We want to get a dog...

[BADBUBBA]

My vote is for the DOBERMAN. hard to beat as a friend and a gaurd dog

[Oldgringo]

As much as we love our cat and have loved our previous dogs and cats, I suggest that an alarm system would be cheaper and much more convenient.

Our alarm always announces intruders, doesn't have to be fed, doesn't have to have shots, doesn't have to be taken out in the dark or weather and stands guard when we're away for months at a time. Did I mention that our alarm has never bitten anyone?

PS:

"The Rainbow Bridge" really chokes me up...big time.

[The Annoyed Man]

As much as we love our cat and have loved our previous dogs and cats, I suggest that an alarm system would be cheaper and much more convenient.

Our alarm always announces intruders, doesn't have to be fed, doesn't have to have shots, doesn't have to be taken out in the dark or weather and stands guard when we're away for months at a time. Did I mention that our alarm has never bitten anyone?

PS:

"The Rainbow Bridge" really chokes me up...big time.

True Dat. I've never had to take my alarm system to the vet.

[The Annoyed Man]

Akitas while probably too big for what you are looking for are easy to take care of. They potty train VERY quickly and with a quick daily brushing are easy to keep the shedding down. They are a family dog first and last. Infact in their native land of Japan they are often regarded as baby sitters. They also don't bark unless they have to and it's not a bark you want to hear.

For one in your size range GSDs can be good dogs but take a lot of time as they are full of energy. Our year and a half old GSD can go for a mile long jog and hardly bat an eye.

they are also used to hunt BEARS!

Ditto Rhodesian Ridgebacks, except that they were used to hunt LIONS!!

And they have all those other desirable traits: big and rugged; gentle and loyal; athletic but love the couch, protective but benign to people of good will; rarely ever bark, but when they do, you better pay attention. Plus, they are just darn good looking animals.

[Dan20703]

We picked up a boxer/shepherd mix from the shelter and it is the best dog I ever had.

[silverbear]

German Shepard. While ours has shed enough to start our own pillow and mattress factory, there's nothing quite like them IMHO. Trainable and personable, possessive but not territorial, great with children as long as they are socialized in a family environment. We will never know how many times our family and belongings have been passed over by BGs who saw or heard our Caesar and decided it was not worth the trouble - same for door-to-door sales people .

If you go with a GSD, get the working breed, not the American show breed, again IMHO.

Here's our boy, 11 years old:

[TLynnHughes]

German Shepard. While ours has shed enough to start our own pillow and mattress factory, there's nothing quite like them IMHO. Trainable and personable, possessive but not territorial, great with children as long as they are socialized in a family environment. We will never know how many times our family and belongings have been passed over by BGs who saw or heard our Caesar and decided it was not worth the trouble - same for door-to-door sales people .

If you go with a GSD, get the working breed, not the American show breed, again IMHO.

Here's our boy, 11 years old:

What a beauty, silverbear! Looks like a great member of the family.

T.

[budroux2w]

Here's our GSD. He's just under a year in the pic.






And here's our Akita (R.I.P)

[Kythas]

I have to vote for my dogs, Great Pyreneese. They won't work for you, though, because they do shed (a lot) and are large but are great guard dogs and yet very gentle - the breed's nickname is 'The Gentle Giant'. My female is naturally protective of children and herds dogs away from little kids at the dog park if the kids are scared - and she seems to know which dogs the child is scared of and not scared of. It's pretty amazing. At the St Paddy's Day parade last weekend she lets these 4 kids climb all over her. She actually laid down so they could.

My dogs, I'm convinced, take shifts at night protecting my bedroom. Every night my female comes into the room to sleep with me and my male sleeps in the hallway where he can keep an eye on all entry points of the house (front door, back door, and hallway leading to the garage). When I wake up, their positions are reversed, with my male asleep at the foot of my bed and my female in the hallway.

They're also beautiful dogs. Everywhere I go I get stopped and asked about them and people are amazed at their gentle temperament, even though they don't notice whenever I meet a stranger when I'm out with them, they both always place themselves between the other person and me. They are, after all, guard dogs. They were also the official dog of the French Royal Court and were used by military organizations up to and including World War I, where so many were used by the French army and killed in the war the breed almost became extinct. It used to be said that one Pyr on guard duty was worth 10 men. Pyrs have been known to give their lives in defense of their family and I've personally seen my female subdue an aggressive Rottweiler in about 5 seconds, and she's not yet 18 months old.

I know you want dogs that don't shed and aren't large, but I just had to put my $0.02 in. You can't get a better dog than a Pyr, in my book. Yes, I'm a proud dog dad.

My girl as a puppy:



Both of them now:

[Kythas]

Oh, and one other thing. Whatever you decide, please get your dog from the shelter or a rescue. Don't buy at a pet store and support a puppy factory.

Many rescue organizations and the SPCA take dogs to PetSmart on Saturdays for adoption.

[BADBUBBA]

Here is a picture of BADBUBBA

[TLynnHughes]

All these pictures are making me want a puppy!!! Must resist....

T.

[joe817]

All these pictures are making me want a puppy!!! Must resist.... T.

You said it TLynn! Almost like looking at guns!

[marksiwel]

All hair-bearing creatures, including humans, shed hair that is continually replaced. Okay, some of us hit a point in life where we shed faster than we replace, but that's a different topic...

"Non-shedding" breeds have a hair cycle that's more like humans. They don't put on thicker coats and then shed it due to seasonal changes.

Schnauzers are prone to skin problems, which means lots of dander and scratching. That's not a problem if you have solid floors, or follow a very thorough vacuuming regimen. We've switched to all tile and hardwood, and plan to never have carpet again. Even though we kept a clean house, pulling up the old carpet was an absolutely disgusting process. You have no idea what's down there.

Exactly! because more often than not its not the HAIR the person is allergic to but the Dander.

[TLynnHughes]

All hair-bearing creatures, including humans, shed hair that is continually replaced. Okay, some of us hit a point in life where we shed faster than we replace, but that's a different topic...

"Non-shedding" breeds have a hair cycle that's more like humans. They don't put on thicker coats and then shed it due to seasonal changes.

Schnauzers are prone to skin problems, which means lots of dander and scratching. That's not a problem if you have solid floors, or follow a very thorough vacuuming regimen. We've switched to all tile and hardwood, and plan to never have carpet again. Even though we kept a clean house, pulling up the old carpet was an absolutely disgusting process. You have no idea what's down there.

Exactly! because more often than not its not the HAIR the person is allergic to but the Dander.

You are so right there. That dander can create issues if you have allergies. But, even though I'm not allergic to the hair, I hate trying to clean it all the time!

T.