Apartment Poochies!

[huga]

Frenchies really aren't barkers, but I'm sure there are exceptions to rule! When they do bark, it's very muffled due to the shape of their face.

Mine is far from a couch potato though! We walk 30-40kms a week, with some running intervals. He is a machine :D That said, I know many that are lazy wombats. They can be naughty puppies too - pig headed, stubborn, they like to chew anything and everything and are notoriously difficult to toilet train.

[Guest lavendergirl]

A Cavie - adaptable, eager to please, will walk with you one day, vege out the next - they are happy just to be with you! If they are going to spend long periods alone, they can get quite upset. If you could find the RIGHT pup - from parents who are very relaxed, don't get anxious, and have adapted to alone time, it might work. But this could take a fair amount of time. Cavaliers are ultimately quite adaptable, love thier owner to death, and can be quite clingy to those they love. But readily accept not exercising, and I find grooming quite easy - just a quick comb of thier featherings and ears once a day while they lie in my lap while we watch TV.

A pug would be great - but you would have to watch thier activity during hot weather, as some pugs have trouble with breathing and temperature regulation in high temps. But otherwise - they meet your needs perfectly! They do snore and snortle but are so loving, energetic and fun!

A tibbie, in your particular situation, would drive you crazy. Though they don't look it they are little watch dogs, and love nothing more to 'guard' thier homes. If you lived in an upper floor apartment, they would love nothing more to stand in the window, look down at the street and warn you of all the 'danger's' passing by! They are REALLY intelligent too, some have even been known to be vengeful when annoyed by something you do, and so leaving them at home for long periods could be quite destructive. I own three, and love them to bits, but they are not for everyone, and definately not for any situation.

Pom's do bark alot, and I don't know whether your neighbours would thank you for that.

I too love bichons, and at one time was seriously considering getting one - until one of my friend's who shows one told me that it would simply 'ruin my life' in regards to keeping up with the coat. Even though that was to keep one in show clip, keeping one in pet clip would require either regular trips to a groomer, or you to buy the equipment and learn to do it yourself. Thier fur grows CONSTANTLY, like a big poof ball, and matts easily, and keeping them neat and tidy takes time, money and loads of patience. Keeping them white is another issue. Havanese are part of the same family of breed's, and thier coat requirements are less, but still quite time consuming. To keep thier coat long would require you to layer brush pretty much everyday, or again pay a groomer to keep them clipped off, or you to do it yourself. Easier than a bichon, and thier personalities are similiar.

I don't know much about frenchies, except they are ADORABLE, but I do know to get one from the right place is really expensive.

Whichever breed you decide, please, please, please, please buy from a breeder who;

Is REGISTERED with the state controlling body - ie Dogs SA, Dogs NSW, Dogs QlD, etc. This means they have a PREFIX.

Is issuing papers with the sale of the pup - if you want to show these will be called 'main', if you don't they will be called 'limited'.

Is prepared for you to do an inspection of the property, and see the parents of the pups. Sometimes the father will be a stud that has been paid for, and therefore lives with someone else.

Has done health testing for thier dogs - and has certificates that you can see.

Your puppy;

should be at least 8 weeks old before coming home (some of the top breeders keep thier dogs longer)

be microchipped before sale

has at least thier first vaccinations

is up to date on worming

has passed a vet check.

Don't take any bull from people who sway on these points. If your dog is not from a breeder who has a prefix, and does not come with either main or limited papers from your state canine body, then it is not a purebred dog - doesn't matter what anyone says.

Attend local shows and talk to people who exhibit the various breeds, and see the dogs in person, and ask them about the things you want in a dog. Ask them if they know any reputable breeder's names. Remember registered does not automatically mean reputable!

When first approaching a breeder to buy a puppy, ask for photos AND a copy of the pup's pedigree. Sometimes, because the the state authorities can take some time, this will not be available to them. In that case ask them to send a copy of both the mother and the father's blue papers through. This way you can see what the pup's ancestors are like, and in most cases, can look them up on Dogzonline Breed profiles, and have a look and see what sort of dogs are behind yours. If the papers they email you are NOT blue, they are not a purebred pup.

Please, I beg you to do these things. It sounds like you are doing your homework, and it would be a shame for you to end up with a dog that does not suit your family because it's temperament is not as described by the breed standards.

