|
I've found threads for a lot of dog breeds and breed types here, but I see nothing for the little guys: Bichons, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Maltese, Yorkies, etc. Can I get some pics/stories/info here? Background: I'm planning to get a dog in about six months (current living situation won't allow it) so I'm putting my dog-obsession into internet research. For practical reasons, I want a small, easy, cuddly dog. I have two grade-school-age kids who are intimidated by big dogs, and I live in North Dakota, where I prefer not to go outside more than absolutely necessary for the 2-3 months when it's -20 degrees F outside with a foot or two of snow. I do have a big house, so a small dog could bounce around indoors, but I think a larger one would feel cooped up. I'm slightly allergic to some dogs, but haven't had a problem with my friend's dog who is a Bichon/Lhasa Apso/Pomeranian mix and doesn't shed. A non-shedding dog would be ideal. Any advice on any of the smaller breeds would be great. Or just pics and discussion about these types of dogs. TIA.
|
#
¿
Nov 17, 2015 20:08
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 01:38 |
|
|
Instant Jellyfish posted:I'm not usually a big fan of small dogs but I've met a few havanese and they were all super fun little dogs. They were all smart, playful and not super yappy. A+ dogs would mop again. I actually can't stand chihuahuas, it just seemed unfair to have a thread about small dogs and not mention them. And yeah, not a pom fan either. I have not met any havanese but they look adorable. I have spent some time around bichons and liked them a lot, but they seemed a bit bouncy and yappy. This is more my sort of dog:  (Not a dog I know, just a random cute internet dog.) Also, my 8-year-old is autistic and would probably do best with a dog who is warm, patient and friendly. (He is a good kid and knows how to treat animals gently, it isn't that - it's just that he doesn't quite know how to approach them, and might have a hard time getting close to a more standoffish dog.)
|
|
#
¿
Nov 17, 2015 22:35
|
|
|
a life less posted:I don't love when people opt to get small dogs because they don't, you know, plan to leave the house very often. quote:I also don't much care for people intentionally breeding small dog mixes (or mixes in general). Normally it's just an excuse to charge $$$ in exchange for a dog that's poorly bred, sans health testing and without a reliable estimate as to its adult temperament. quote:The few Bichons I've met seem pretty sturdy and resilient. Chis are sensitive and anxious. Poms and Paps are likely more energy than you're looking for. Pugs are a heinous genetic mess, so I would avoid. I'd avoid short coated dogs due to climate concerns. Dogs with hair will need to be groomed and trimmed regularly, so factor that cost of upkeep into your figures while you budget for your pup. How small/large are you thinking? There's a big difference between a 3 pound Chi and a 15 pound scruffy terrier mix. Oh, and if my boyfriend and I move in together, at some point, it would be sharing space with an elderly (very sweet and patient) St. Bernard. Don't know if that's in the works anytime soon, though.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 17, 2015 22:56
|
|
|
There aren't really any rescues in my town - just one standard no-kill shelter which mostly has labs and pit bulls. Would it be weird to look at rescues farther away? The closest I've found is about a three-hour drive. I don't mind driving to pick up a dog, but if they want a few visits first, that would be difficult. Yes, I live in the middle of loving nowhere.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 18, 2015 03:08
|
|
|
I think four different people have told me "havanese" now, but I've never even seen one. Are they rare? Or just rare up north? Edit to add: I just saw this local listing. Is it just me or does this sound like an, uh, interesting mix? "The pups are 1/4 Jack Russell, 1/4 Chihuahua, 1/4 Pekingese and 1/4 Terrier. They will be small indoor dogs. " pookel fucked around with this message at 17:44 on Nov 18, 2015 |
|
#
¿
Nov 18, 2015 17:32
|
|
|
D'awww, those flying ears on Ellie are great. I made friends with a tiny poodle a long time ago, when I volunteered at the animal shelter as a teenager. He'd been badly neglected and was terrified of everything, but he was so sweet once he warmed up to you. His name was Pierre.  Cavaliers are on my list, but I've heard they can be really energetic/strong-willed, and might be bad for allergies. Is that accurate?
