Looking for a dog like Woody Harrelson.

April 7, 2007 6:55 AM

Can you recommend a dog breed that has a poor vertical?

We have a pair of parakeets which fly freely around the house (most of the time). We'd like to get a medium-sized (or small) dog, but for the sake of us worrying about it and the birds, it would be nice if it couldn't jump very high.

We almost got a terrier from the animal shelter but are having second thoughts after seeing him jump about 5 feet in the air.

Any recommendations for a more gravity-bound dog?

posted by starman to pets & animals (41 comments total)

Our scottish terrier can barely get her back legs off the ground when she attempts to jump, and it takes her a few tries to get on furniture if we don't have a step around for her.
posted by ferociouskitty at 6:58 AM on April 7, 2007

Open your mind to the pug. I used to live with this one-eyed, overweight, asthmatic pug (really more of a monster than a dog), but she was the sweetest, greatest pet I've ever met. If you are the kind of person who can love something a little weird, give pugs a chance.
posted by buriednexttoyou at 7:16 AM on April 7, 2007

Basset hounds are nice and relaxed, with short legs. I had one when I was a kid. He wasn't much of a jumper.
posted by Roger Dodger at 7:18 AM on April 7, 2007

Dachshunds, the poor little deformed things, were definitely bred for going into holes and not for getting those stubby little legs off of the ground.
posted by amarynth at 7:22 AM on April 7, 2007

Miniature dachshund! One of mine has trouble jumping onto the -couch-, much less five feet in the air... But be aware, they can take more effort to train and socialize than other breeds, as they're pretty intelligent and independent-minded.

Also, depending on the individual, some have their "hunting instincts" completely bred out of them. Neither of my dogs has the slightest interest in killing things (though they do like chasing the rabbit), and will in fact shy away from rats/hamsters being put too near them. We don't have birds, though, so I can't attest to that.

And they're adorable.
posted by po at 7:25 AM on April 7, 2007

If you are the kind of person who can love something a little weird, give pugs a chance.

Ditto for the Shih Tzu. Ours only weighs about 11 pounds, so there isn't much to get off the ground anyway. This breed was recommended to us on AskMefi, and he's the greatest dog I could possibly imagine -- incredibly sweet disposition, playful but never agressive. We have a small bird (bigger than a parakeet, though) and they get along fine. Sometimes he sniffs her a bit too much and she doesn't like it, so she flies away. Honestly, I'm more worried about the bird pecking at the dog than vice versa. But we generally feel safe with this dog around our other animals (Though we always always supervise. At all times.) Because of his hair type, he doesn't shed at all. He does need relatively frequent grooming, though. More Info
posted by theantikitty at 7:26 AM on April 7, 2007 [1 favorite]

Particularly miniature dachshunds have no more than about a 1ft vertical. They have trouble with normal stairs.
posted by roofus at 7:26 AM on April 7, 2007

PS: Be sure to seek out breed rescue organizations in your area. This is a great way to get a particular kind of dog without resorting to a breeder. Also, they're much more likely to be able to give you a temperment and history for the dog.
posted by theantikitty at 7:28 AM on April 7, 2007

Italian Greyhounds come to mind, as does maybe the Corgi.

PS: Be sure to seek out breed rescue organizations in your area.

PetFinder will allow you to search by breed and zip code.
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:35 AM on April 7, 2007

Basset hound is the clear winner. Our lhasa apso can jump, with lots of concentration, on the couch but that's about it.

Also, cool points for the thread title.

ufez: really? I would have thought an italian greyhound would be a natural jumper.
posted by Ynoxas at 7:50 AM on April 7, 2007

That PetFinder is a great resource. Thanks.
posted by etc. at 7:55 AM on April 7, 2007

While a poor jumper is probably your best bet, don't overlook bird dogs-- they're bred to retrieve birds without even slightly marring them with their teeth. My retriever mix caught my parakeet in her mouth and let her go with no harm whatsoever to the bird.
posted by Jeanne at 7:59 AM on April 7, 2007

Seconding miniature dachshunds. Mine, bless her heart, can barely get her chubby butt up on our couch or bed, much less get any air. Also, I don't know if this is just her, but she's scared to death of our cockatiel and the kitten, and was freaked out whenever we brought the degus out of the cage and just hid under a blanket.

Sweetest dog I've ever had too- she always wants to be near you. :)
posted by Glitter Ninja at 8:16 AM on April 7, 2007

I agree that Shih Tzus are sweet, physically awkward dogs that probably couldn't do much to your birds. Along the Shih Tzu lines, you might check out a Maltese, which are smaller than Shih Tzus. They also tend to be mellower and gentler than some other small dogs, and ours has never attempted to hurt anything in her life. She can stand up on her hind legs, but she can't jump off of them at all. Like Shih Tzus, they don't shed (big plus) and need fairly regular grooming (small minus). I keep mine in a short haircut, so we don't have to deal with silly bows etc. Whatever you do, don't get a poodle. They are wonderful dogs but talented jumpers.

