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[BuriBuriZaemon]

Hiya, peeps. I don't post a lot here but I need advices about choosing the right dog breed for a pet.

Criteria
Cost: Low (around USD15/week)

Size: Small (ie Pug, Yorkshire Terrier)

Coat: Short (so things don't get entangled when it is playing outdoor)

Grooming: Moderate (3 times/week)

Exercise: Moderate (20 minutes/weekeday, a jog on weekend)

Trainability: Moderate

Guard dog: No need

Additional info
Availability of time: Right now I'm a full-time student who works two days/week. I'm graduating in six months and I assume I'd get a job once I graduate (already have an offer). This is when I'm getting the dog, not now. I estimate that I will be away from home for 10 hours/weekday, but I'll have plenty of time on weekend (Saturday - Sunday).

Experience with dog: Nil! But I'm learning from the Internet and I know a lot of people who do have experience and, in fact, I live close to, and work at the main office of a community based charity that works to prevent cruelty to animals (Royal Society for Protection and Care of Animals). Moreover, I've had other pets before (mostly rodents) so I'm confident I'm up for the responsibility.

Accommodation: I live in a granny's flat that I rent with another housemate. The size is not big but decent. This flat is a 'mini unit' that shares the yard with the main unit occupied by the landlord. The yard is not fenced and medium-sized. I plan to let the dog to roam around in the yard when I'm away from home and take it in when I am home.

Other pet: None, although a few of the neighbours have cats that roam freely.

All your inputs are appreciated. 

[Strife26]

Get a Maine Coon Cat. All the personallity and fuzzyness of a cat, with the mannerisms of a dog.

[inaluct]

That's actually a good idea. They're like dogs, only less useful in almost every conceivable way. And cuter.

Anyway, Buri, get a mutt. Go to the pound and get a dog that fits your criteria. There's no reason to get a dog with an actual breed. They cost more and are more prone to health problems.

[WorkerDrone]

I completely agree with the mutt thing. But most importantly, the pound thing.

Please, Buri, adopt a dog. Adoption is the way to go.

[Cthulhu]

Adopt a Boston terrier.  They're small, have really short fur, some health problems and they're pretty expensive, but they're really smart and learn fast.  Mine learned when and where to go to the bathroom with one praising.

EDIT:  Why did I say pug?  I meant Boston terrier.

[BuriBuriZaemon]

To all who recommends me to adopt a dog:
The place where I work has an adoption center and I'd be more than happy to provide care and home for any of the homeless dogs, so yes, I'd rather adopt than buy. 

However, I still need to know what breed I should adopt. I don't care whether it's pure breed or mixed breed or half-goat half-dog, but I need to know the general characteristics and suitableness of certain breeds, so when I find said breed in the pound, I can say 'You're the one!'.

About the cat:
Not sure I want a cat, no matter how it behaves like a dog.

[cowofdoom78963]

Yeah get a mutt, whatever you think looks coolest at your local shelter. I dont know much about specific breeds, but I do have one peice of advice:

Stay away from the "tiny cute" dogs. Those are traps. They are genetically engineered emulate human babys.(IE:chihuahuas)

Anyway you dont have to "groom" your pet, I never groom mine and their just fine(although I still have to clean crap out of their fur when they decide to wander off and go roll around in oil or something).

[A_Fey_Dwarf]

Ha, I adopted a puppy from the RSPCA. We thought it was going to be a small terrier, ended up being a medium sized English pointer cross. That's the thing with mutt puppies, you don't know how they are going to turn out. Unless you are going to live on a reasonable sized (1/4 acre) property or are sure of it's breed, I wouldn't suggest an RSPCA puppy. My suggestion is a border terrier, very cute (in an scruffy sort of way) and have a great personality. Meets all your criteria as well.

[Rilder]

Try not to get a pure-bred if possible, especially not purebred Rottweilers, they tend to die of health problems early. Our first died of a heart attack and our second died of cancer

[Heron TSG]

Schnoodles are cool. (And according to my dog, they can live a LONG LONG TIME. 16 human years so far)

[woose1]

That ^^^ dog does not have a short coat.

Get a chinese-crested chihuahua. Sure they are hard to get along with the first month or two, but afterward, you'll find you love it more then your girlfriend. Or better yet, get a pug+chihuahua mutt.

[cowofdoom78963]

Get a chinese-crested chihuahua. Sure they are hard to get along with the first month or two, but afterward, you'll find you love it more then your girlfriend. Or better yet, get a pug+chihuahua mutt.

See? This guy has already been tricked by his dog into treating it like a baby, those small dogs are nothin but trouble!

[woose1]

Get a chinese-crested chihuahua. Sure they are hard to get along with the first month or two, but afterward, you'll find you love it more then your girlfriend. Or better yet, get a pug+chihuahua mutt.

See? This guy has already been tricked by his dog into treating it like a baby, those small dogs are nothin but trouble!

Don't listen to it... baby...

[BuriBuriZaemon]

Sorry, Chihuahua is not my cup of tea. I think having one makes me too 'feminine'. 

I'm still leaning toward any of the terriers, particularly Yorkie, Westie, Cairn, or Border.

What about Mini Pinscher?

[Creamcorn]

Schnoodles are cool. (And according to my dog, they can live a LONG LONG TIME. 16 human years so far)

picture

The seal dose not lie! I have cousins in South America with that same looking dog that has been alive for +10 years on nothing but table scraps! And he still has the peppiness to hump your leg.