The right dog for me?

[ninedosus]

I'm currently trying to find a dog for our family, and want to make sure to choose well. I took a quiz online that is supposed to help find the right dog, and it came up with a bulldog, which is fantastic. However, we'll be adopting from the shelter, who currently has around 300 puppies available. In the event none of those are bulldogs, I was hoping to find an alternate breed that will work with us.

I have three children (9, 5, 1), and we live in an apartment (so I would prefer a smaller/medium dog). I can take the dog out several times a day for exercise if needed. Because of allergies, I'd prefer a dog with short hair/smooth coat. Most of all, though, I really want an mellow dog that will be good with my kids.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate it!

[Yogi]

there are a couple of really good sites online that address those breeds best suited for apartments. You may want to try them....
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/top-dog-breeds-for-apartment-life/page1.aspx
http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-and-animals/a3886-how-to-choose-a-dog-for-an-apartment.html

[kurikim]

I so happy you're going to be getting a pound-puppy. :)

I'd always ask the shelter staff about the individual dogs as well. While there are certain breed traits that are more prevelent in a breed, each dog is an individual. The shelter workers/volunteers have been feeding and playing with these dogs for a while, and should be able to give you a pretty good idea of which ones are a little more agressive and which ones are more friendly. Just tell them about your situation and most will be happy to try and find you a dog that exactly fits your needs.

[ninedosus]

Thanks for the great advice, everyone!

[lindsayanng]

I was also going to suggest just going down to the shelter, because although trying to choose the right breed for you is a great idea, it isnt always spot on.. For instance, i have a beagle.. Everyone will tell you that beagles are stubborn, loud, and difficult to train - they also are said to be unable to walk with a leash.. mybeagle is VERYVERY quiet, never barks, he is off leash MOST of the time, and trained within a few days.

HOWEVER, when we went to meet Cappy at the shelter, we noticed that he was pretty calm and collected, even for a 4 month old puppy. We got him home and realized he was just TOO perfect. He didnt chase the cats (something a beagle is BRED to do) and didnt go potty in the house..

So when you go to the shelter, ask the workers who THEY thing would be a good fit for you..The people who work at the shelter know each and ever dog, and you might be surprised by the bred they say would be the best fit, but they know each dogs personality, and dont really see the breed.