What Puppy Should I Get?

Contributor: corsetsaurus rex corsetsaurus rex
My mate and I have been talking about getting a pet for a long time, and it might actually happen soon, assuming we can narrow down what we want. We live in a medium-sized apartment, on the third floor, so I'm not sure the larger dogs I tend to be attracted to would be the best idea.

We've both had dogs before (albeit in suburban houses)and have a fair idea of what we're getting into. Also if at all possible said puppy (or dog) will be acquired from a shelter or rescue, so we are totally not here to debate that.

All this being said, what do y'all think?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Doberman - they're intelligent and majestic creatures!
Deidrenicole , Ghost , darthkitt3n , Modern^Spank^Anthem , Howells , Graniteal , Voir , PeaceToTheMiddleEast
8
Corgi - more appropriate size, and will be a running buddy!
megan1987 , voenne , LAndJ , Rossie , wrmbreze , Swish , Sammi , BlooJay , DiamondKoala , Ghost , darthkitt3n , ECU Pirate , Jaimes , Mwar , Starkiller87 , PeaceToTheMiddleEast , KyotoAngel
17
Schnauzer - the puppies are so cute!
Mutt - more options that way, and less prone to genetic issues.
Bignuf , Kindred , Badass , mistressg , DeliciousSurprise , voenne , Ryuson , Lucky21 , ily , wrmbreze , TitsMcScandal , Curiouscat , Greenleaf , SJ88 , Sammi , Ice1 , DreamWolf , winterseve , Peggi , GONE! , DiamondKoala , Ghost , OhMy! , darthkitt3n , Allstars316 , dbm6907 , Modern^Spank^Anthem , Gunsmoke , cburger , dv8 , Graniteal , Positwist , Love Perpetua , K101 , Mew , ViVix , Mwar , hjtee , Voir , EnChAnTiNg , Geogeo , pootpootpoot , KyotoAngel , catsin
44
Just get a ferret you crazy lady: you live in an apartment! Geez. =P
Liz x420x , DeliciousSurprise , Ryuson , blacklodge , Stinkytofu10 , ECU Pirate
6
Total votes: 75 (58 voters)
Poll is closed
03/04/2012
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Contributor: Kindred Kindred
I would suggest researching the specific breeds you are interested in to see if they match your lifestyle. There are breed selector tools available to help if you Google it. Here's one at Animal Planet: link
03/04/2012
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by corsetsaurus rex
My mate and I have been talking about getting a pet for a long time, and it might actually happen soon, assuming we can narrow down what we want. We live in a medium-sized apartment, on the third floor, so I'm not sure the larger dogs I tend to ... more
We are big time dog lovers. We have always had purebred dogs, and ALL have had health issues. Our first dog, however, was a little street found mutlet and healthy as could be. We are going to the shelter soon to finally get another HEALTHY dog. You never know, of course, and we spend thousands on the best care available for our pets...and will do so again, but starting out with good gene stock (not line bred pure bred) cannot be anything be a good start.

Our last dog had SIX MRI's done and was on CHEMO and had three surgeries for GI tumors. Sad. VERY "purebed".
03/04/2012
Contributor: Badass Badass
get a rescue dog, they are the best!
03/04/2012
Contributor: Liz x420x Liz x420x
Quote:
Originally posted by corsetsaurus rex
My mate and I have been talking about getting a pet for a long time, and it might actually happen soon, assuming we can narrow down what we want. We live in a medium-sized apartment, on the third floor, so I'm not sure the larger dogs I tend to ... more
i dont think you should get a dog, they are a lot of work especially if you live in an apartment. why not get a kitten?
03/04/2012
Contributor: corsetsaurus rex corsetsaurus rex
My last two dogs were Mutts, and they were awesome, so I am inclined to agree thus far. However, my man seems to think purebreds have more predictable personalities and prefers them.

About the cats - while I have had dogs and ferrets growing up, and the boyfriend has had dogs, neither of us has spent more than a couple days with a cat, and they seem kind of antisocial and hard to train to me, but this could just be a silly bias based on the (very few) cats I've gotten to know.
03/04/2012
Contributor: corsetsaurus rex corsetsaurus rex
Huh. Weirdly enough both Doberman and mini schnauzer came up top 5 in my breed/lifestyle match search. I never thought about mini-dogs...

