I guess it depends on what they want and if it's indoor or outdoor. I love terriers, but the 2 breeds I have experience with (Rat and Boston) shed a lot. The Boston is an especially great little dog, once you get past her looks (took me a little while to see past the exterior). As a kid, I had a Collie...in Louisiana...I don't remember that being an especially friendly combination. We had a standard poodle who was a really awesome dog, but he had some sort of adrenal gland problem and was on medication until his premature death (he ate a baseball). But, he was really gentle, but fun when he wanted to be. My first recommendation pet or otherwise, would be a retriever breed. Beyond that, if they were looking for a larger dog, Std Poodle. Smaller dog, the Boston Terrier gets my vote.

 

I'm not personally familiar with them, but i would love to hear feedback on Scotties and Schnausers. Anyone?

 

I have a friend who has two mini schnausers and does obedience with them, they play with my labs but don't like it much when they get too rough but put up with them. He is practically bomb proof in obedience from what I've seen this is unusual not the norm. From what I've know of these and seen of others I like the mini's temperment the best. She already has 20 obedience champion points on him. They really like to please their owners and are real lapdogs.
Sara

 

Grew up with schnauzers and I believe they bark more than any breed ever!!!! My aunt has an old rat terrier, 12 lb range, that has been an awesome dog. If I could find one like her I'd take it in a heartbeat .

 

Have you seen Angie B's avatar? That is just about the cutest little guy, they make great pets too...

 

yeah, but what is it?

 

As a kid, I grew up with West Highland White Terriers, Giant Schnauzers, and American Eskimos.

The Westies were very loyal to one person. They are very independent and very good at eliminating rodents. I had one up until we got married, but she was not having the fact that she wasn't the center of attention. She caught a ton of mice in the old farm house.

I loved the pair of Giant Schnauzers my mom had. They were probably the best dog outside of our labs that I have ever been around. I have heard nothing but good about the Schnauzer breed in general rather mini, standard, or giant.

The American Eskimos I was indifferent to. They have long white hair that was almost impossible to keep clean. We had a couple good ones and a couple not so good ones.

 

Nancy, I think a Corgi would be right at the top of the list. too bad they are so hard to find.

 

They are funny lil boogers, for sure. Just remember they are shepherds.

A couple of my friends have some. They are what we all call the Napoleon of dogs and have that little man syndrome. They hustle around as if to say "just because I'm short doesn't mean I'm little."

While Corgis are cool, I too agree with the others about the Labrador. There is a reason they are so popular.

 

Aussie Teriers are great, also hard to find. Least barking of all little dogs.

 

If I ever get a small dog, I think it'll be a Border Terrier but they are not like most terriers-- seem happier. Actually Bostons are quite nice too I think.

That said, when people tell me they "Just" want a pet, I ask them if they want a healthy pet (or at least skew their odds that way). I ask them how important trainability is. Terriers on the whole, can be a wee bit independent. Sometimes an older dog that is a washout (from whatever program) is the best way to go since folks can see what the end product is before they commit.

 

The obvious. A lab, of course!!! They aren't the # 1 registered dog for no reason.

 

Could not agree more!

 

I'd steer them toward a rescue/shelter dog. Sure it's a crap-shoot but let's be honest, so are pedigreed dogs. You can never know w/ certainty how any pup is going to turn out. How many of us first found our passion for living with dogs with a dog of dubious parentage? Unless you have a specific trait you are looking for (retrieving, herding, etc.) why not encourage someone to rescue a dog that will otherwise probably be put down soon?

 

If a Lab bitch is too big (the elderly or infirm might find them a bit of a lump) then one of the more biddable terriers.

Scotties make great pets; full of character, very affectionate and pretty healthy. Cairns are nice too.

I wouldn't have a Jack Russell for all the tea in China.

Eug

 

If a Lab bitch is too big (the elderly or infirm might find them a bit of a lump) then one of the more biddable terriers.

