A Small, Calm Dog?
 

Hubby and I are investigating dog breeds that weigh between 20 and 30 pounds, and have a calm disposition. (We have always preferred the large and giant breeds, but we are no longer able to lift them when they are sick or injured.)

There are numerous small dogs that are appealing, but I have yet to find one that isn't hyperactive or in need of constant attention. I remember a couple of prior topics concerning breed characteristics, but can't seem to find them now.

So TFPers...any suggestions based upon your experience with a breed that is both small and calm? Thanks!


PS: It sure would be nice to have pet topics all in one place. :suave:

Top Dog Breeds for Seniors

I feel so malicious posting that... :(

glares at the young whippersnapper...

Beagles have very sweet dispositions and are rather bumps on logs.... and don't get all that big.

Greyhounds are also very sweet tempered dogs (especially if you can get a rescue dog or a retired racer) they like to run really fast for short bursts, but then sleep the rest of the day.

Bulldogs ugly as sin, but loyal, patient and very sweet low mainteance dogs. my brother has one.. somedays betty pretends she's stuffed and doesnt move.. but will go for walks when asked... is social... Wil put up with abuse by children and well the downside is they snore like fred flinstone...

I'm very partial to that exotic breed of dog known as the MUTT... that comes from the Humane society and will be grateful to you forever for saving it from death row.

My first mail from AARP was some back. I'm over the whole "senior" thing for the most part, sorta, maybe. ;)

Unfortunately, greyhounds are huge, heavy dogs. My poochissimo, Jack, is a lab/greyhound mix, and he is NOT small. He is 80+ lbs and TALL. But he's also a very good, obedient dog, and very low maintenance, because of the greyhound factor. He's happy to be a lapdog.

But if size is a concern, no greyhounds, unless you're going to get an Italian greyhound, which are similar in personality to regular greyhounds.

Greyhounds are really tall, aren't they? I don't know why I didn't think of beagles, who wouldn't want a Snoopy? My granddaughter is a big factor in our choice, so the bulldog sounds good too. Ugly? Should improve my selfesteem. :rolleyes:

Rottie and Gus are both rescue MUTTS, but Gus is truly the worst dog we have ever owned. He was a little sweetie when we picked him up, so there really isn't a sure way of telling the disposition of a pup. A beagle or bulldog mixed breed might be a good choice though.

Thanks!

I don't remember the pure bred greyhound that I met as being that big... Tall and slender... but a great disposition.. and the owner of the dog was a major yutz - so the sweet temperedness of the dog came from within... they are smart.

The only real problem with beagles I think, is that they can develop weight problems... and that makes for an unhappy doggy but if it's figure is watched.. tehy are fairly low key..

Wow! That is a great list. Thanks, ya young punk. :icare:

That may be a problem. Hubby thinks dogs were made for table scraps. That would be a problem for any breed, I would think.

Beagles have very sweet dispositions and are rather bumps on logs.... and don't get all that big.

Greyhounds are also very sweet tempered dogs (especially if you can get a rescue dog or a retired racer) they like to run really fast for short bursts, but then sleep the rest of the day.

Bulldogs ugly as sin, but loyal, patient and very sweet low mainteance dogs. my brother has one.. somedays betty pretends she's stuffed and doesnt move.. but will go for walks when asked... is social... Wil put up with abuse by children and well the downside is they snore like fred flinstone... [/QUOTE]


The only breed I agree with here is the beagle. While Greyhounds are calm, they are not small. Also BullDogs can be very wild and have numerous health problems. I hate working with them when they come into my clinic. I am trying hard to think of a small calm dog and the closest thing I can come up with is maybe a Shi-tzu or a Sheltie.

The thing about finding a calm dog is that EVERY dog is different. It's hard to say really that one breed is more calm then the other. I would recommend going to the shelter and picking one based on the behavior you witness. After all mix breed dogs are known to have fewer health problems.

My beagle has the energy of 15 supergiant stars. He's over a year and a half old, but still is 100% puppy, and acts accordingly. He is also very vocal. He can, and has, barked himself mute over the coures of about a week on several occasions. Compared to my last dog, a wire-hair fox terrier, my beagle is pure mahyem. He is loyal and kind, but he requires supervision. He is also nearing 30 pounds, and none of it is fat (I exercise him twice a day).

BTW, a wire-haired fox terrier might be a good choice. Mine was quite loyal, behaved himself, and didn't shed at all.

Thanks, Will. I should have remembered the Snoopy Dance. :)

Beagles are famous for barking and barking and barking and barking and barking and barking and barking and barking.

I think you get what I'm trying to say.

A calm dog? Any small dog with owners who can control it.

