Medium Size Sporty Dog Breeds That Would Suit A Small House?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
I’m a long way away from getting a dog but I’m thinking about it in the future. I’m moving to a flat (apartment), it is two level but still pretty small. I’m not really keen on small foo foo dogs or terriers, other half doesnt like greyhound-type dogs or lab/golden retrievers. Have lived with springer and cocker spaniels all my life, adore them but would like to try a different breed if possible. Cross breeds are fine too, I plan to check out the local shelters. Basically I would like a dog thats up to medium size, easy to train, that I can do agility with and exercise 1 and a half to 2 hours a day. I love collies, but dont think its really fair to keep them in a flat. Also like Duck Tollers, but not sure if they would settle in a flat…basically I need a dog that, although it is active, will be reasonably calm around the house, and not bark loads (afraid of annoying neighbours).
I’m very demanding aren’t I?
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Staffie staffie staffie!!! loyal, people devoted dogs, settled and cuddly in the house, energetic when you go out. However they MUST be socialised with other dogs at an early age to prevent dog-aggression. Staffies may want to “fight” your small animals, so although normally I would suggest a rescue dog, I suggest you get a puppy so you can train it from a young age to treat your small animals with respect. Staffies are so eager to please their owners that they will do anything, so I’m sure leaving your small fluffies alone wont be too much bother.
You should be paying around £600 for a quality staffie puppy, buy from a reputable breeder not some junkie backyarder who is looking to make money out of hard looking dogs (you can tell, they’ll charge half the price of a good breeder). You should try your local rescue centres first though, people dump staffies of all ages, approx 40% of dogs in rescues are staffy or cross staffie so you might not have trouble finding a dog young enough to train!
Have you thought of a sheltie? Short for Shetland Sheep hound. Ours was wonderful they are very similar to Collies in the way they look and are so easy to train although they need exercise.
http://www.animalplanet.com has a wonderful sight for helping you pick out the perfect dog and pets. Also so does
http://www.pedigree.com.
Best Wishes for you and your future fur baby.
i’ve had experience with miniature schnauzers and they’re really smart and have fun personalities and the really awesome part is they hardly shed at all!
English Cocker Spaniel? Shetland Sheepdog?..oops! Shelties do tend to be barkers! But then, dogs do.Do check out the Tollers..Brittanys?
australian shepherd
I’d say cocker spaniel then lol, or a spaniel cross. Best of luck. x
How about a shelti (like a mini lassie)? I’m a cross breed girl myself, but have always found the bigger breeds more fun – this is ok, because i live right on the hills, but I am dogless right now, and will be forevermore, because I can’t get over losing my last dog (lab collie cross, heart attack at only 5 years old).
How about a Samoyed? Or an Airdale Terrier often called the King of Terriers because it is a standard dog size. Both will require a lot of exercise, but if you give them it, they only need a home to sleep in afterwards.
Schnauzers come in Miniature and large, but perhaps the large is too large for a flat? They are not big barkers, so that much is a good thing.
Stear clear of hounds in general – or St Bernard or Newfoundlands (not just for the size but they were often trained to bark) The same can be said for any dog typically used as guard animals.
Personally – I rather like the Kelpie, which can be found in many colours, black, black and tan, brown, brown and white – so here we go:
:http://www.puppydogbreedinfo.com/austral…
Not too big, not too small, active, sweet dog.
How about a beagle. They are energetic and love to run. The usually stay (that is if the don’t get a scent) within 10 ft of you. Everyone I met including the one I own are great in the house. The love blankets and pillows. They will curl up with you and go to sleep or play fetch. Just to let you know that most male beagles have a tendency to pee in the house (they mark there territory). They will do there howling bark if someone is walking by the house or another animal is around the house. Even though they are hunting dogs, mine was fine with the guinea pig. I just kept him in another room when I let the Guinea pig in his play yard. If you don’t they will try to catch them. But he never bothered him in the cage at all. Not sure about birds. I would not trust mine around any bird cage or not. Has caught me 2 wild birds already.
Shetland sheepdog is a small dog that is energetic, intelligent, easy to train and LOVES agility. They do like to bark tho so that’s a downer. http://www.dogluvers.com/Shetland-Sheepd…
Whippet are gentle and affectionate but have enough energy for a good bout of exercise but is a greyhound type dog- http://www.dogluvers.com/Whippet.html
Miniature bull terrier – small, okay in small house and needs a good deal of exercise, great with children/people and other dogs if socialised well. Needs early obedience but is definitely not difficult to train you just need more patience, so invest in puppy classes. Easy coat care but careful with the small fluffy animals, if raised from a puppy with them it should learn to be gentle.
Staffy – very similar to above (bull terrier) but needs even more thorough socialisation with other dogs and pets.
Australian Terrier
Even though its a little dog they have guts and they don’t look pretty pretty or overly cute – miniature pinscher-they dont need 2 hours of exercise but are pretty energetic. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/miniaturepin…
Standard schnauzer
West highland white terrier (watch for the small furry things).
Some large dogs do surprisingly well in small places so don’t count them out.
If you are up for a lot of coat upkeep, you could consider Finnish Lapphunds, small and sporty, medium tendency to bark (given attention and exercise they shouldnt), brilliant agility dogs, intelligent and settle well in the home usually. They are unusual, so not as overbred as other breeds and tend to be very healthy, however they get overheated a lot so may involve lots of work to keep them cool.
Hungarian Vizsla’s are another option. They are possibly slightly larger than the size you wanted, but we used to keep them. They are high energy, but settle beautifully in the home, they are known as “velcro dogs” because they are so devoted to their owners. The coat is short and doesnt require much upkeep, and they are very handsome, a little like red weimaraners.
You could try and find a “pet” or show strain of beagle. They have a bad reputation but this is normally cos the hunting dogs are just unbeareable in a small house. The pet beagles are actually easy to train and not too loud.
Dont know much about duck tollers, but to be honest I hear they are loud and energetic all day, every day!
Some crosses you could look for are staffie-collie (athletic but less neurotic than a collie, tend to be devoted to their owners so calm in the household), lab-collie, retriever collie, or cocker spaniel-collie (springer spaniel-collie would probably be too crazy for what you are after).
Bear in mind with any cross breed there is no guarantee of what mixture you’re going to get, shelters are a good option if you want a cross, because the staff will know the dogs well.