Scotties make great pets; full of character, very affectionate and pretty healthy. Cairns are nice too.

I wouldn't have a Jack Russell for all the tea in China.

Eug

You just don't know what you're missing Eug!

 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are hard to beat as pets.
For medium sized active dogs I recommend Australian Shepards. They are a nice size and extremely smarty dogs. Similar to a border collie but not as hyper.
Larger dogs, a lab, golden, and even a boxer can make great pets.

 

As a pet? A sound retired racing greyhound. Long as the owner walks the dog on lead.

 

Before taking the plunge with any breed consider grooming, health, and disposition problems. Several breeds mentioned will cause you to be well acquainted with a veterinarian.

Two breeds not mentioned that I would own, Whippet and Shetland Sheepdog, one very short haired one medium haired. Either would be a good choice as a family pet.

 

Hear, hear! My experiences exactly.

I was actually going to suggest a sheltie (though lots of hair, grooming isn't usually terrible- and I'm used to my labs shedding a TON...and they do tend to be vocal, I was amazed by the shelties at the first dog show I ever attended as a kid- every single one in the lineup was "debarked" and still "barking"- more of a "cough" after being debarked, obviously). Smart, funny, loving, loyal, and still "compact." Any breed needs to be well-socialized, though, I think. I like the sight hound suggestions as well- though smart to talk to a breeder/rescue about them and their training/behavior quirks as well.

LOVE Cardigan Welsh corgis... mellow, sturdy, and don't tend to have a ton of health problems as long as you find one from a reputable breeder.

I do love Frenchies and Cavs, but both can be very prone to health problems... though I suppose that's true of labs, too (sigh).

 

From the dogs that board with us, some of the ones that seem popular and successful in pet homes are

Boxer--very popular around here. Cute, affectionate, some are overly assertive
Boxer mix--generally nice in a strong and energetic way
Shepherd mix--tend to have Shepherd's appealing traits with less edge
small Poodle--smart and adaptable
Pit bull--popular family dog, cute, affectionate, smart
Cavalier King Charles spaniel--developed by the Brits to be the perfect pet
Maltese & Shih Tzu--nice for people who enjoy catering to their foibles; need grooming
Chihuahua--adaptable and lots of personality
Scotties--strong personality but both dignified and humorous, a classy dog
Cairn--adaptable and cute, lot of energy
Rat terriers--cute, moderately adaptable, very affectionate
Small Dachshund--lots of bounce, cuteness, upbeat attitude
Standard Dachshund--pretty nice, adaptable dog. Comes in various coat types.
Cocker--can be really nice pets. Need grooming, good breeding should reduce health issues
Dobe--people-oriented and affectionate, seem pretty successful as pets.

English bulldogs have cute personalities and aren't too demanding, but require attention to health issues and are endangered by too much heat.


I would think twice about
Australian Shepherd--many are spooky, reactive, adapt poorly, get separation anxiety
Chow--known for unpredictable biting and separation anxiety
Golden retriever--very smart and want to run things, prone to separation anxiety
Chesapeake Bay retriever--wrong dog for many people; lots end up in rescue
German Shepherd--smart, can be very demanding and assertive
Rottweiler--big, assertive, a lot of owners struggle with them

I know I'll think of others as soon as I hit "post"....

Amy Dahl

 

I got my wife a mini schnauzer for her birthday about 3 months before I got my lab. I would highly recommend one of those. She is a great little dog that is joined at the hip with my 4 year old little boy. They are inseparable. She also rips and runs just as hard as Nelli does in the yard. She thinks shes a big dog when they are playing and then she'll come in and curl up on Ryan's lap when its time to chill out. Only time she barks is when someone she doesnt recognize comes to the house, (which is a good thing). One "quiet" command and she turns it off and goes about her business. Very obedient little dog.

 

Sure glad there is a variety of choices, sure would be a dull world if everyone thought the same.
A Beagle can be a great choice, especially if you have small children.