Good luck, and lucky you for getting a new dog!!!
posted by walla at 8:16 AM on April 7, 2007

One word: Bulldog! Our English bulldog is sweet, smart, and gorgeous. She is also a big lover of people, while being fierce looking enough to scare off any intruders. Her coat is very low maintenance, and she smells sweet. (Basset Hounds have an oily coat that reeks.) One of her biggest assets is the very limited barking. The dauchshounds, pugs, and terriers I have known were terribly yappy. Bulldogs make very little noise-- aside from the snorting and snoring.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:18 AM on April 7, 2007

I've owned 3 Maltese. They are a huge investment unless you clip them yourself. They have long-hair coats which must be brushed daily and taken to the groomer every week. Or you can keep their hair cut short (which is a cute, puppy look) but they still require their tail, face, and ear hair to be brushed daily. Also they are one of the quietest of the toy breeds, but they still bark too much.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:23 AM on April 7, 2007

Third vote for pugs. My wife and I have two of 'em, and they are just about the most gravity-bound dogs you could have, not to mention they are very sweet and loving. Moreover, they take absolutely NO interest in birds. (We have another dog, a mutt with a lot of sight-hound in her, who is obsessed with birds, so we have a good point of comparison.)
posted by jayder at 8:39 AM on April 7, 2007

How about adopting a dog with a disability that would prevent her or him from jumping? Special needs dogs are often the least desirable to folks looking to adopt, so you'd be doing something really wonderful by taking one home.

Otherwise, I'll second the shih tzu. My family had three at one point, and they are incredibly sweet and gentle. My mom has a small bird that got out of the cage one day, and our youngest dog managed to catch the bird in her mouth. She ran around with him until we could catch her, and when she let the bird go there wasn't a scratch on him -- she knew to be very careful with birdie and just wanted to play, I guess!
posted by kitty teeth at 8:46 AM on April 7, 2007

Not to get into a derail about Malteses, but I take mine to get clipped every few months to keep her in a short coat and combined with that, she does just fine with occasional brushing. I've had her for 14 years. Any long haired, non-shedding dog, including Shih Tzus, who have similar hair, will require some grooming and brushing. Small price to pay for having a non-shedding dog, though. As far as barking, I've found that multiple dogs in the same house will get each other barking.
posted by walla at 8:47 AM on April 7, 2007

Thanks for the great suggestions so far! A lot of good possibilities.
posted by starman at 9:14 AM on April 7, 2007

Nthing a pug, the most moble and perfect (and ground-bound) breed of dog.
posted by docgonzo at 9:21 AM on April 7, 2007

I wouldn't recommend a pug for you (or any flat-faced dog). Pugs are very prone to eye injuries because of their flat faces. You need a dog with a real nose so that the nose protects him from the bird.

Also, our pug can jump fairly high. His mouth reaches elbow height at top vertical. He's also a fairly good climber and he sits on the back of the couch. This might be too high for your needs. Our dog is in insanely good shape for a pug, though.
posted by crazycanuck at 9:22 AM on April 7, 2007

Bulldog snoring is something to experience.
posted by A189Nut at 9:57 AM on April 7, 2007

not a jack russell!!!!
posted by Salvatorparadise at 9:58 AM on April 7, 2007

I really caution against assuming all bird dogs are gentle with birds. My Lab is brutally efficient at stalking and killing birds that visit my backyard. So was the Golden mix I had before. (But they both are/were super careful about delivering the bodies to me unmunched, so there is that).
posted by jamaro at 10:12 AM on April 7, 2007

I also recommend a basset hound. I've had one (my first) for about 5 years now and he's as sweet as can be. Not the brightest bulb in the bunch, but he couldn't jump high even if he wanted too. And to the oil coat/smelly comment... that's true, although you can minimize it if you brush them often and feed them higher quality food. Also, and this might sound weird, but my dog's smell has become somewhat comforting to me now. That said, they do have a tendency to drool a lot after drinking water or going for long walks. Just to warn you ;) But seriously, I couldn't recommend basset hounds more strongly... they're excellent pets.
posted by tundro at 10:32 AM on April 7, 2007

Don't get anything with the name 'terrier' in it. :-P

Basset hounds are good, although they do have that oily coat. I've got a friend that has several basset hounds and they're great. Beagles as well, but beagles usually have high prey drives and are generally little shits.

English Bulldogs ... well, the males are so ungainly that they need help to mount a female so that they can breed. And they really are adorable, but the comments about the flat-faced dogs possibly being prone to injury from the bird if they *do* have an altercation are very important.

