choosing a family pet...

lisa8439

lisa8439

New Member
My daughter really wanted a cat - turns out she is HIGHLY allergic to cats. So that's out. She wasn't reactive to dogs (as per allergy testing) BUT I am wondering if there is a certain type of dog that might be better for us, considering that she does have allergies? Should we look for a short haired dog that doesn't shed much?

We've been without a pet for about a year now - we lost our last dog to lymphoma, and we've taken some time to heal and make sure that we are 'ready' again for another pet - financially (since the lymphoma really did drain us a bit, our dog had a lot of testing and a surgery before he finally lost the battle) and mentally. I think we are there now - but we aren't so impatient that we are just going to get *any* dog, I want to make sure that it will be a good fit for our family. Our last two dogs have been rescue dogs, and while they were fabulous, I think we are going to go with a reputable breeder this time around so that we can *know* what sort of temperament we might be getting into. Our last dog was a sweetheart, but he had some real issues around other people - we got him when he was 2 and it was pretty obvious that his previous owners had abused him in some form. I'd like to get another shelter dog BUT I think I want a little more 'stability' this time, though I'll probably catch a lot of crap for saying that. You just don't know what you are getting with a shelter dog (I know a dog from a breeder is no guarantee either, but it is a little more so than just going to get a dog from a shelter). In lieu of this I think I'll have the kids volunteer at the shelter a little bit so they *can* give back in some form.

My daughter really wants a dachsund (short haired) - do these shed much? She wanted a pug, but I did some research and found out that they *do* shed a lot and might not be a good fit for us. Not to mention that my daughter is a light sleeper and pugs are big snorers, so I hear LOL

I'd really like to get a small to middle sized dog - nothing over 40 pounds. That is just a personal preference of mine but there is no real 'reason' for it. My kids are very respectful of animals (and I don't have any toddlers anymore that might tug and pull without thinking), so there wouldn't be any worry about them being too rough with the dog. I don't work at the moment, but I am thinking about going back part-time in a year or two...

Anyone know more about dachsunds? Any other feedback?
 
kwillia

kwillia

n/a
I married a man with severe cat/dog allergies. I did 6 months of research and we decided on mini_schnauzers because the breed characteristics fit our family and home environment. It was an excellent choice for us. One mini sleeps on our bed and the only time he reacts to her is when she's full of outside allergens from the woods, grasses and fields. A bath fixes her right up!

No shedding, but the downside to that is regular grooming maintenance is required.
 
kom526

kom526

They call me ... Sarcasmo


This is a highly positive piece (from the 90 secs I watched) but just make sure you do plenty of research and good luck on your search. We had to put down our Toby last year and we're still not ready.
 
Cowgirl

Cowgirl

Well-Known Member
You may want to look into poodles. Perhaps you can visit with the breeder and see if she has any reaction.
 
millertc

millertc

New Member
My sister has 3 dachshunds (Tiny, George and Mya). They were adopted from Charles Co. Humane Soc. They are very sweet dogs. They have had issues with their teeth (I am not sure if this is a problem with the breed). They are shorthair dachshunds and they shed (short black hairs). Tiny and George are very vocal. I am fostering a Puggle and he sheds. I have a mini-schnauzer and he is a wonderful dog. He is fantastic with kids and other animals. He does not shed at all. I purchased a nice set of clippers and I groom him myself. I also have 3 Yorkies and they shed.
 
LusbyMom

LusbyMom

You're a LOON :)
We have a cockapoo... and a Lhasa Apso both are said to be good dogs for people with allergies.. I love the fact that neither one of them shed at all!

We got them almost a year ago but they are 8 and 9 years old. The family we got them from had a baby and they were not doing well with the baby. Our youngest was 7 when we got them and they are fine with my kids. But they had been with the other family their entire lives and were spoiled and didn't do well with the new baby.
 