Of course how could you not love a goofy Bulldog (expensive, and the vet will be your best friend)

 

Carol, I think what matters most to the selection is who you are helping.

Are they active people that want a dog to go places with them?
or are the sedentary?

Do they have property or live in an apartment / small house?

Do they have the aptitude and the desire, or the cash (can be $2,000 easily) to put basic obedience training in place?

Could they handle returning a dog to a shelter if they got one that had underlying issues beyond thier ability to correct?

Are they physically capable of dealing with a bigger dog?

Kids?

Budget?

Other desires like recreating a childhood pet or other reason to choose a certain breed.

Let's face it all dogs aren't for all people and just like so many other things (spandex and child birth come to mind), some people should just go get a cat!

 

Small dogs I would choose either of the Corgi's or a Sheltie
Medium dogs would go with a Boxer, they have a good nature about them and are easy to care for.
Larger dogs, if not a lab, then a golden or a shepard. The golden I had was the sweetest most loving dog I have ever had. I've had 2 GSD's growing up and they both have been great with us as kids. The female we had was very motherly with all the kids that came over to the house. She played with us but was always on alert for anything that could pose a danger.

 

I have a border collie and I love that dog.

Labs are great and all, but border collies are fantastic dogs and great pets.

I have already taught this border collie to deal cards while chewing gum.

 

Ok---I spent a huge amount of time researching breeds when I decided to get a little dog-my "just a pet dog". I ended up with a Russell Terrier, a shorty-parents from across the pond, good old barn dogs. I wanted something that was hearty, healthy and cute. I ended up with a gem of a dog. Quiet, no little dog issues and a lot of fun. The only time she barks is when we get ready to go train, I'm working on that issue. I spent a lot of time training her from the second she landed in st. louis and it paid off. So don't throw Russell's under the bus, they are not ALL obnoxious.

 

I think it all depends on the buyer and their family. Toy breeds don't usually mix well with small children. Large breeds can be too much for the elderly or disabled. Some people love coat care and some want a wash and wear kind of coat.

I love my Goldens but for the easiest to own I recommend a Rat Terrier. I have had several, starting when I was a kid, and they are low maintenance, high intelligence, and extremely tuned into their owners wants.

 

That is kind of a loaded question because everyone's life style is different and their level of experience is different. Personally I try to get people to adopt from shelters or rescues first and foremost. If they want a purebred I try to suggest one that would work with the family. My husband and I both want an English Bulldog. My husband has wanted one for years. I am still researching to find a good breeder so when the time comes we can put a deposit down. I also grew up with a Rottweiler that was our "once in a lifetime" dog and would love to have another one someday. We have three labs right now (and the occasional rescue dog) and that is plenty for the amount of space we have.

 

My husband and I both want an English Bulldog. .

Get a really really good pet health insurance policy, cute puppies but they grow into adults with almost every medical problem that exists in domestic dogs.

 

I see many small dog breeds I think would make good pets. I think it's most important to find a well bred one that exhibits what the standard calls for as far as temperament, and to understand what are the normal characteristics of the breed. Don't go by the look you like. Terriers are supposed to have attitude, they can be persistent, but are highly intelligent. I think there is some truth that some smaller breed males can be more persistent than females. This is a generalization but you can see the characteristics come through. My Toy Fox Terrier works so well with my Labs. She plays with the puppies and loves them. She can be persistent with finding kibble but she knows when she is being naughty and listens. That doesn't mean she won't do it again. She pushes in the epen for the puppies because she smells a stray kibble. She is an excellent judge of character, and has to make friends with any new Lab that comes in the house. She can act like a supervisor and "guard dog" then there can be some barking and we are working on that because she can get the rest of them going. Other small breeds I like are Corgis, Fench Bulldogs, Whippets, Caveliers, Bicons, medium Boykins, AWS, IWS, English Cockers.