I agree with you about the high maintenance of the Bichon - it cannot be overestimated! I have had the longer haired non-shedders and they are way more easy to maintain so I think the Havanese would be a good option. Plus the Bichon bonds very strongly to its humans and generally does not do well being separated for any period of time. While your OH presently works from home is that likely to always be the case? Something to consider for the future - perhaps a breed that is a little more independent may be a good choice?

[Purdie]

I did a dog breed quiz for you and got French Bulldog as a 100% match...If you want to try some ..google ..these,

select smart dog breed selector quiz or K9 country dog breed selector and Animal planet dog breed selector.

They are just a guide;you need to meet your breeds of choice to see if they suit you.

[MadWoofter]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I did that K9 country breed one (just out of curiousity) and was very pleased to see that my favourite breeds are all a perfect match for me :)

[aussielover]

A Cavalier would be my choice for this type of situation. The are really sweet dogs who love to be with people. They are happy to just hang around, but are also active enough to do agility, obedience etc or go on long walks if thats what you are doing. They are highly biddable and trainable and willing to please.

Grooming is fairly easy and they aren't overly heavy shedders.

[twodoggies2001]

I'm sure you can keep a Dane quite comfortably in a unit but it would take plenty of planning and this person said they had a whole spare room set up for it, it's like having an extra person in the house really, with the size of it.

I guess it depends if they rent or own too. As dog people we can see the logistics and natures of breeds to understand where a Dane would be quite happy in an apartment however try convincing a real estate agent or non dog savvy person that.

That's a point. If the OP is renting, then the real estate agent should be consulted. If the apartment is owned then there may be body corporate issues. She should clear this up before committing to a puppy.

[aussielover]

Whilst an adult large/giant breed may be suitable for apartment living, puppies of these rbeeds require space to run around.

[W Sibs]

I have a JS and she's not barker. Only make noise when there is a need for it. She loves being her with people. She gets walked twice a day and she gets to go the park and free run. Hands down the most sweetest dog I've ever own (we just don't talk about her puppyhood, i block bad memories out of mind :p ) But saying that, I feel that JS aren't the perfect apartment dogs because most of the JS I know, they love being outside in their yard too much. They are very busy and active little dogs, who are always up to something. They all love to run around like nutters.

But, I will suggest:

Havanese

Cavaliers

Tibetan Spaniels

[raineth]

My pedigree Dane would have had no issue at all with living in a flat.

He was very quiet and was not even energetic as a puppy.

He destroyed virtually nothing as a puppy, just stole the odd toothbrush. He was extremely easy to toilet train, we only had a couple of accidents.

Our house is tiny, only nine squares, and he didn't have his own room or anything.

Generally speaking larger dogs are much more still, they sleep many more hours in the day. They don't wander around so much. So they bring a different kind of energy to a house.

He just slept all day on his bed. But would have no issue getting up to do something when you wanted him to.

The only issue would potentially be if there were lots of stairs that needed negotiating. That would probably be quite bad for growing Dane pup.

Even my current 60 kg rescue dog would be perfect. He loves to go for a walk or do a bit of training, but of these things are not happening he is asleep on his bed.

[Simply Grand]

Get a Frenchie! You know you want to;)

[Skitch]

I think an Italian Greyhound would do well in your circumstances :). They can be tricky to toilet train but are great indoor dogs.. I have managed to litter train mine much the same way you would a cat Lol. They are by no means silent dogs but I find they dont tend to bark unless there's any great reason too and I've never come across one that barks incessantly.. they do require a little bit of exercise but would be fine with one short walk a day and anything else as a bonus :).

Even a GAP greyhound might be the way to go for you! Dont be fooled by their size.. they are couch potatoes :p Like any dog they enjoy and need a walk but they will definitely forgive you if you have to skip it one day

[Guest donatella]

Get a Frenchie! You know you want to;)

I agree!

I would love a Frenchie but the little critters are so damn pricey

[iggy mum]

I think an Italian Greyhound would do well in your circumstances :). They can be tricky to toilet train but are great indoor dogs.. I have managed to litter train mine much the same way you would a cat Lol. They are by no means silent dogs but I find they dont tend to bark unless there's any great reason too and I've never come across one that barks incessantly.. they do require a little bit of exercise but would be fine with one short walk a day and anything else as a bonus :).