|
|
#
¿
Nov 19, 2015 01:13
|
|
|
Mallory Ortberg of The Toast recently adopted a 10-year-old Cav named Murphy and has been tweeting a bunch of pictures of him, every one of which makes me want to find out where she lives and kidnap him:    I must have been confusing them with a different breed I was looking at (I've been reading obsessively) when I was thinking "high energy." Maybe it was the potential for shedding/allergens that I was concerned about.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 19, 2015 15:20
|
|
|
p.s. Requesting small dog pics in this thread, too.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 19, 2015 15:21
|
|
|
I'd best avoid them, then.  It's not the time commitment or the fear of a dog dying young, it's just that I simply don't have that kind of money. I know you can't plan for everything that happens, but I want to at least try for a healthy dog, or one whose issues are known (and not so expensive).Too bad - they really are beautiful.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 19, 2015 15:58
|
|
|
At the risk of getting crucified .... OK, so in my scouring of local listings, I ran across a farm family that raises and sells a variety of small hybrid dogs. They also raise and sell horses and ponies. Their prices are around $400-$500 a dog, and they look healthy in pictures. They offer a guaranteed refund if a puppy is found to have a health problem. Their dogs are a variety of ridiculously named hybrids of Cavaliers, Lhasa Apsos, Bichons, and Shih Tzus, and are really adorable (of course). If I were going to consider maybe thinking about looking at these dogs, what sorts of questions should I ask? Should I even consider it? I'd much rather get a shelter mutt, but I haven't seen very many that fit my specifications.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 20, 2015 02:00
|
|
|
You're right, and thanks for reminding me of all that. I know it, really - it's just hard to resist when they seem to be the only one in the state with my favorite breeds. I will limit myself to ogling the cute pictures, I think.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 20, 2015 18:00
|
|
|
So now that I swore up and down that there were no Havanese in North Dakota, someone a few hours away is selling two puppies, a boy and a girl. For $600 each and they sound pretty shady, and no. But they looked so cute in the ad. Meanwhile, after suffering a barrage of cute small dog links from me, my large-breed-preferring boyfriend just told me he's thinking seriously about getting a Boston terrier. Which, if we moved in together, would mean we might eventually have one tiny dustmop, one bouncy small dog, and one gigantic put-upon doorstop. Re: terriers, I just read this in Wikipedia's description of Bostons: "Terrier only in name, the Boston Terrier has lost most of its ruthless desire for mayhem." This sounds like every terrier I've ever known except for Yorkies. I admit I haven't known any schnauzers, but I am very leery of terriers because of the mayhem potential. My children create enough mayhem already.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 23, 2015 15:53
|
|
|
Yeah, I wouldn't prefer a Boston, but ... we don't live together and it'd be totally boyfriend's decision, so I don't really have input, anyway.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 23, 2015 19:30
|
|
|
Terriers are sort of like 3-year-olds ... I love them, I love watching videos of them, I think they're hilarious ... but dear god, I don't want sole responsibility for one living in my house. I would happily play auntie to someone else's terrier, so I could spoil him and play with him and then send him home to the person who has to make sure he doesn't pee on the floor and chew up all the toys. I have two kids, dammit, I've done my time in the chewing-and-peeing-on-things trenches.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 24, 2015 18:23
|
|
|
True, but I'm actually dreaming about getting like a 2-year-old shelter dog, so ... I have known some really chill Yorkies. I could handle a Yorkie.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 24, 2015 19:56
|
|
|
Yeah, I run a daily search at the local humane society, the 4-5 rescues in the state that I've found online, a couple humane societies in other towns, and Craigslist and Craigslist equivalents.Basically everything in the state. All of that is maybe ... a couple dozen new dogs a day, mostly $500-$1000 Totally Legit Purebred or Fancy Hybrid puppies from sketchy sellers. And adult pit bulls languishing at the shelters. I figure I managed to find a boyfriend out of an equally dismal dating pool in this region ... I'm sure something will eventually turn up on the dog front. But it might take a while.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 24, 2015 21:51
