tammyw Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Our landlord just gave us special permission for a pet (we are military and will be here another 2.5 years before we make our final and permanent move). This is good news because my children have been wanting a pet for a long, long time! My husband and I grew up with cats, but we *might* consider a dog if we found one that fit our needs. Cat option - we want a Cornish Rex (non-shedding). I'm not allergic to cat hair, but I just don't want it anymore. I hate how it got into everything. Dog options? Does a dog like the following exist? (asking a lot, I know) - Non-shedding. - Easy to train. (worried about our rental house and don't want damage) - Good with mature kids (8.5 and 5) - Doesn't chew on everything and cause much damage (again, this is a rental!) It seems the Cornish Rex cat is our best option, but I don't want to close ourselves off to the dog option, if there is one that is suitable to our family. We want a pet that will be part of our family for a long, long, long time and this is why I approach buying a pet as I would any other big, huge decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 As for a dog, poodles are non-shedding, very intelligent, and pretty easy to train. Any puppy is going to chew though...you'll just have to be diligent in making sure it chews things that are okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 As for a dog, poodles are non-shedding, very intelligent, and pretty easy to train. Any puppy is going to chew though...you'll just have to be diligent in making sure it chews things that are okay. ITA about poodles. I'd recommend a miniature poodle instead of a toy (standards are probably bigger than what you're looking for). The only down side with poodles is that they must be groomed. Many people learn to do it themselves. Also, if you get a dog, look into crate training. Our rescued french bulldog came to us crate-trained, and if I ever have another dog after him, that dog will be crate-trained, too. Crate training keeps you sane. :D I'd love the cat. Cats are my favorite.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 If you plan on moving into another rental in 2.5 years, I'd take that into consideration. It might be harder to find a rental which will allow a dog as opposed to a cat. Good luck with your decision! What a nice landlord!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 This will be our last rental. In 2.5 years, DH retires at 20 and we move somewhere permanently and buy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I would look for a poodle mix. Or a terrier mix - ours does shed some, but she has a single coat (double coat sheds a lot more) so not much. You would just need to make sure the kind of coat the dog has. Also you might consider not getting a puppy. We got a young adult dog, about a year and a half old. She is much calmer and had already outgrown most of the puppy inconveniences like chewing. Also she was already potty trained and crate trained when we got her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 (edited) Also you might consider not getting a puppy. We got a young adult dog, about a year and a half old. She is much calmer and had already outgrown most of the puppy inconveniences like chewing. Also she was already potty trained and crate trained when we got her. :iagree: Puppies bite, chew, and take up an immense amount of time. Adult dogs aren't hard to find: Breeders, breed rescue organizations, and shelters are the best places to find them IMO. First, figure out which breeds you are interested in, of course. Here is a list of light-shedding breeds (some are mixed breeds a/k/a designer dogs): http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/lightshedders.htm To find out more about specific dog breeds, Google their national club's website. This is a good starting point: http://www.akc.org/ Edited September 25, 2011 by RoughCollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I would look for a poodle mix. Or a terrier mix - ours does shed some, but she has a single coat (double coat sheds a lot more) so not much. You would just need to make sure the kind of coat the dog has. Also you might consider not getting a puppy. We got a young adult dog, about a year and a half old. She is much calmer and had already outgrown most of the puppy inconveniences like chewing. Also she was already potty trained and crate trained when we got her. :iagree: Particularly good advice if this is your first dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 My mom has had 2 teacup poodles and they were ridiculously smart. They didn't shed, but did have to be groomed on a regular basis. We have a very tiny Maltese (he weighs 4 pounds) and he's (usually) a great dog. We get his long hair shaved off (down to about 1/2") and other than that, he's pretty low maintenance. Oh, wait, except he had to have 7 teeth pulled 2 weeks ago. He only has 4 left, poor thing. He can still eat just fine. Poodles and Maltese are very affectionate and loyal. They can both be a bit clingy though. When we get our next dog (our Pekingese is getting very old) we'll be getting a teacup Yorkie. They are sweet and lovable and shed very little (my cousin has one). We like what we call "scoop and go" dogs, meaning small dogs that you can just pick up and carry if you need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kile529 Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Id definitely look for a poodle mix of some sort if you're going to go the dog route. If you will travel a bit, a cat is definitely easier to leave for a week..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Okay, my husband sealed the deal. He said after searching his heart, he doesn't want a dog. We're talking to a few Cornish Rex breeders, so I think it will work out. I am sooooo excited!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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