Even a GAP greyhound might be the way to go for you! Dont be fooled by their size.. they are couch potatoes :p Like any dog they enjoy and need a walk but they will definitely forgive you if you have to skip it one day

This!

[Cosmolo]

If you want to frequent some of the dog parks in the area and let your new dog off lead when they are ready i wouldn't recommend an Italan Greyhound. Many of the dog parks are VERY busy all times of the day and you'd need to be particularly mindful of the fragility of a dog built like an Iggy if wanting to frequent these areas.

[Sares]

Get a Frenchie! You know you want to;)

Agreed!!!

[Greytmate]

It's all just personal opinion, and I hope I haven't offended anyone!

It won't be personal opinion if you end up with a dog prone to barking even if the dog is barking for a reason. You will need to get a breed with suitable traits for high density living or risk being evicted.

You might be better not giving your opinion of breeds you obviously dont like or the cars they are driven around in. If you don't want to offend.

[Steph M]

You haven't offended anyone, people are just making sure you know each and every option :D

Everyone has their own personal doggy preference hence why we have a love of such diverse breeds! If I listened to my mother I would have never gotten a Pom but I wouldn't have it any other way and now she's totally in love with the breed :rofl:

Re the barking, honestly if you are getting a pup and working with it early you SHOULD have no problems, especially if your boyfriend is home most of the day. And with Frenchie's being at the top of your list, I don't think barking is going to be an issue at all.

Here's hoping!

And that's it, my mum has always been so gung-ho that small dogs are snappy and noisy and little brats etc, now she is quite obviously owned by a malt and a shihtzu, to the point where she has a bike trailer for adventures and actually physically tucks them in at night and they sit and stare at her until she does it. It's great to make fun of her though!

I agree with you about the high maintenance of the Bichon - it cannot be overestimated! I have had the longer haired non-shedders and they are way more easy to maintain so I think the Havanese would be a good option. Plus the Bichon bonds very strongly to its humans and generally does not do well being separated for any period of time. While your OH presently works from home is that likely to always be the case? Something to consider for the future - perhaps a breed that is a little more independent may be a good choice?

Yeah, we are wary of something becoming too dependent on us, so we're looking at things like doggie day care a day a week, lots of obedience and socialisation and things to break the week up and make us the less interesting choice, so to speak!

It'll be the case for at least the next 12 months, but if the project goes well then it would be a permanent thing, if not, then he's always worked late hours, IE; leaving the house about 10-11, getting home at 7 or so, whereas I leave at 7 and am usually home by about 3/4, so the day isn't too long, however any tips for fending off dependency are more than welcome! How do you all do it?

I did a dog breed quiz for you and got French Bulldog as a 100% match...If you want to try some ..google ..these,

select smart dog breed selector quiz or K9 country dog breed selector and Animal planet dog breed selector.

They are just a guide;you need to meet your breeds of choice to see if they suit you.

I've done a few of those! They're wonderful things, but you have to be wary of being honest and not biased or they just tell you what you want to hear! Guilty more than once! ;)

That's a point. If the OP is renting, then the real estate agent should be consulted. If the apartment is owned then there may be body corporate issues. She should clear this up before committing to a puppy.

We are renting, and the place we're in has no problems with a dog, when we eventually settle and decide I plan on asking the neighbours themselves if they have any concerns or anything to please come to us and we're happy to sort anything out, there's already one or two dogs here and it seems they're quite happy to chat to the neighbours and suss out the possums out the front yard etc.

Also, it is markedly easier to get a new house with one small dog, rather than one huge one, no matter how docile and lovely they are. Luckily next we plan on moving out to the suburbs, so it's not likely we'll have much trouble, I've had a good lurk of the estate agents websites and the like and there's plenty of choice for with pets housing, but even moving house with mum and our Setter, there's a huge difference in reactions when she says he's about 40kg to when she says she has two little ones, who btw are much more destructive than he's ever been, let it be noted!

Whilst an adult large/giant breed may be suitable for apartment living, puppies of these rbeeds require space to run around.

This would be one of my issues, plus I'd love to be able to offer a really nice sunny yard to a big dog, a little one we have enough big bay windows around to get a good bum groove on, as the cats prove day in day out.

