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Top 5 City Dog Breeds

When choosing the perfect pet, where you live should be a major factor in your decision.

f you live on a busy street, hunting dogs like Weimaraners, Beagles, or any type of hound, are poor choices as they have a tendency to follow their nose, rather than their wits. If you live in an apartment complex, your landlord may have a size limit for pets, which rules out larger breeds. If you do not have a yard, you'll need to steer clear of the breeds that need a lot of exercise. And if your living quarters are small, you'll want a dog that isn't too hyper indoors.

With all this in mind, I've compiled a quick list of the top five breeds for city-living based on the following:

Indoor activity level

- Instinctual tendencies
- Grooming
- Amount of exercise needed
- My personal experience
- Typical breed standards

Here are my picks, listed according to size: smallest to largest.

Italian Greyhound

If you have older children, or no children at all, the Italian Greyhound might be perfect for you. Some people think IGs are too fragile, but this is not true. They are only delicate as young pups (like most breeds) but are very hardy as adults. They prefer to lead a quiet, peaceful life, so if you have a rambunctious household, an IG will become too stressed. They are very loyal to their family and bond very closely. IGs can be a bit reserved around strangers, but never yappy. Although they are usually very submissive, they are also very smart, so they need firm and consistent training. They do not need a yard, but one of their many pleasures is to run free--owners should give them this chance whenever they are able. IGs are sensitive to cold climates, so wearing a sweater or fleece during these months is recommended. IGs can weigh up to 10 pounds and live up to 15 years. They do not need to be bathed unless absolutely necessary, although they do shed.

Havanese, Bichon Frise, or Maltese

These breeds all come from the same line, and they are the classic lap-dog. They are generally well behaved, loyal, quiet, and submissive. They're easy to train, hypo-allergenic, and do not shed. They can weigh up to 13 pounds and live about 14 years. They're perfect for apartment life and are content with indoor exercise. They aren't very athletic, so they need an easy-going family. They are a long-haired breed, so a 'puppy cut' is easiest to maintain (as seen in the photo). Although all of them are great indoor pets, the Havanese is best with children. If you're looking for an adorable, compact, perpetual puppy, then one of these breeds could be right for you.

Cockapoo

The Cockapoo is one of my favorite breeds because even though they're small, they're quite athletic. They do not need a yard--they can be sufficiently exercised in the home with a game of fetch. Cocker Spaniels and Poodles are sporting dogs, so the Cockapoo inherently loves to swim, go camping and boating, hunt, run, play frisbee, etc. To satisfy these traits, weekly trips to the park, or taking them on vacations are recommended. Cockapoos are not nervous or skittish, but they do best when around their family members. They're attentive to their masters, very easy to train, and adore children and other pets. They are also hypo-allergenic and do not shed. They can weigh between 6 and 25 pounds, depending on whether or not the poodle parent was a toy or miniature. Life expectancy is about 14 years. They come in many colors and their coats can be shaggy or curly. Some breeders will dock their tails but ask yours not to - they have the most lovely, plume-like tails!

Boston Terrier or Pug

These breeds are small bundles of joy. They live to learn, love people of all ages, are effortless to groom, and require little exercise. They are perfect for indoor life, content to get their exercise with a game of fetch or tug. They are extremely loyal and love to be cuddled. Even though they do not need daily outdoor exercise, it is recommended to take them on a weekly trip to the park or on vacation with you. The joys of watching a Boston or Pug play outside are endless. They weigh up to 20 pounds and live up to 15 years. They do well with other pets and love to be where the action is. Their coats are short so they are very easy to groom, but they do shed. Bostons and Pugs have very short muzzles so they may breath loudly, snore, or drool. Because of birthing difficulties (often by caesarean), I recommend finding your Boston Terrier or Pug at a local rescue rather than a breeder. There are several available for adoption on petfinder.com.

Wheaton Terrier

If you have the craving for a larger breed, try the Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier. They weigh between 30-45 pounds and can live up to 15 years. Unlike other large breeds like Labs or Golden Retrievers, they do not need a yard as long as they get a good walk once a day. They are fairly inactive indoors, and will be content to just lay at your feet. They are sensitive to hot climates so they do best in cooler weather. Even though they are a long haired breed, they are still good for allergy sufferers, as they do not shed too much. For easy grooming, keep their hair short in a puppy cut (as shown in the photo). If their coat is kept long (making them resemble a sheep dog), daily combing is recommended. Because they have a tendancy to bond so closely to their family members, they may be a bit unsocial. This can be corrected by taking them to obedience classes, dog parks, or just making sure they are around other people and dogs often. They do not do well with other small pets, so if you have a cat or a rabbit, the Wheaton may not be the dog for you.

Remember--there can be exceptions to every litter so do your research!

Mandy has been a dog trainer and family pet advisor for ten years. She is passionate about matching the right pets with the right families and has fostered countless animals in her lifetime. Currently she is a staff writer for Plugged In Parents, providing parents with family pet solutions and information. Plugged In Parents is also an online resource for up-to-date health and safety, nutrition, and baby info along with recipes, family movie reviews, money and tech tips, and more! Visit pluggedinparents.com today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mandy_K.

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