Friday, September 02, 2011

What kind of dog?

Iris is probably seven or eight years old, although she acts like a pup.  I have her because when Sadie died, I wanted to fill up the vacancy she left behind.  I didn't care what kind of dog I got, just so I got one that liked to play with toys, and acted as if she liked me.  
I don't plan on losing Iris any time soon, but I am already preparing for her demise by searching for what kind of replacement I want.  The number one quality I'm looking for in my next dog is minimal shedding.  
I considered poodles, but it's so expensive getting them trimmed.  
I was considering schnauzers because a fellow-blogger had pictures of hers on her blog, and they seemed like the sort of dog I'd like.  I asked her about her pets, and she did a whole entry about them.  Unfortunately, schnauzers have to be trimmed too.  
Then I took into consideration the Yorkshire Terrier:  Such little cuties they are!  But I found out they are prone to all sorts of health problems.  Not good.  
So now I'm considering some sort of poodle cross that wouldn't have to be groomed.  
If any of you readers have suggestions on what sort of non-shedding dog I should consider, please give me some feedback.  Hopefully I won't have to decide for many years.  

11 comments:

  1. One of the best smartest dogs I ever had was a shepherd/lab mix. Very smart, territorial and protective. She was so smart we had to start spelling things and then we had to start using euphemisms when she figured out what we were spelling. But she did shed like crazy. Our last pair were lab/dalmatian mix and they were hyper and pretty dumb. And the newest pup is lab/something. Maybe pit or rottweiler, we aren't sure. And I think she is completely insane. So sorry, no help here.

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  2. I've only had two dogs in my whole life... a beagle named Holly. Sweetest dog ever and not much shedding, that I remember. And a St.Bernard/Collie mix named Frisky who did shed, alot. My parents had a poodle and loved her to pieces. But she was high maintence.

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  3. I once had a schnoodle. Which is a cross between a poodle and a schnauzer and he did require trimming but not as much so as the schnauzer or the poodle and I did it my self. He probably would have looked better had I taken him some place but I was cutting costs by doing it myself. He was a good dog and at the time only cost me 15.00 and the trip to vet for the puppy shots. I could have paid more and got paper work on his ancestors but choose not to as I wasn't breeding him. Hopefully you'll have quite a few years to decide. Have a wonderful Friday. We have a heat warning up here. Around 100 degrees today.

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  4. I used to have a poodle that lived to be 12. I took my scissors and trimmed her once in a while. She never cost us much money. Was a sweet smart dog. She loved to play fetch with anything you threw and hide and seek with my daughter when she was small. Helen

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  5. I'm very fond of Schnauzers .. have had two.... just did the grooming myself.... they're very smart and loyal.... get the miniature kind....

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  6. Mechelle5:40 AM

    I am partial to Pugs. But knowing you Donna, they probably wouldn't be your type of dog. They can't tolerate the heat very well and sometimes can have breathing problems. They work for me cause I have those same issues :)
    I have to say though, the best dogs we have had - Bella and Clyde - Beagles - we loved them. Also if you want a lap dog - Chihuahuas are great too.

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  7. Anonymous6:22 AM

    I think a good one is a cocpoo my brother had one. shed a little if I remember. JO

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  8. I have thought the same thing! Mattie is a Yorkie-Poo ( yorkie crossed with a poodle) she doesn't shed but does require grooming. I'm thinking my next dog might be a Maltese. They also require grooming though.

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  9. You know I love my Corgi... But the shedding, Oh the shedding. With a double coat she sheds.... alot. Heck, I think I sweep up enough hair every other day to make a whole 'nother dog. Thank goodness for hard wood floors :p

    So... No help from me :)

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  10. I'll put your question to Eler Beth, who is our resident animal expert. lol Personally I like Australian Shepherd, and AS mixes as far as loyalty, intelligence, and quickness in training. I don't believe the one I had shed much; just a regular good brushing was all she needed, but they aren't non-shedders. Hopefully you'll have Iris for a good many more years, but it's good that your already considering what things you'll be looking for. Poodle mixes are very smart, by the way.

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  11. the dog that I would recommend to *everybody* is....a cock-a-poo. He was my first dog....and he was perfect. The dog I compare every other dog to.. grooming was easy...no shedding at all. He was smaller but a very study dog, very patient, loving, obedient...

    I can't sing his praises enough. It devastated me when he passed away.... (old age - he was 17)

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