I have a JS and she's not barker. Only make noise when there is a need for it. She loves being her with people. She gets walked twice a day and she gets to go the park and free run. Hands down the most sweetest dog I've ever own (we just don't talk about her puppyhood, i block bad memories out of mind :p ) But saying that, I feel that JS aren't the perfect apartment dogs because most of the JS I know, they love being outside in their yard too much. They are very busy and active little dogs, who are always up to something. They all love to run around like nutters.

But, I will suggest:

Havanese

Cavaliers

Tibetan Spaniels

Well that's what they're bred to do and what they love! I have known a few too, and they're gorgeous, and if we were looking for an older dog, then maybe that could be an option, but as a pup we'd be run right off our feet, i feel!

My pedigree Dane would have had no issue at all with living in a flat.

He was very quiet and was not even energetic as a puppy.

He destroyed virtually nothing as a puppy, just stole the odd toothbrush. He was extremely easy to toilet train, we only had a couple of accidents.

Our house is tiny, only nine squares, and he didn't have his own room or anything.

Generally speaking larger dogs are much more still, they sleep many more hours in the day. They don't wander around so much. So they bring a different kind of energy to a house.

He just slept all day on his bed. But would have no issue getting up to do something when you wanted him to.

The only issue would potentially be if there were lots of stairs that needed negotiating. That would probably be quite bad for growing Dane pup.

Even my current 60 kg rescue dog would be perfect. He loves to go for a walk or do a bit of training, but of these things are not happening he is asleep on his bed.

We only have a few stairs, into the apartment and there's a big difference between carrying a frenchie up the stairs and a dane! Haha.

It sounds like you got entirely lucky there! He sounds wonderful, they're very sweet dogs and I always love watching them run about!

[Steph M]

Get a Frenchie! You know you want to;)

It's leaning that way, you are all so wonderfully persuasive!

If you want to frequent some of the dog parks in the area and let your new dog off lead when they are ready i wouldn't recommend an Italan Greyhound. Many of the dog parks are VERY busy all times of the day and you'd need to be particularly mindful of the fragility of a dog built like an Iggy if wanting to frequent these areas.

Yeah, we're big on the off-leash parks here, and that would be a worry. I'm not one to helicopter parent or anything, but I would worry. I would worry in any case though, to be totally honest.

It's all just personal opinion, and I hope I haven't offended anyone!

It won't be personal opinion if you end up with a dog prone to barking even if the dog is barking for a reason. You will need to get a breed with suitable traits for high density living or risk being evicted.

You might be better not giving your opinion of breeds you obviously dont like or the cars they are driven around in. If you don't want to offend.

I don't dislike anything, I didn't mean to come off that way. I think Giant breeds are lovely, there's two danes down the park that have the best expressions of pure joy when sniffing around, and are so gentle and I would love to have one, but I just don't feel it's the right match for our lifestyle at the moment, that's all I meant by the car comment, my brain doesn't function so well at 7am! But more what I meant was that we're prone to lots of trips away and where we can't take the dog it would probably stay at mum's house, which does have a lot of stairs, and it'd be a big ask of her as well.

Also with limited room and guests who come stay frequently we haven't the most space as is, and we don't want to stop these guests coming or make them feel put out, we have friends and family with little kids who are easy bowled over, and though this isn't an issue exclusive to big dogs, it's just as applicable to small ones, It's not a risk I'd want to enhance.

And really, my car is tiny! It doesn't even have back doors or windows that wind down. It would be a nightmare taking off for a drive for all involved!

I'm asking around and doing all the research I can, I think we're ready, we're a happy, social couple who are quite settled, we both know what we want and we're being as level headed and thoughtful as we can, we've cleared it with Body Corporate and our Real Estate, we're taking every precaution to ensure we do the right thing by a dog and can do everything to make it and everyone else as happy as we can, I'm sorry to have offended you, and by all means tell me when I do, it's not intentional!

But I feel like asking and ruling things out is the only way we're going to ensure we're on the right track, which has been my aim all along.

[Simply Grand]

Steph, I think it was pretty obvious that all you meant was that your car is small and it would be hard to fit a big dog in (and kinda funny to see)!

Greytmate, I think you were being overly sensitive...

[melzawelza]

Steph, I think it was pretty obvious that all you meant was that your car is small and it would be hard to fit a big dog in (and kinda funny to see)!

Greytmate, I think you were being overly sensitive...

Agreed. Steph is clearly doing all her research and has breed preferences like all of us do. Nothing she has said is offensive towards large breeds.