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Small dog owners, can you offer me breed suggestions?
My husband and I have been trying to have a child for a couple of years now without success. We have decided that a dog may be a good idea since we have a lot of love and patience to give. Also, puppy training might keep me distracted from constantly thinking about infertility!
We aren't really sure what we want. My husband is a bit of a neat freak so ideally it would be a very low shedding dog. We also prefer smaller dogs (less than 10lbs ideally) who have an easy going temperment.
I'm kind of leaning towards a yorkie as my grandparents have one and he seems very well behaved and sweet.
Our good friends also have a Shih-tsu and he's the most mellow dog I've ever met!
Toy poodles also are an option but I've never had any first hand experience with one.
Thanks for any input :D
OH and any advice on reputable breeders in Quebec, Canada would be appreciated.
it's not like my husband has issue with the messes of children...he's not that ridiculous...and it's not like he's unaware of that either...geez!
As for a dog, again he knows accidents happen but if he can avoid the dog hair issue it would be better that's all.
Our friends' with the shih-tsu just had a baby two weeks ago and she seems fine....
As for my fertility it's not that I'm trying to get rid of my problems, but unless you've dealt with the pain of negative test month after month, please don't give your opinion on that issue.
for the record, don't worry about me getting rid of the dog if (and that's a BIG if) I finally get pregnant...unless the baby is suddenly in danger, I'm not going to stop loving my dog! I grew up with pets...I want my kids to have that too.
12 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Wow, there are some strong opinions here eh? I'm positive your husband is a normal rational human being...don't take the neat freak thing into account here too much...he'll be just fine, and hey, even people who aren't neat freaks don't like dog hair floating around all over the place right?
Any breeder who deny's you a dog based on the fact that you may or may not have kids is an as* and you should find another breeder anyway. If a dog is properly trained (and treated like a dog not a baby) you can introduce a baby just fine. And if for some reason the dog has a freakout about it, as much as you may love her, your actual baby will come first...don't feel guilty or defensive about that, it's the way it should be.
There are so many small breeds of dog it's crazy, there are seriously about 50. Google small dogs and you'll come up with a billion.
I like poodles, they don't shed and they can be great dogs (any dog can be a great dog though, so long as it's treated like a dog) just don't make the mistake of thinking because it's a small dog that it doesn't need proper training and socialization or that any misbehaviours are "cute". But poodles are very intelligent and easy to train, and so long as you don't goofy them up at the groomers they are very cute pups!
I think it's a great plan...lots of people I know who stuggled with infertility found that it wasn't such a struggle when the finally gave up, no pressure = baby, a lot of the time.
Good luck!!
- AbsLv 51 decade ago
Chiwawas are very small dogs but shed as much as any other dog.
Here is a list of little shedding dogs.
All dogs are very cute to me.
Affenpinscher
Airedale Terrier
American Hairless Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Australian Terrier
Basenji
Bedlington Terrier
Bergamasco
Bichon Frise
Bichon/Yorkie
Black Russian Terrier
Bolognese
Border Terrier
Bouvier des Flanders
Brussels Griffon
Cairn Terrier
Cesky Terrier
Chacy Ranior
Chi-Poo
Chinese Crested (hairless)
Cockapoo
Coton De Tulear
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Doodleman Pinscher
Giant Schnauzer
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Hairless Khala
Havanese
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Italian Greyhound
Kerry Blue Terrier
Komondor
Labradoodle
Lagotto Romagnolo
Lakeland Terrier
Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)
Maltese
Malti-Poo
Manchester Terrier
Mi-Ki
Miniature Poodle
Miniature Schnauzer
Norfolk Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Peruvian Inca Orchid
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Polish Owczarek Nizinny
Poos
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
Schnoodle
Scottish Terrier (Scottie)
Sealyham Terrier
Shepadoodle
Shichon
Shih-Tzu
Silky Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Spanish Water Dog
Standard Poodle
Standard Schnauzer
Tibetan Terrier
Toy Poodle
Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Wirehaired Fox Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Xoloitzcuintle
Yorkshire Terrier
- Anonymous1 decade ago
If your husband is a neat freak as you describe then having children would not be the best thing for him. Dirty diapers, throw up, messes, and this lasts for years and years. Even dogs with long coats only shed 1-2 times a year. Far cleaner then a baby or toddler.
Make sure your husband really is ok with a dog. All puppies are going to have accidents.
Toy breeds are not necessarily the easiest to train or house train, you may find yourself frustrated by that. Hubby may not be too thrilled either.
Also, if you are going to try to keep having children, toy breeds are terrible to have around them. No reputable breeder is going to let you have one of their dogs if they know you are going to be having children any time soon.
I would say the best thing to do is go to a rescue and get a nice young adult.
Honestly I don't thing the breed matters.
I would never suggest someone taking on a dog as a distraction from their problems. No doubt if your reproductive issues resolve the dogs going to take a back seat or be gone all together.