Basically what it comes down to is small dogs are allowed to get away with things large dogs never would be able to. Therefore they're used to barking, being aggressive, etc and it's acceptable.

Treat small dogs the same as large ones and they'll be calm and friendly.

Yeah - I got that link from googling "Small calm dog" and voila...

Beagles are energetic barky dogs. They're sweet, but a bit of a pain in the ass sometimes.

Elphaba, I know one of these dogs:

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

and can vouch for what a sweet, good natured pooch he is. I think he may be a bit over 30 pounds, but probably not by much.

The bitch usually reaches 40 pounds and that is beyond my lifting ability. Hub might be able to lift that weight sans back problems. I need to consider the maximum I can manage. I followed your link. The "rage" response sounds unsafe for me or my grandchild. Ordinarily, Hub has been the alpha dog for decades. I can't risk a dog challenging his place any longer.

I should have added "quiet" dog to my request. I have a home office and I certainly don't need a chronic yapper disrupting phone calls. And I love quiet. A barker would be unloved very soon.

Thanks for the heads up. :)

The Shi-tzu showed up on the list that young fella gave me. I have seen good Sheltie's in obedience classes. I'm going to give them a look.

My parents had a sheltie mix. He was energetic but not loud. He was also very socialized, and basically a sweet little guy. He liked being around people, but didn't necessarily need their undivided attention.

Rodney, was he patient with babies? I'm really starting to like the Sheltie.

I have a Teacup Chihuahua he is so cute and small and he doesnt bark hardly at all, even if ppl come over to the house. hes so calm and quite but they cost alot, my friend sold him to me for only $100 better then the pet store they are like $500 there.

I also have a pomeranian but man does he bark his head off dont get one of those.

I have a friend with a fox poo they are pretty calm.

A calm quiet little dog, unless old, I'd try stuffed first. Big dog or no dog for me.

cavilier king charles spaniel are well known for their calm disposition and are quite small and cute. They are also cuddle fiends.

Cavaliers are sweet... but they're kinda barbie dogs... they have accessories and you have to pack for them if you go anywhere :)

I'd have a tough time seeing you go from two rottweilers to a cavalier...

The only cavaliers I've known have been skittish and barkers - there goes the quiet.

I had a cocker spaniel for 10 years, and she was ~30 pounds. She did not bark unless someone was at the door, and loved nothing better than to follow you around and lay on your feet.

However, the other 5 cockers I have had ranged from the one above to never ending ball fetching machine. It all goes back to the individual dog. Size wise, cocker spaniels are near the higher end of your weight requirements if kept in shape. I have one right now that is ~15 pounds and another that is ~28 pounds.

Meh, my best friend growing up had a cocker spaniel. Whiny little scaredy-cat (or is that scaredy-pup?). Guess it depends.

I generally HATE small dogs. They're higher strung and yappy. However, there are two that I've seen several examples of that have been really sweet and cuddly: Pugs, and daschunds (sp?). Pugs are sprightly, energetic, and affectionate. The daschunds I've met are cuddly and sweet, and enjoy their walks. I think the cutest ones are those with the black bodies and black and white spotted legs. SO CUTE! These guys are pure companion pups. And not yappy, if brought up well.

Plus, if you have big dogs already, the puppies will be socialized by them, thus learn to act more like big dogs in small bodies. Always a plus, and a saving grace for the small and yappy.

:)

I'd say NO on the Shih-tzu... my advisor has one, and I end up dog-sitting it every single time he goes away for a few days (how I love being a grad student slave). That dog is the most high-maintenance animal I've ever known. My advisor tells me it's because the dog was a lapdog for emperors for thousands of years, so it's bred into him to be treated like a king. :lol:

I guess the dog was treated badly in his previous home (he was rescued from the pound), because he's terribly insecure and must be basically touching a human at all times. Even at night, he crawls up on the bed, slowly, until he's practically sitting on my chest or in my ear (where he promptly licks his chops all night, which drives me CRAAAAAZY). He doesn't bark too much, I'll give him that. :p

So, I recommend NOT getting a shih-tzu, though of course, you could find a perfectly quiet and obedient one. You just never know.

Maybe the best thing to do would find someone who already owns a dog and wants to get rid of it, so that you already know the dog's disposition. People are always moving and wanting to schluff off their animals :( so I bet you could find one on Craigslist or something?

I have always wanted a Dachshund. They are the coolest dogs ever!
I would name him Weiner-dog. But... alas, no weiner-dog for me :(

I don't reccomend getting a dog from a Kennel, but here is a site all about the little guys: http://www.thedachshundnetwork.com/

http://www.petnet.com.au/dogs/doggif/D129.jpg

I want one! Such an awesome indoor pet! :D

My vote is for a beagle! They're so darn cute and lovable. Plus, in my experience with them, I've never come across one that barked a whole lot and they're always good tempered. :)

Just like me! hehe

http://www.selectsmart.com/dog/

That'll help narrow things down.

