I'm a first time dog owner...?

Although it may seem as though the JRT you met was reserved and quiet, do not make assumptions- it's most likely just the evironment it's in. While there are some JRT that are quiet and subdued, it's rather rare.

I volunteer at a shelter, and there are plenty of dogs who get adopted into great homes, and once they're there, their personalities change- they're more hyper, more aggressive, whatever the case may be. You really won't know until you bring the dog home.

Because you know the main breeds that are in two of the dogs, I would highly suggest doing research on both breeds, and also some more generalized research on terriers, just to help you figure out what you're able to handle. There's really no way for us to recommend a dog for you when we don't know about your lifestyle; How often you're home, what sort of living conditiong you're in (appartment, house, etc), how active you are, among other things. All those are important on choosing the dog.

I will say, however, that Shih Tzus, in GENERAL, tend to be less enerjetic than terriers or mixes of that sort, but not always.

Find out as much as you can about these dog's history from the shelter, such as what sort of situation they came from, any aggression issues (human, food, etc), any training they may have (All of the hard-to-adopt dogs at the shelter where I volunteer go through an obedience course or two; it's helpful to know if they've had any work/how easy or difficult they are to train), if they're housebroken, and any other questions you may have about handling/owning the dog in general.

Sorry if I just unloaded a whole lot of information on you. :] But as a volunteer, I've seen all too often the dogs that get adopted by owners who are great families, but once the dog gets home and their personalities shift, they feel that they can't cope.

Good luck with finding the perfect dog for you, and if you have any more questions or just wanna talk, I'm always free. :]

PS. If you end up going with one of the terriers, I'd highly recommend doing something active with them such as agility, flyball, frisbee, obedience, etc. My own dogs love agility, and it's a great way to tire them out, and make the bond between you even stronger. :]

Firstly, most dogs in shelters are depressed as they have been moved away from their people and usually have no idea as to how to act in such a constrained environment. That means that the quiet JRT may well be a live wire once he comes out of the shelter.

Pros and Cons of the Terrier and JRT- Both of these will need you to take them to training to keep up with their fast little minds. Jacks are great when you work them, they excel in Obedience, Agility and most dog sports. They are not good at sitting on the couch all day, being alone all day and can be manic chewers.

Pros and Cons of the Shih- It will require constant grooming, either at home or ideally at a Professional groomers. At around $45.00 depending what country you live in and remembering that he will need to be groomed every 8 weeks, that could cost in excess of $200 per year just on grooming! Shihs tend to be self important little dogs which sometimes are not the brightest bulbs (when really its because they don't want to learn) However, they can, with the right training, be great little dogs.

I find that it is such a personal decision. Next time you go to the shelter, take a few toys, ask if you can take them for a walk and treat them as if you already own them. Try a little obedience, simple sit and walking on a lead. This will give you an idea as to how they will fit into your home.

Or, you could write a list of what you expect from your dog, show the shelter staff and get their input as they know the dogs better than you can, after only a short visit.

Sounds like the JRT is not gonna be very exciting and wont be an ideal first dog. Terriers are usually high energy so if you have the time to commit to exercise it everyday then you should consider it. The Shih Tzu would probably make a good first dog. Here's some info on the breed:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shihtzu.htm

well depends on your life style really, first of all Shih Tzus need a lot of grooming or they get mats bad. JRT's don't. yes i have a JRT and they do have a lot of energy but they all have different personality's i have seen some that are very laid back. mine turned 3 in april and he has started to settle down a bit but still a lot of Energy lol, and they go were there noses take them so make sure to keep them on a leash when out of house. Shih Tzu's are more laid back then a JRT but a lot of bushing and grooming. just depends on which you like better more energy or little energy and a lot of grooming. hope this help even a little.

Either the reserved JRT or the Shih Tzu. Note, however, that after your new dog becomes accustomed to you their behavior could change. That reserved JRT could turn into a spit fire or could have some aggression problems. I've met many, many nasty JRT's and I work at a shelter. Personally I recommend labs for new dog owners and would encourage you from first hand experience to wait for a female lab mix to come your way. I say female since it seems as though you want a medium to small sized dog.

I'd say the shih-tzu. I have heard they are wonderful dogs. Very friendly. And cute :)

And thank you sooo much for adopting from a shelter!! You are a hero :)