The comments about miniature daschunds above aren't necessarily true if they're the proper weight. I've seen some miniature daschunds that can easily leap up onto a countertop. Many people overfeed and underexercise such small dogs, though, so if you do that your birds are definitely safe. ;) But miniature daschunds really are adorable dogs, although it's best to TRAIN them not to jump or beg or do anything with their back legs besides walk because they're prone to injuring their spinal column and becoming paraplegic.
posted by SpecialK at 11:07 AM on April 7, 2007

I adore Scottish terriers and grew up with them; they usually can't jump particularly well, but I had one who was a notable exception -- he could jump high, and (like the rest of his scotty brethren) had very aggressive hunting instincts when it came to other creatures breathing his air. So I wouldn't put one around a bird at all, unless you got one who was on the elderly side and whose hunting instincts might have mellowed a bit.
posted by scody at 11:52 AM on April 7, 2007

my terrier can jump 5 feet easily. if a bird was involved, i suspect he'd jump 10 feet to reach it. i'd definitely consider a senior/special needs dog in this situation.
posted by judith at 12:17 PM on April 7, 2007

My corgi mix has about six inches of ground clearance and she weights 38 pounds. (And she's not overweight, though once she was.) This dog couldn't catch a parakeet unless that parakeet was one-winged and drunk.

Corgi mixes are excellent dogs.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 12:22 PM on April 7, 2007

Um, that's -weighs-. Sorry.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 12:22 PM on April 7, 2007

That said, they do have a tendency to drool a lot after drinking water or going for long walks. Just to warn you ;) But seriously, I couldn't recommend basset hounds more strongly... they're excellent pets.

One more point against the Basset hound is the drool. My husband's old dog would drool and then shake his head with the result that all over the house there were black marks on the walls were he had flung his drool. Really disgusting.

And point taken about the short nose-- but that is what makes bulldogs (and pugs) so adorable.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:38 PM on April 7, 2007

Bulldogs are sweet, but be aware that they can be overbred and are more likely to have respiratory (flat-nose problem in general) and hip problems.
posted by walla at 12:49 PM on April 7, 2007

As everyone has said, of the small dogs, shih tzus are surprisingly good. Not barky, easy to keep clean if you keep their hair short, gentle and mellow disposition. Comically terrible jumpers.

(Warning - Don't get one from a pet store/puppy mill/bad breeder, because if they're confined too much and not socialized right when tiny, they can pick up extra-revolting hygienic habits. This probably goes for other breeds too, but shih tzus are the ones I know specifically.)
posted by LobsterMitten at 1:08 PM on April 7, 2007

Ditto on avoiding the terriers, especially Jack Russell or Cairn. We had a JR/Cairn mix that could not only jump surprisingly high, but often (with a running start) went 15 feet up a tree after a squirrel before realizing he was not a cat and falling back to earth Wile E. Coyote style. Never caught one that way, but still. We used to call him a Texas Tree Terrier when people asked what the hell kind of dog could do that.
posted by spitbull at 2:20 PM on April 7, 2007

I don't think you can really say any breed isn't going to be able to jump up an grab a bird. We have two mini daschunds. One is about twelve pounds, and jumps all the time, and can get up near my waist or higher. (Sidenote, I know this bad for his back, but we've had no luck training him.)

The other one is only about 5 pounds, and can barely get on the couch, but she still managed to grab one of my sister's Senegal parrots. The bird wasn't hurt, and it was pretty funny to see her running around with a bird almost as big as she is in her mouth, but still, that could have been very bad.

I'd suggest picking your dog by personality, rather than breed. A smaller dog might be a good idea, but I think your best bet is to look at shelters for a dog that is a little older and has lived around other animals before.
posted by catatethebird at 4:30 PM on April 7, 2007

Yeah, our Jack Russle jumps really high. I'd watch out for terriers. Get a Basset Hound. They're awesome.
posted by jeffamaphone at 6:14 PM on April 7, 2007

My chihuahua can jump just fine but is totally ineffective. (Ineffective in general. In particular, ineffective as a predator.) I would trust him with a bird even without supervision.
posted by kika at 9:15 PM on April 7, 2007

Rather than worrying about how high a dog jumps, please consider closing either the dog or the birds in one room when the birds are out. I had two parakeets and they very rarely would land on the floor, but there's always that risk. One of ours ran into the window once and stunned herself, and ended up on the floor for a while. (Our dog was in her crate, fortunately.)

Also, once we found a baby bird abandoned outside and brought it in. I placed it in a box with paper towels like the vet said, with a strainer over the top. We didn't think the poor thing could fly yet, but the first time I removed the strainer to feed it, it sort-of flew across the room, but fell and landed on the floor. The dog got to it before we could... we had to bury the poor bird.
posted by IndigoRain at 9:37 PM on April 7, 2007

Rather than worrying about how high a dog jumps, please consider closing either the dog or the birds in one room when the birds are out.

Bingo. There's your real best answer. Your issue isn't "what breed of dog", your issue is "how do I manage a dog and my birds safely". You should choose a dog based primarily on the exercise you can realistically give it and what your general lifestyle can accommodate (in terms of training, grooming, daily interaction, etc.), not based on something like "vertical jumping ability", which will vary between individual dogs of any breed and which is, in and of itself, no guarantee whatseover that your dog will never be able to eat your birds.
posted by biscotti at 9:03 AM on April 8, 2007

Thanks for the suggestions. Obviously jumping ability is just one of many factors. I'll let you know what we do...
posted by starman at 3:46 PM on April 8, 2007