|
|
|
So we went to a shelter adoption event and ended up putting in an application for this little dude. He is about 1.5, healthy, neutered, 1/2 shih tzu, 1/2 Lhasa apso, friendly, good with kids, 28 lbs. He is bigger than he looks! .... Pic to follow in a sec.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 6, 2015 21:49
|
|
|
Here:
|
|
#
¿
Dec 6, 2015 22:02
|
|
|
Well, he was an owner surrender and he answers to the name they gave him, which is Milo. I don't think I'd want to change it anyway - he looks like a Milo! When they first let him out of the cage he jumped on me and it was like being attacked by a cuddly miniature sheep. All that fluffy white fur and a very solid mass of body underneath. They said 8 people applied to adopt him though, so I don't know what our chances are.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 7, 2015 00:41
|
|
|
So, he'd be living with my boyfriend for the time being. Boyfriend lives with his brother. They both like big dogs, and his brother is a marathon runner, and they'd been talking about getting a Vizsla. He had to check in with his brother about the idea of getting a mop dog instead. Apparently the cuteness won him over. Can't get much farther from "Viszla for a running companion" than Milo, I don't think.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 7, 2015 05:28
|
|
|
So I've been doing a bit of research and it looks like both shih tzus and lhasa apsos are normally under 20 lbs. Milo is, like I said, 28 lbs. The shelter people also told me that the owners who surrendered him lied about his age (said he was 3 but he was 18 months according to vet records) and also left him in the crate most of the day. What are the odds that he's just fat from sitting in the crate all day/getting overfed? Or is he likely to be just big for his breeds - or maybe he isn't really a straight shih tzu/lhasa mix? He's definitely chubby, but he's big, too, I think. When he jumped in my lap, he really felt like a solid medium-szed dog, not a little lap dog like the bichons I've been around. I realize I may be overthinking a dog I have a 1 in 8 chance of getting, but he is SO FLUFFY.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 7, 2015 19:37
|
|
|
I'm pretty sure there's a vet checkup as part of the adoption process that's covered in the fees. I don't know how likely we are to get him, but I feel good about just meeting some dogs and having a better idea what I want. (I do like sweet little lap dogs, but I really enjoy somewhat bigger lap dogs, like the 25-30 lb range more than the toy dogs). The shelter seems to be run pretty well. The application is 3 pages long and includes references, and they said they do call references including your current vet if you have any pets. So I feel good about the fact that if someone else gets him, they're probably a good family for him.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 7, 2015 20:29
|
|
|
Milo went to someone else, hopefully a loving family full of kids and other dogs who will spoil him rotten. Guess I'm back to staring at the listings, trying to remind myself that I really don't NEED a 9-year-old blind Lhasa Apso no matter how sweet she is. Nor a cairn terrier who can and will climb chain-link fences to escape the yard. No matter how cute they are.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 11, 2015 23:06
|
|
|
I'm currently coveting these two fuzzy little mutts who are at a shelter a few hours' drive away: One is bichon/terrier/something, the other is bichon/shih tzu/something, they are both about 7 years old, and they are lifetime bffs and the shelter will not allow them to be separated. They are housetrained and sweet and calm, and I have two kids who both love dogs, so I'm hoping each kid could bond more to one of the dogs. It would be a couple months before I could get them, but just look at those sweet little faces.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 3, 2016 03:04
|
|
|
I am attempting to adopt a Lhasa Apso from a shelter that's a few hours' drive from me. They responded to my application within hours and checked my references, and the next step is a home visit by, of all people, our former governor's daughter-in-law. She - the dog, not the shelter lady - is black and white, four years old, spayed, housetrained, and comes with a restriction of "older/considerate kids only" which I assume means she's skittish or defensive around careless toddlers. My kids are 8 and 10 so I think that's OK. Maybe I shouldn't be planning ahead yet (before meeting her) but I'm thinking of naming her Princess Leia (and promoting her to General when she's older).
|
|
#
¿
Feb 9, 2016 22:34
|
|
|
So, does anyone here have experience with Lhasa Apsos? Is it true that they "think they're big dogs" and like to be the boss? Any other advice?