IMHO, you'd be best off going with a well-socialized rescue/shelter dog whose temperament is well established, rather than going with a particular breed.

If, however, you're looking for a pure-bred or dominant breed...

Shelties are barkers. BIG barkers. Bark bark bark bark bark.

You might look at basenjis - I haven't heard anyone mention them. They are rather sweet - no barking, and SUPER smart, but those smarts can get them into mischief.

Whippets are also sweet, although a little timid.

Remember that calm and quiet are largely a factor of having a dominant owner who doesn't let the dog think it's in charge. If the dog doesn't know that you are the alpha, and are in charge of protecting the pack, they're going to do it for you, which means barking and being neurotic and possibly aggressive. A lot of people neglect this with smaller dogs, treating them like toys rather than like canines - they're still pack animals and still ruled by doggie evolutionary forces. You still have to be firm and in charge with them.

Good luck!

You've been watching The Dog Wisperer, haven't you?

This is all great feedback. You have given me a lot to consider.

Thanks, everyone.:icare:

Weren't any babies around. But he was pretty patient with everybody. A truly friendly dog, and easy to psych. Say "Bad Dog," and he'd fold his ears and creep back to his box.

He was a Sheltie/Corgi mix, to be precise. Short. Low to the ground. Solid

Elph, you currently own two dogs that many people, including myself woudl say you were insane to have around a grandbaby... gus and rottie are very docile not because the breed makes them that way -- rottweillers are a tad on the badass side... they are that way because of how they were trained to be...

any new dog you get would also be trained...

some dogs I think are naturally obnoxious, but they're pretty rare...

meet a bunch of dogs and see which one likes you best :D

No, I'm just a fan of behaviorist training for dogs. I have several friends who are trainers, and have read a lot of Jean Donaldson.

Gus will be moving on tomorrow, so there will be a missing part in our family. You have all given me great leads in what to look for in a small, calm, quiet, and good with children Dog.

The advice to rescue a dog strikes home with me. I live in a rural area and I see pups and older dogs dumped every year. You have given me a good idea of what I should be looking for, and something tells me the dog I am looking for will find me, as Rottie did. Of course, Rottie will have last say in this choice. :)

Sincerely, I thank all of you for your input.

Pen

ceasar is great with the dogs!

toy or mini poodles are great smaller dogs. toys go around 6-10 lbs while the minis can get in the upper teens to low 20s. they are smart (second only to border collies), don't shed and are easily trained. plus they love poeple and other dogs. we have two toys and their best frined is the chocolate lab next door. it's wild to watch the three of them run and play together. and my oldest is a pet therapy dog and loves to hang out with kids in a hospital - or anywhere.

I second the poodle vote. I've had them for years and they're awesome pets!

My favorite doggie to pet sit for is a Miniature Schnauzer.

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

photo from: http://www.champdogs.co.uk/guided/al...schnauzer.html

http://www.champdogs.co.uk/images/k5560d5.jpg

They are small, loving dogs, but not as boring as a beagle. The one that I know and love is about 15-20 lbs. Perky, but not loud, easy to pick up and wonderfully cuddly. They do require a considerable amount of brushing, and they're not a good breed to leave at home alone all day. On the flip side, they are wonderful companions and obedient. If you're the sort that loves cuddly companionship from a pup, you may be picking them up a lot since they're just a little too small to hop onto a couch or into bed without assistance.

I also found this breed on a list that are good with kids. Thanks gg. :)

english bulldogs are usually pretty friendly and low key. the breed is prone to health problems, particularly with snoring and stuff.

boston terriers are insanely energetic.


in my general experiance, most dogs only get calmer when they get older. I'm not sure there's one particular breed out there that has a calm trait just wired in.

It didn't take long for some creep to dump three dogs. We took Rottie with us to take a look at them and see if he liked one of them. There was a female black lab who had recently had pups, and a yellow lab male. Both were very timid and glued to each other. A much smaller, younger dog was "protecting" the other two with aggressive barking. Guess which one Rottie liked? All three were being taken to the shelter that night, so we took a chance on the little feisty one.

AND SHE'S A KEEPER!!!! :D

She's a small black spaniel of some kind or more likely a mix. She is house trained and knows several obedience commands. She has calmed down completely since getting settled in here, and she and Rot are becoming good pals. She's a cuddler and followers me everywhere I go...which may earn her the name of "Shadow." She will play fetch with a ball for as long as we are willing to throw it. We think she is one year old at most, and she will be seeing the vet this week for a checkup. Hopefully, she will be very good for our granddaughter, too. I'll take her down to the beach today to see how much of a water dog she is.