J

jp2854

Guest
i have a st bernard and she does shed but she is also a big teddybear to me and people she knows. If she doesn't know you she protects me from you. She became this way this summer when I had a few nutzycocos come in the store and try to do stupid #### to me so now bruno thinks she has to protect me from the world.
 
kwillia

kwillia

n/a
millertc said:
My sister has 3 dachshunds (Tiny, George and Mya). They were adopted from Charles Co. Humane Soc. They are very sweet dogs. They have had issues with their teeth (I am not sure if this is a problem with the breed). They are shorthair dachshunds and they shed (short black hairs). Tiny and George are very vocal. I am fostering a Puggle and he sheds. I have a mini-schnauzer and he is a wonderful dog. He is fantastic with kids and other animals. He does not shed at all. I purchased a nice set of clippers and I groom him myself. I also have 3 Yorkies and they shed.
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My bro-in-law is terribly allergic to his dachshund. That breed is not on the 'hypo-allergenic' list.
 
sockgirl77

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
kwillia said:
My bro-in-law is terribly allergic to his dachshund. That breed is not on the 'hypo-allergenic' list.
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Do his hump legs alot? My aunt had a male awhile back that was the worst leg humper I've ever seen. Ugh. Also, both that male and her current female have been vicious little things. She has to lock them up when the kids come around. I never knew the breed was like that. My grandmother had a few when I was a kid and they were so sweet.
 
DEEKAYPEE8569

DEEKAYPEE8569

Well-Known Member
jp2854 said:
i have a st bernard and she does shed but she is also a big teddybear to me and people she knows. If she doesn't know you she protects me from you. She became this way this summer when I had a few nutzycocos come in the store and try to do stupid #### to me so now bruno thinks she has to protect me from the world.
Click to expand...

My next-door neighbor just got a rescue dog; all white, LOOKS like a Semoyed but is a different breed than a Semoyed; their second dog of the same breed. The first one they had LOVED me to death, but the one they have now wants to go for my throat. I don't know if it's because he (this one is male) is a rescue; and was abused; which is what the neighbors were told or what. MAYBE I look like his
abuser(s). I don't know. .....breaks my heart. ALL I wanna do is pet him. :-( I like dogs and cats.
 
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S

stew77

New Member
I have a dachshund and a jack russel terrier. Both are the loves of our lives. The doxie is a short hair red, and you really do not notice the shedding, if any at all; on the other hand my jack is white, and sheds all over the place, but it is not too disconcerting. We laugh at both of them each and every day, as they have some funny antics. Then both sleep with us, at the end of the bed, and the only problem we had with the doxie, is his back. He jumped down wrong and slipped a disc, to make a long story short, and $4900 + later, he is 100%. Only reason we did not put him down, is the Dr told us he would recover to almost 100% and live a long life; so we did it. One of our better decisions. We have stairs, ramps and such for him now and watch his jumping, up and down on things, and love him. His name is Oscar Meyer! The Jack Russell is named Dot; (for the dot on her head!) She is the most fearless dog I have ever seen; and mimics the doxie when she wants too. The both are the best of friends, no anger at all, even eat out of the same bowl. Get a doxie; as I would have three or more of these dogs if I could! Dot is one of the smartest dogs I have ever had also. I have had, labs, Shepards, Taco dogs, heinz 57 mixes, etc, but love my two dogs.
 
lisa8439

lisa8439

New Member
Thanks for all of the advice - I've never thought about a mini-schnauzer so I'll look into them. I loved the idea of a pug myself, but I don't know about the whole shedding/snoring thing. I don't mind a bit of shedding, as I do keep the house clean LOL But we have a friend who has a pug and according to her, there is hair everywhere....

I don't know that we need a hypo-allergenic dog. She wasn't reactive to dogs on the allergy test, just cats - but because she does have allergies (cats, pollen, most trees/grasses, the usual - but severe enough that she takes medicine for them) should we look into a hypo-allergenic dog just because?

I don't mind the regular grooming either - I'll take the dog somewhere for that. We had a cocker spaniel and had to take him every month - BUT my daughter would get really grossed out when he would come in from the rain and be matted/muddy/etc. until we got him to the groomer. That's one of the reasons I'm thinking about a short-haired dog. Just for ease of living with her, she loves animals but she is a bit of a germaphobe and hates being dirty.
The dog would pretty much only be outside for potty purposes and for exercise - but I would have to basically wipe down our cocker spaniel after coming in from doing his business when it was raining because the hair would just 'collect' so much dirt/mud. We aren't neat freaks I swear... LOL But I am just trying to think of things from all angles.