|
|
#
¿
Feb 11, 2016 00:12
|
|
|
Someone locally is trying to rehome their 4-month-old "shichonalier" puppy, which is a shih tzu/bichon/cavalier cross. Reason? Daughter got him for a Christmas present and just doesn't have enough time to spend with him. The only hybrid name I can get behind is if you cross a bulldog and a shih tzu, you should get to call it a bullshit. (I once saw a video of someone's "bullshit," which looked like a very small, very derpy St. Bernard, something else I can get behind.) In any case, yes the designer hybrids with their silly names are stupid, but I'll still jump at the chance to adopt one of those little dustmops if they turn up at the shelter and seem to have a sweet temperament. It's hard to find non-shedding lapdogs up here. It's all farm dogs, hunting dogs, and "I got this Australian shepherd puppy that was really cute but now he's tearing my stuff to shreds and I just don't have time for him." Oh, and pit bulls. Half the shelter dogs around here are pit bulls, and most of them have been there for a while.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 13, 2016 03:15
|
|
|
I am finally getting just the kind of dustmop dog I wanted ... a 7-year-old bichon/maltese female who was listed for free in the local classifieds. She is unspayed (!) but then her owner is a farmer, so that's unsurprising. She looks clean and taken care of in the photos, I think. She has been an indoor dog and is housetrained. He says his sister moved away and he doesn't have time for the dog since he works out of the house plus on the farm. He says she loves kids and playing fetch and is very friendly, and I'm driving out there on Saturday to pick her up. I asked my kids what we should name her and they were like "Mom, she's 7. She already has a name. You can't change her name." I guess I can't argue with that, unless her name is terrible. So, what all am I going to need? Kennel, carrier, collar, leash, yard stake + long chain since I don't have a fence, dog food, treats, toys? Plus ASAP vet visit, of course.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 18, 2016 21:14
|
|
|
I GOT MY MOP DOG. Not the one I thought I was getting in the last post - that guy flaked out. The one I applied for months ago. Her name is Beauty and she is 4 years old. She came from a rescue and the foster person told me she is a Lhasa Apso. People keep asking me if she's a Shih Tzu. I googled the breeds and found that it's kind of hard to tell them apart. She is a bit standoffish but seems to have adopted me as her person in less than 24 hours.She's not especially playful and likes to keep a watchful eye on the door and on anyone who's eating and might drop crumbs. She's distrustful of children. She is a delicate little thing - probably 10 pounds or less. She's an excellent dog. Anyone have any ideas on the Shih Tzu vs. Lhasa thing? I realize she could be some kind of cross, too. Pics:   
|
|
#
¿
Mar 20, 2016 16:47
|
|
|
Stella sounds great. I love that pic of her snuggled up with the cat. Here's my Beauty (the kids didn't let me rename her) doing her "I'm a cat" bit with my boyfriend: 
|
|
#
¿
Apr 1, 2016 17:51
|
|
|
The Light Eternal posted:That's crazy... they adopt out dogs who are unfixed? Seems completely counter to the mission of reducing pet overpopulation.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 18, 2016 18:04
|
|
|
AA is for Quitters posted:Yeah. Small dogs have a higher demand, so they know they can get the future owner to foot the bill. I still don't know why no one else had already scooped her up. She is the best dog ever. Evidence: 
|
|
#
¿
Apr 18, 2016 22:27
|
|
|
Beauty likes to sit in the most ridiculous positions and pretend to be comfortable: But sometimes she sits in what my kid calls the I Am Noble Dog position: 
|
|
#
¿
Sep 19, 2016 16:09
|
|
|
TheGamerGuy23 posted:
D'awwwwww. What breed(s) is he? I also have a dumb-but-cute pup. My theory is that all her brainpower goes to distinguishing familiar things from unfamiliar things ("that trash bag wasn't here on my walk yesterday! ALERT! BARK BARK BARK!") and acquiring food. After that, there's not much left.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 11, 2017 00:04
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 01:38 |
|
|
thatbastardken posted:yeah nah it's a bit of a tossup as to what traits you get with crossbred dogs. *doodles haven't got the quality control on their breeding to guarantee anything. Miss Pickles is adorable. ETA: COntent, from a Facebook friend: https://www.facebook.com/Vicki.Reid.780/videos/10155214242799095/
|
|
#
¿
Feb 14, 2017 16:06
|
|