coonhound?
posted by RJ Reynolds at 7:50 PM on September 18, 2005

The Basset Hound IS my spirit animal. Hours of sloth, punctuated by an hour of vigorous exercise six times a week. Ah, what a life.

Shih Tzus work great, as do all little doggies. Exercise can consist of running in eight foot circles, under the bed, couch, apartment parking lot, etc. Small movements are the key; and I am not just talking in the exercise realm. Woof.
posted by buzzman at 7:55 PM on September 18, 2005

Shih Tzus work great, as do all little doggies.

Nononononono. Size has nothing to do with exercise needs or suitability for apartment living. An enormous Irish Wolfhound is a better apartment dog than a tiny Jack Russell Terrier. The important considerations are what the dog was bred for and what its exercise needs are, size in this case truly doesn't matter (other than actual square footage, of course). Dogs specifically bred to be companions (like Shih Tzus, Bichons, Bostons, Cavaliers, etc. Dogs found in the "Toy" group in kennel clubs, in other words.) are normally suitable, but many of the other small dogs that people think are suitable because they are small are anything but (pretty well all terriers are small, and almost none are suited to sedentary living).

a properly spoiled poodle's feet should generally not touch the ground for at least the first year.

I know you were probably joking, but I have seen several small dogs with severely and permanently atrophied legs precisely because of this. Crippled because their owners treated them like stuffed animals rather than dogs. The fact that it's a small fluffy dog doesn't mean it's not a dog, entitled to respect and appropriate treatment as a dog. Small dogs should be carried only when it's unsafe/inconvenient to allow them to walk, they have legs, they should use them.

Okay...getting off my soabboxen now.
posted by biscotti at 8:26 PM on September 18, 2005 [1 favorite]

I've always heard that retired greyhounds are good for apartments because they're total couch potatoes.
posted by amarynth at 8:34 PM on September 18, 2005

brautigan, you said you are active. Do you want a dog that can be active with you? Example, do you run everyday? The size of the dog matters far less than one that matches your energy level. I think a greyhound would make a great apartment dog for an active person.

I've lived in a second story apartment for the last 10 years, and we've had several dogs: one basset hound, two rottweilers, and a flat coated retriever (and a cat). It's worked out really well. It can be kind of a pain to take them outside for potty breaks, especially if the weather is bad.

In my experience, the basset and rottweilers are great apartment dogs. Both are couch potatoes that enjoy being around their people, but are energetic enough to like their walks. Be aware, though. Bassets will howl when you leave them alone. Your neighbors may not appreciate basset opera. Rottweilers have a bad rap. I think they are great. Intelligent, mellow, and yes, friendly.

Our retriever has been more of a challenge, but I think it's because she's a higher energy dog than I'm used to. She's a rescue and came from a place with a large yard where she could run a lot. I have to make sure she can use up all that energy on her walks; otherwise she's very restless and miserable.

The only downside to having a large dog in an upstairs apartment is that it is very difficult to get them outside if they are ever sick/injured and can't move on their own. (Unless you are really strong and can carry a large dog.) Our rottweiler had one of her legs amputated earlier this year, and while she was recovering from the surgery, my husband and I had to stretcher her outside a few times a day so she would relieve herself (she was so strongly housetrained that she wouldn't go in the house, even though we'd set up a "potty" station just for her.)

good luck!
posted by luneray at 8:57 PM on September 18, 2005

I vote greyhound. You may have some trouble with getting it up the stairs at first, though - many retired racers have never come across stairs and don't understand what to do with them.
posted by corvine at 4:56 AM on September 19, 2005

Response by poster: Big thanks to everyone for their advice so far! Just to answer some of your Q's, my apartment is fairly large by Uk standards, open plan living room and kitchen, 2 bedrooms, balcony. I also live right by the river with a 2 or 3 mile green stretch to walk/run. I would check out the local rescue centre but think I'd like to have the puppy stage to go through. Had looked at Bulldogs recently so if anyone has any experience with them I'd like to hear it. Thanks again all.
posted by brautigan at 5:20 AM on September 19, 2005

Bulldogs are a tough call. I wanted one for years but they are prone to health problems related to their short snouts, plus they SNORE.

I strongly recommend an adult rescue mutt. They are over their puppy-hood and usually housebroken. Plus, you can get a full sense of their personality. Most credible rescue organizations will not let you adopt their dogs with behavioral problem, or at the least they'll tell you what they are.

Plus, I think there's an ethical component to this as well. There are way too many great dogs that are ultimately going to be put down because they can not find owners. So when you adopt you not only get a great dog but you also save a life.
posted by captainscared at 6:48 AM on September 19, 2005

I don't have any breed recommendations as I only have experience with Chihuahuas, which need little space and little exercise(they do need it, but those tiny little legs get tired fairly quickly), but are total attention whores.
However, from aforementioned Chihuahua experience I can tell you that with any apartment-confined dog, you're probably going to want to look into crate training.
posted by Juliet Banana at 7:14 AM on September 19, 2005

I want to second what biscotti said, you should strongly consider an animal bred to be a good companion dog. I love herding dogs, I think they have great personalities. I also grew up with collies, and love the breed. However, as companions, for me, they do not compare to animals specifically bred to be good at that. At the moment, I have a Cavalier King Charles/English Toy mix, and a Pug. Both of these are very much companion animals, and both are absolutely wonderful at their job. I've lived with Working Dogs (Bouviers), Herding Dogs (Collies), Terriers (Wire Fox Terrier) and Sled Dogs (Samoyed), and without a doubt in your situation I'd recommend a "companion dog" such as a Poodle, Bichon, Cavalier, Pug (!) or Boston Terrier.
posted by Invoke at 9:08 AM on September 19, 2005

Bichons bark like hell (I don't know about the others). They may be good companions for you, but your neighbors.. not so much. Something to think about. In an apartment, part of choosing a dog is being fair to the dog and another is being fair to your neighbors.
posted by dness2 at 10:16 AM on September 19, 2005

I do think the stereotype of "yappy small dog" is overstated, but I've never had a Bichon. My Pug and Cav are both quiet dogs, possibly thanks to my consistent discipline.
posted by Invoke at 10:38 AM on September 19, 2005

Response by poster: One more thing. I kinda want a "manly" dog! One that will fetch n retrieve, play fight etc nothing too lap-doggish / sex and the city :)
posted by brautigan at 11:26 AM on September 19, 2005

Bulldogs fart. A lot. There's a foul brown clould hanging over them at all times. Apparently it's another side effect of their malformed jaws: poorly chewed food means lots of fuel for intestinal flora. But I guess in a way that is manly.
posted by TimeFactor at 3:34 PM on September 19, 2005