Thanks again, everyone, especially those that suggested I be on the look out for a spaniel type of dog. We're in love, already. :love:

That's fantastic!!! It sounds like Shadow has found a good home in you guys, and you guys found a nother great companion in Shadow.

All of our dogs have been spaniels ... glad to see you've also found a good friend :)

*sniff* I love happy endings!!! [runs off to find more tissues] I gotta get out of the Pet Forum......

I was going to suggest a Basenji - they are small, "barkless" dogs.

this just gave me a chuckle :lol:

As to the topic.

I have found beagles to be quite high strung in my experience.

I would suggest a Shi-Tzu for the criteria you shared. the breed is compact, less time consuming and generally a very likeable breed that's typically very sweet.

however, I would like to note that with any breed you decide on, do your research with different breeders. I have had one very wild and hyper lab and one very calm pomeranian... both the opposite of what their "typical breed characteristic" shows. It really comes down often to the personality and disposition of the individual puppy, so bear that in mind.

sweetpea


apparently I should read the whole thread.... anyway... :)
congrats! :)
excellent :D I'm so happy that this worked out so great for you! :) I wish you and your new addition many happy years :)

sweetpea

i guess the issue has been settled and im late to the thread....

but no one mentioned pugs!!!

they are a great size, they're not yippy at all and i've never seen a vicious one in my life. i've also never seen dogs that have such unique and distinctive personalities from one to another.

all in all, though , grats on your shadow!

It's so smart to listen to your animals.

I have a poodle and when we moved a few years ago I was all worried about finding a new groomer. The current groomer said to just let our girl pick the new groomer. So we went to several new places and it was so obvious which one she liked. And she still loves the place and marches right in every time we go!

I have owned a Sheltie and my mother has a Shi Tzu.

The Sheltie is a working dog and needs to be given work to do. This can take the form of good obedience training; they will understand that their "job" is simply to love you and obey you, if you stimulate their minds by teaching them new things regularly.

Shelties that are hyper are shelties that are repressed. They are not given proper outlets to their desire to bark, or else they are not given a job to do; thus, they decide that their "job" is to bark at things. I gave my sheltie specific instructions about when to bark and when not to bark, so there was no confusion (simply teaching "barking is never OK" will result in an upset dog and not stop the barking). She could bark at the coffee grinder and the garage door opener.

The Sheltie is an amazing companion when taught and directed in this way. Their loyalty is boundless and their intelligence sufficient to make them a real friend, and not just a pet. They are small enough to keep exercised just by playing fetch along a long hallway or a small yard. Can you tell I loved my Sheltie? ;) If what you want is a friend and playmate (or dare I say Partnet?) then you want a Sheltie.

My mother's Shi Tzu is something else entirely. A Shi Tzu is NOT a working dog and has no understanding of WHY thei should obey commands. They can be convinced through extensive training but in general, while you canr ely on them to be well-MANNERED, you cannot rely on them to be obedient to commands.

This being said, they are incedible cuddlers. They are the result of thousands of years of patient Chinese breeders creating the ultimate baby substitute. Everything about them, from the way they prick their ears to the littlest wiggle of the tail, is designed to be cute beyond the definition of the word. Their joints and muscles are soft, feeling more like a cat than a dog, and they are completely comfortable held on their back or snuggled in whatever way you might want. If what you want is a cuddle companion, then you want a Shi Tzu.

Both dogs are gentle enough to be around kids, but the Shi Tzu will find them annoying if they try to play too rough. The Sheltie is excellent with the very young and those old enough to be responsible; they are like sweet nannies to infants and toddlers, and are respectful of preteens. However, the in-between can create problems, as the child tries to play and the Sheltie tries to respond; either the child will accidentally step on or hurt this small dog that looks and plays like a big dog, or the Sheltie will attempt to "herd" the child and frighten them (NEVER hurt them). This can be avoided by supervising the two of them together until they have gotten to know each other a little.

Both of these breeds suffer from excess popularity, sadly. Thus, you must do your research VERY well. Meet as many adult dogs from a breeder as you can, preferably siblings and offpsring of the parents of your potantial puppy. In Shi Tzus, watch out for stubborn and willful disobedience (little tyrants); in Shelties, watch for yappy, high-strung dogs or, in recent attempts at correcting this, lumpy fat dogs. These faults are NOT part of the breed: they are the result of poor breeding practises, and need not be tolerated.

I would heartily recommend either breed, it just depends on your intended purpose for your dog.