Maybe try fostering a dog for a rescue and see how that works out for you.
- 1 decade ago
I would suggest you do research on bread 1st as well as go to a rescue place like a shelter even if you would like a pure bred dog. This website http://animal.discovery.com/tv/dogs-101/dog-resour... is great in providing unbiased information on dogs and dog breeds such as temperament, shedding, breed common health issues and so on. It even has a GUI interface which walks you through selecting the dogs you might be interested in by categories and dog traits. Additionally by going to a shelter you will be able to access if this is really what you want.
Also please consider a reputable rescue. There are very knowledgeable rescues groups for all sorts of breeds. The advantages of a rescue are many including rescuing a dog from certain death. Another benefit is that groups who actually volunteer to rescue a specific breed are very dedicated and knowledgeable about the breed thus being able to provide you with information firsthand about the dog you would like to adopt.
Another benefit of a rescue is that if you take the dog home and you find out that the arrangement is not working the rescue organization will take the dog back no questions asked or will work with you to try to make it work.
Please do consider a rescue.
On a side note consider looking for breeds that will get along with children as you might get your wish and it would be tragic if you ended up having to choose between the baby and the dog. (haha)
Good luck on your search.
Source(s): http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselec... http://animal.discovery.com/tv/dogs-101/dog-resour... http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/a-z.htm - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- Anonymous5 years ago
Call your dog's name (once) and treat him when he looks at you. After awhile, praise most of the time and treat occasionally. Learn here https://tr.im/6ljiI
Start inside, then work your way outside on the leash. Let him sniff around and call his name when he seems focused on something else. Treat and praise if he looks at you, take him inside if he doesn't. Keep doing this ( for weeks/months - real training takes time) and work your way off leash. Eventually your dog will stop what he's doing an focus on you when you want him to.
The problem that most people have with teaching a recall (come) is that they only try to do it when the dog is doing something far more fun than performing the command. You have to teach the dog that coming to you when you call is the very most fun thing he could do. Go outside with a friend and a big bag of treats split between you. Go about 10 feet from eachother, then take turns saying the word "come" once and making a HUGE deal of praising him with each step he takes towards you, then treat and praise even more when he gets there. As he gets better, work your way further apart. When he's mastered that, include other distractions like other dogs or noisy toys. Keep making a HUGE deal of praising him when he does it right, and he will learn a flawless recall.
- 1 decade ago
Well I have 8 dogs, all rescue dogs either abandoned or from the shelter so I have 8 different types and have worked with dogs all my life. So here it goes
Chihuahua are great, short hair , small and not a lot of shedding- I have 2
Yorkie, small and kept short easy to keep groomed- I have 1
Any terrier mix-Most have short hair and have great temperaments- I have 4
I do suggest that you go to the ASPCA to find your new family member.
Good luck and hopefully when you get your little 4-legged baby you guys will start to relax and then you will get pregnant- kind of like when people adopt a baby they get pregnant after wards.
Lord Bless
- mailhiotLv 45 years ago
For my first dogs I particularly have a Chihuahua/fox terrier blend. That so a techniques has been a physically powerful breed blend for the whole clutter gained the better of each parent. Tiny for going places yet is comfortable. the only undertaking you will bump into like with any small breed is the bladder. Very small and could be watched.
- 1 decade ago
My favorite is a shih tzu, and if you train it right it wont be yappy. My uncle and aunt have 2 yorkies, and they are very very very yappy. Those are the only 2 i know so just because they are yappy dosnt mean all are.. My family is very attached to shih tzus. We adopted one from the pound, loved him so much, my sister and her husband got a shih tzu, and after our first shih tzu died, we got a shih tzu puppy. I love them to death! But i cant really say that they are the best breed because everybody loves their own dog and thinks they are the best. But i really would suggest getting a dog because ive heard the more you think and try to have a baby, you wont have one.. But as soon as you quit thinking about it, it will happen. Thats what my mom always says. Plus a puppy is great practice for working together to raise something. Dogs and children dont grow up right if the parent dont support each other and work together.
- 1 decade ago
I have been tryin for a year with no luck of fetility. I have a pomeranian she's a year old got her for free from a breeder who could not take care of them. She is a joy I love her so much. She does shed but not a lot. My suggestion would be to get a maltese it's the first dog I wanted but got her and would not change it. Good Luck though
- Anonymous5 years ago
Infertility can be caused by a huge number of factors: hormone imbalance, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Endometriosis, Anovulatory Cycles, physical blockage, inadequate hormone production, short luteal phase, lack of lutenizing hormone, high levels or prolactin, and many others. How to get pregnant https://tr.im/LGfwD
Poor nutrition often plays a major role, as does exposure to toxins. Age plays less of a role before menopause than was originally thought. While there are many wonderful naturally minded fertility specialists out there, in many cases it is not possible for them to test for and address any of these possible underlying issues.