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Apartment Poochies!


Steph M
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Steph, it sounds to me as though you are pretty switched in and will make any breed work.

That said I would suggest you avoid Terriers and Working dogs.

I would also suggest you insist OH "lose" the wrestling. If you want a calm, quiet adult dog, raise it that way. Wrestling will almost definitely invite barking. Buy him a gym membership or a boxing bag instead perhaps :)

I don't wrestle my dogs until they are old and mature enough to fully understand their off switch, "quiet" and "enough". That said, I am not really a fan of wrestling animals period. I know many are, and that's fine for them, but I think for your environment, it is important to keep the noise down as much as possible.

Dyzney saved me typing :)

A vote for Chinese Crested here..do not have any ... but am a fan :)

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One of the best breeds to have in an apartment is a greyhound! If you aren't set on small size one would suit you perfectly.

I admit to thinking the same but not a puppy, can't raise a greyhound puppy properly in an apartment.

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One of the best breeds to have in an apartment is a greyhound! If you aren't set on small size one would suit you perfectly.

I admit to thinking the same but not a puppy, can't raise a greyhound puppy properly in an apartment.

Agree! An ex-racer would be the go. Plus the OP said she wanted to rescue but didn't want the unknown of the risk - that way she could rescue but still have a very predictable purebred that would suit her circumstances perfectly!

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I do know a few apartment pugs but just be prepared for the shedding, snorting and activity level- also, many will disagree but i have found black pugs to be much more active than their fawn counterparts!

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Yep, the black Pugs are generally crazy *glares at Alvin* and notoriously difficult to house train which might not go down to well in apartment living. Plus when you say 'long walks', most Pugs couldn't keep up with that. Food for thought. :)

Awesome dogs in every other way though and love rough and tumble playing.

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One of the best breeds to have in an apartment is a greyhound! If you aren't set on small size one would suit you perfectly.

I admit to thinking the same but not a puppy, can't raise a greyhound puppy properly in an apartment.

Agree! An ex-racer would be the go. Plus the OP said she wanted to rescue but didn't want the unknown of the risk - that way she could rescue but still have a very predictable purebred that would suit her circumstances perfectly!

Yep :) friends of mine have a greyhound in a townhouse as he is a very happy hound. The no odour of a grey is a big plus for indoor living as well.

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When it comes to Frenchie’s being low energy, I think I have the exception to the rule! Mine is always out the back playing with her toys, full of energy, will run around the yard doing zoomies until we stop her.

She is like a Labrador in a Frenchie’s body. We have to spend a lot of time keeping her mind active with training and playing with her and taking her for short walks (as she is only 8.5 months old). I know puppies are very active generally so not sure if she will calm down a lot as she gets older or just a little bit. Hehe

Mind you, she could live in an apartment, but I know she will go a little stir crazy. They are smart little things and need to be challenged mentally with training.

Edited by Sares
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Hi Steph regards several of the breeds mentioned here maybe i can help, as i currently own some of them, ie Japanese Spitz, Norwich Terrier, Griffon (Ruff coated) and Tibetan Spaniels. I will give you my opion from my experience on each one. All my dogs are show dogs, but first and foremost they are family dogs that go to shows.

The Japanese Spitz a breed i have had for years, are a very lovely and friendly dog very active and will get into mischief if bored.They can easily barkers and have a very sharp loud bark, i do know of some that have adapted toapartment living, but would not be my top of the list for an apartment dog. The Norwich Terrier is a fabulous loyal little dog very Robust but i could not imagine my boy living in a flat, they crave for attention and are very active and can play all day, from my experience they would be a great dog for a young boy who was very adventurous and out doors. The Griffon, I just love my griff, who did not turn out to be the show dog i would have liked but he is great to live with, although a bit of a Diva, he is very active but enjoys his inside time (a smooth coated one would be less maintence) they are just a fantastic dog to live with. Lastly Tibetan Spaniels we have several Tibbies, have had for years, they are very cat like in nature, you do not own a Tibbie you are there to serve them, they adapt to most situations and are at home inside or out, they are very intelligent and work things out for them selves rather than been taught. they are very low maintence. They have a high awarness to strangers and will soon let you know if a stranger is at the door, They would be my top pick for your circumstances followed by a Griffon. hope this helps and good luck Frank

t

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I'm always one for promoting them but LOWCHEN!

Small dogs, big personslities, but happy go lucky, my girl who just turned 2 is the biggest snuggle bug, sleeps in my bed with me and OH but when it's time to play and do agility she's right into it, our boy is similar although he is a little noisier then her but not unbearable the odd woof here and there when outside.. Inside he's a couch potato.. We don't walk but if we do they enjoy it immensely.. They can be a regular brush depending on their clip, my girl is a one every so often as she is now clipped off the boy is a every 3rd day or so... Intelligent, happy small and just great all rounders, low to non shedding.. Dunno what else I can say lol! I wouldn't be without them!