What I mean to say is thanks for the link, Kindred!
03/04/2012
Contributor: voenne voenne
Corgis are adorable; my aunt and uncle used to have a great one. You can't really go into an adoption center looking for something specific. Go in with an open mind and see whichever wins your heart! That's what counts.
03/04/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
We just got a puppy in December. We went to the shelter, but then they wanted more money for an older dog than paying for a breed dog, then they also wanted us to do a small class and go through an interview just to see if they would allow us to have to dog. We didn't have time for that. My hubby works most of the time during the week and Saturday's too, so Sunday was our only day available. We decided to look online in our local area on Hobbly and call one lady and got our dog that same day. We ended up getting a Chihuahua and Dachshund mix, he is adorable and very friendly. I highly recommend that breed. The are called Chi-wienies.
03/04/2012
Contributor: LAndJ LAndJ
Quote:
Originally posted by Kindred
I would suggest researching the specific breeds you are interested in to see if they match your lifestyle. There are breed selector tools available to help if you Google it. Here's one at Animal Planet: link ... more
This suggestion is a great idea and may open to more options.
03/04/2012
Contributor: Lucky21 Lucky21
As long as it is a rescue dog... that's my big thing. There are so many great dogs who need homes. Both of ours are rescues, and for us, it's the only way to go.
03/04/2012
Contributor: corsetsaurus rex corsetsaurus rex
Quote:
Originally posted by Beck
We just got a puppy in December. We went to the shelter, but then they wanted more money for an older dog than paying for a breed dog, then they also wanted us to do a small class and go through an interview just to see if they would allow us to have ... more
Oh my! Those do sound adorable - although really high-energy from what I know of the chihuahuas that I've run into (I used to work at a vet clinic and one of the employees was a breeder).

As for the class, we have that here too, although that shouldn't be too much of a problem since my job runs very early mornings M-F and I'm normally done by 3 (provided they don't require the whole family to show up, I guess). Thank you so much for the advice!
03/04/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
Corgis are wonderful and requires less professional grooming, but they do love to run around a lot!
03/04/2012
Contributor: sweetcuppincakes sweetcuppincakes
Research any breed you're interested in to make sure it matches your lifestyle. Otherwise you'll encounter trouble down the road. Best of luck!! Dogs can bring so much joy into your life.
03/04/2012
Contributor: Incendiaire Incendiaire
Corgis are good enough for the queen, and thus an excellent choice.
03/04/2012
Contributor: corsetsaurus rex corsetsaurus rex
Quote:
Originally posted by Incendiaire
Corgis are good enough for the queen, and thus an excellent choice.
XD. Epic. I will take the Queen's opinion into very serious consideration.
03/04/2012
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
I have two dogs, both are shelter dogs. I'd suggest just perusing your local shelter. We (my dad and I) just clicked with our dogs, no research necessary. You'll know your dog when you see them and interact with them. It's like love at first sight.
03/04/2012
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
Quote:
Originally posted by Annemarie
I have two dogs, both are shelter dogs. I'd suggest just perusing your local shelter. We (my dad and I) just clicked with our dogs, no research necessary. You'll know your dog when you see them and interact with them. It's like love at first sight.
That said, of course, don't look at labs and pitbulls, etc if you live in an apartment. Know your limits, and the generals of the major breeds (i.e big, medium, small, very active, lap dog, etc etc etc)
03/04/2012
Contributor: Stinkytofu10 Stinkytofu10
Quote:
Originally posted by corsetsaurus rex
My mate and I have been talking about getting a pet for a long time, and it might actually happen soon, assuming we can narrow down what we want. We live in a medium-sized apartment, on the third floor, so I'm not sure the larger dogs I tend to ... more
I'd go for a small dog that's hypoallergenic if you live in an apartment. Maybe a mix of Bicheon and westie.
03/04/2012
Contributor: Curiouscat Curiouscat
Rescue dog! They need homes and love!
03/04/2012
Contributor: Swish Swish
look at rescue dogs first, then look at other puppies, try puppies that are not from pet stores tho, direct from breeder can be better too.
03/04/2012
Contributor: Greenleaf Greenleaf
A small mutt would be my bet! We've had three mutts and two dogs with "papers" - guess which ones were healthier and had better temperaments?
03/04/2012
Contributor: DreamWolf DreamWolf
Mutt!
03/04/2012
Contributor: winterseve winterseve
Mutts are the best. Something with Cavalier King Charles or a terrier mix in it would be great for an apartment.
03/04/2012
Contributor: BlooJay BlooJay
Corgi
03/05/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I've always had mutts. My favorites are the small breed mixes like cockapoos and the like. They have the best of both/all breeds!
03/05/2012
Contributor: DiamondKoala DiamondKoala
Personally I really want a corgi, but mutts are rarely a bad choice.
03/05/2012
Contributor: Deidrenicole Deidrenicole
dobermans are so well behaved if you work with them and as long as you take them out for some exercise everyday it will be a great companion.
03/05/2012
Contributor: OhMy! OhMy!
Ironically, one of the best apartment dogs is also one of the biggest - Great Danes. That said, we have a red-bone coon hound/chocolate lab mix that we adore. She's low maintenance, great with people, kids, and other dogs, and doesn't shed as much as purebred labs do.
03/05/2012
Contributor: Allstars316 Allstars316
I would get a mutt!
03/05/2012