We obviously aren't going out tomorrow to get a dog - realistically, we won't get one until the new year, but I want to start thinking about this now and researching breeds so we don't see a cute face and make an impulsive decision.

Kom I'm sorry for your loss - it's been a little over a year ago since we put our boy down because of the lymphoma. It was just time - I am at peace knowing that his suffering was minimal because we really kept on top of it as much as we could, but losing him was SO hard.... my husband wanted to go out right away and get another dog just to try and heal the pain, but thankfully we decided to wait - we are just starting to become 'ready' for another dog.

My daughter is just bummed because she really wanted a 'kitty' - and my husband was all set to buy her one - the cat allergy was a real surprise to us, she was going in for testing based on tree/pollen/grass allergies to see if she needed shots (she will) - so that kind of threw us all. BUT I am a dog lover so I'm glad we won't be getting a cat and I'm getting excited about picking out a new member of the family.

Another sort of off-topic question - pet insurance. Anyone here have it? Is it worth it? We didn't have it with our last dog and I'm not exactly sure what it covers/doesn't cover. Do you pay out of pocket at the vet and then get reimbursed? I was thinking of just setting aside a high-yield savings account for pet expenses instead... would you do that, or purchase insurance (or both?)
 
DosGattos

DosGattos

New Member
A hairless kitty might work. We have one and he is absolutely great. He has a wonderful personality and loves to cuddle (I think it's because he gets cold). They are really great cats. Takes a little to get used to at first but now it is weird to me to pet a cat with hair!
 
SoMDGirl42

SoMDGirl42

Well-Known Member
lisa8439 said:
Thanks for all of the advice - I've never thought about a mini-schnauzer so I'll look into them. I loved the idea of a pug myself, but I don't know about the whole shedding/snoring thing. I don't mind a bit of shedding, as I do keep the house clean LOL But we have a friend who has a pug and according to her, there is hair everywhere....

I don't know that we need a hypo-allergenic dog. She wasn't reactive to dogs on the allergy test, just cats - but because she does have allergies (cats, pollen, most trees/grasses, the usual - but severe enough that she takes medicine for them) should we look into a hypo-allergenic dog just because?

I don't mind the regular grooming either - I'll take the dog somewhere for that. We had a cocker spaniel and had to take him every month - BUT my daughter would get really grossed out when he would come in from the rain and be matted/muddy/etc. until we got him to the groomer. That's one of the reasons I'm thinking about a short-haired dog. Just for ease of living with her, she loves animals but she is a bit of a germaphobe and hates being dirty.
The dog would pretty much only be outside for potty purposes and for exercise - but I would have to basically wipe down our cocker spaniel after coming in from doing his business when it was raining because the hair would just 'collect' so much dirt/mud. We aren't neat freaks I swear... LOL But I am just trying to think of things from all angles.
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I have shih-tzus. Great family dogs. They don't shed (well except for when you occasionally step on their tail, oops). They are hypo-allergic. They have more human like hair. They do require grooming. I choose to keep mine short so they don't get matted and dirty when going out to potty.

If you are leaning toward a short haired dog because of shedding issues, you're headed down the wrong path. Short haired dogs shed, ALOT. You're fuzz bunnies will just be smaller piles than what a shedding long hair dog puts out, but they'll be EVERYWHERE!

BTW, I rescued mine from the ASPCA 9 years ago. They are litter brothers :biggrin: My first shih-tzu was purchased from a breeder. He lived a long, wonderful 16 year life. I miss my little man. That's another thing to consider. Smaller dogs tend to have longer life spans than large/middle sized breeds. I can honestly say these doggies have been the most tolerate dogs I've ever seen. They're pretty tough little dogs that have tolerated 3 babies, and they still love the kids as much as they love them.

Best of luck in search of your furever friend.
 

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