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One of the best breeds to have in an apartment is a greyhound! If you aren't set on small size one would suit you perfectly.

I admit to thinking the same but not a puppy, can't raise a greyhound puppy properly in an apartment.

Agree! An ex-racer would be the go. Plus the OP said she wanted to rescue but didn't want the unknown of the risk - that way she could rescue but still have a very predictable purebred that would suit her circumstances perfectly!

Yep :) friends of mine have a greyhound in a townhouse as he is a very happy hound. The no odour of a grey is a big plus for indoor living as well.

I'm another who would be endorsing a greyhound. Sound absolutely perfect for what you are wanting. And as somebody who has owned one (and would do so again in a heartbeat), they tick all the boxes, including (with the right dog anyway), the interaction with the cat. My cats used to tease my GAP boy unmercifully and he'd just grin at them and wag his tail....and then go back to sleep! :laugh:

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I'm always one for promoting them but LOWCHEN!

Small dogs, big personslities, but happy go lucky, my girl who just turned 2 is the biggest snuggle bug, sleeps in my bed with me and OH but when it's time to play and do agility she's right into it, our boy is similar although he is a little noisier then her but not unbearable the odd woof here and there when outside.. Inside he's a couch potato.. We don't walk but if we do they enjoy it immensely.. They can be a regular brush depending on their clip, my girl is a one every so often as she is now clipped off the boy is a every 3rd day or so... Intelligent, happy small and just great all rounders, low to non shedding.. Dunno what else I can say lol! I wouldn't be without them!

And a Lowchen would be a very close second......

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With cats you need to avoid delicate breeds'; go for ones with some coat,smooth coats are easily scratched when playing with a cat so are bulging eyes. I've had cats and dogs together.My pointer was scratched in the eyes by my cat.

The Tibetan spaniel sounds a good match.

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Hi Steph regards several of the breeds mentioned here maybe i can help, as i currently own some of them, ie Japanese Spitz, Norwich Terrier, Griffon (Ruff coated) and Tibetan Spaniels. I will give you my opion from my experience on each one. All my dogs are show dogs, but first and foremost they are family dogs that go to shows.......

All our Tibetan Spaniels have been adopted, as adults, from registered breeders who've treated them exactly as you do, with your dogs. Not all breeders make the choice to rehome adult dogs, but ours came from those prepared to place them as desexed pets in only well-screened homes.

These adult dogs came from their breeders already beautifully socialised with people and other dogs, confident in going out in the car & into public places. I'd love to claim credit when strangers admire their personalities, but this is how breeders like you raise their dogs from the moment they're born.

It's one option that the OP might add to the list.... adopting an adult of whatever breed they finally decide on. But, equally, the preference might be to start with a puppy.

Edited by mita
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Mita found our second tibbie for us. She was retired to us when she finished her show career and Mum duties at 3years. She really was the whole package. A real credit to her breeder and upbringing as she is so well adjusted she just fitted right in. Only barks when someone is at the door ( very handy as my doorbell is temperamental)and is socialized with everything. I agree tibbies work things out for themselves and are also happy to do things on their own if we're busy. Unfortunately, mine have not worked out how to do the laundry which is where I'm headed now while my tibbie continues to sleep the day away on the porch swing. Such is life!!

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Tonka, my papillon, was especially chosen for apartment living. Papillons are highly suited and I go an ex-showdog off the mature dog section on here. My breeder recomended him as a dog who would LOVE apartment living and indeeed he has worked out fantastically. I got him at 3 years of age :) I think adult dogs can be suited temperament wise to the living conditions as even within breeds there maybe some variation. Tonka also came from a rural area with the run of the paddock before coming to me, so he really adapted well.

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Unfortunately, mine have not worked out how to do the laundry which is where I'm headed now while my tibbie continues to sleep the day away on the porch swing. Such is life!!

If you find a breed that does the housework please let me know!

My tibbie x 'helped' me do a sudoku last night though..... He sat next to me staring at it and pawed the page if I hadn't written in a while....maybe because he knew the answers.....or maybe because he was enjoying trying to steal the pencil every time I used it ; p

It's this gentle playfulness that makes me give them the thumbs up!

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Have you considered a Chinese Crested, either the hairless (like my boy) or a powder puff. They are super cute, smallish dogs. I don't know if they are all the same but my boy is content to lay about all day on the couches and beds we have in different rooms for him. He follows the sun and like's to watch our other big dogs playing outside, but seems to have no desire to go out there with them. I make him go out a few times a day for toilet times, but in the middle of a cold wet winter, he aint keen, but will do his thing then run back in. He does however enjoy a walk, I only have to pick up his harness and he gets excited. Very laid back dog who loves meeting new people and never yaps. And if you get a hairless you get to dress them up too :)

Edited by teela
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