Non-shedding dogs

[Guest Anonymous]

Ok, my family and I are looking for another dog. We want a smaller one that won't shed, and would get along with a golden retriever. We want to ruscue one from a shelter. I need help on what dogs we could look for at our shelter. Please help! :o

[imported_Matty]

Read this..very long :wink:
Dr. Fosters & Smith

[quote]Choosing a dog
Do You Want a Purebred or Mixed-Breed Dog? Should your new dog be a purebred or a mixed breed? For many, the answer to this question is obvious because subconsciously they are only thinking about purebred dogs. The thought of having anything else never even enters their mind. When they were growing up, their parents had English Setters so they automatically look for an English Setter.

It is ironic that many future dog owners seek out a purebred without any idea of what breed they might want. They never consider a mixed or "Heinz 57." Before you leap into a selection between the 145 or so currently listed and officially recognized breeds, you need to understand the differences and pros and cons of a "canine blue-blood" versus what is often referred to as a mongrel.

There are differences between purebred and mixed breed dogs, but they are mostly in what the buyer wants or perceives. Several hundred years ago humans started with wild or free-roaming canines and brought them into their lives. Originally, they were used to help us with our work. In various parts of the world, different basic models as to shape and size were used for these initial transformations into domestication. Over the years, dogs have become less important as a working partner and most are simply thought of as a companion. Regardless of their role in our world, from the very start we have continually tried to alter the dog's abilities, behavior, size, shape, color, conformation, etc., to fit some purpose or goal that we had. This was done through selective breeding. At some point in time, a standard is established and these animals are sanctioned as a unique breed. With the stroke of a pen on an official looking document, they are transformed from a mixed breed to a purebred.

Possible advantages of purebreds: If you are seeking a dog and need it for a specific purpose, you may be better off choosing a purebred that has been selectively bred with those traits in mind. While it is often said that any dog can be trained to do anything, you may be wiser to use the years of experience and efforts of others than try to start on your own. For example, someone who is interested in showing, herding, hunting, scent work, or other specific tasks would be better off choosing a dog from one of the breeds that have been devoted to those specialized fields. Through generations of selective breeding, these traits have been refined and strengthened well past those found in the general population of dogs.

For some people, their choice as to which dog they should get is based on their own physical makeup or problems. If a respiratory condition or allergy means you should not be around dogs that shed excessively, you should select a breed that is appropriate for your own health. Certain kinds of dogs are well known for their non-shedding characteristics. In reality, they do shed, but generally much less than typical breeds. Examples are the various Poodles and Schnauzers. In these situations in which a specific physical trait such as the amount that an animal sheds is important in your dog, it is probably better to choose a purebred. It would be very difficult, if not impossible to predict, the degree of shedding that a mixed breed puppy will display as an adult.

Some dog owners find certain dogs more attractive than others and simply must have one that looks like that. It would be foolish for them to choose a different breed or one of mixed lineage. If someone knows what they want their dog to look like as an adult, but are starting with a puppy, they need to choose a member of that breed to ensure they get what they want a year later.

Some dog breeds are known for having certain personalities or behavior patterns. You can select one that matches yours or what you would prefer to see in your pet. Golden Retrievers are known for their laid-back, calm personalities. To some, that is the perfect dog. Others, however, would prefer a more out going, excitable dog. Still, others might want an animal for protection of their home. Certain lines of some breeds have been bred for this type of work and are therefore a natural choice.

An excellent book that describes the various breeds is "The Complete Dog Book" by the American Kennel Club. It can be found in most book or pet stores and catalogs. Buying a purebred animal in no way guarantees what you will get. It may increase your chances of matching you with your goal, but that is all.

Some advantages of mixed breeds: Keep in mind when thinking about purebred dogs that many man-made alterations in the basic structure and behavior from the original historical canine model have brought along some disadvantages. Some dogs, especially those with short noses that at times seem to be pushed back into their heads, may have difficulty breathing or giving birth to their puppies naturally. Excessively large or giant breeds usually have shorter life spans, often by several years. Breeds with excessive skin folds are generally more prone to bacterial skin infections.

In other purebreds, harmful or unwanted characteristics have arisen. Whenever breeders select for one trait they may unknowingly select for many others. Hip dysplasia is a degenerative and often severely debilitating disease of the hip joint of dogs. It is transmitted from one generation to the next through genetics. This condition is rare in wild dogs. Any condition that decreases the overall ability of a wild animal to compete in their world is quickly eliminated through natural selection. However, through human engineered selective processes, this condition has become common in several breeds. Breeding has, it would seem, unknowingly potentiated the genetically transferred information that controls this disease. Today, concerned and ethical breeders work very hard to eliminate undesirable traits from their breeds. They truly care about the animals they produce and their future.

When considering your choice between a purebred and mixed breed, do not forget the cost. Purebred puppies have been known to cost $300 to $3000 depending on the particular lines and breed. Mixed breed models are usually free or go for only a small adoption fee. In some households, this can mean the difference between getting a dog or not. We promise you, the child that receives his first puppy will rarely care about his color, hair coat, size, or the price paid.[/quote]

[mouseatthebusstop]

a Golden must shred a lot- get whatever is your favorite breed or mix then buy a Dyson cleaner :)

[Canis erectus]

Adopt a Greyhound or whippet! If you're looking for a somewhat smaller dog a whippet would be better, but I'm not sure what adoption programs are available for retired track whippets. Either way both dogs are quite similar.

Both shed very little, although the whippets coat is finer and sheds less noticable hair. They are very amendable toward other dogs but might react in a predatory manner toward smaller animals (though not always the case). They don't care for a alot of rough-housing , so if your Golden Retreiver is a young dog who like to horseplay it may not be a good match. If your retreiver is a somewhat older dog, the calm demeanor of greyhounds and whippets places less stress on existing pets in the home with their arrival. The downside is that these are not dogs to be let off-leash oustide of a high fenced area. Period. Another minus is that some of these dogs have debilitating injuries that keep them from racing (anything from as minor as a broken nail to as major as a spinal disc problem).

And the best part is, there are many of these dogs needing to be adopted into good loving homes all over the country!

[courtnek]

**confuso-meter switches on...* you want a dog that doesnt shed, but yo have a GOLDEN???? I had one, they shed year round...??????

all dogs shed, some just shed less....poodles and schnauzers, as listed.
Goldens, IF TRUE TO TYPE (not ALL are) get along with just about anything. cats, dogs, mice, doesnt matter. only you know your dog and its tolerances. It would be best to introduce the two beforehand and watch for reactions, on both dogs parts.

[gooeydog]

Remember that most non-shed dogs will need some type of grooming due to the make up of their coat (curly coats need brushed since the coat actually holds in the shedded hair and it needs to be gotten out to prevent mats; long haired dogs like shih tzus need to be brushed frequently to keep from matting; etc. Since you have one large dog, I wouldn't go with a small, fragile breed, as you wouldn't want your dog to inadvertantly hurt the new dog.

[courtnek]

[quote name='DivineOblivion19'][color=indigo]Ok ok I'll say!!!!

BOSTON TERRIER! A Boston is an excellent choice for you. They are little, don't shed much and darn sure aren't fragile. Heck, it'll probably put your big dog in place. :lol: But they are happy little dogs that don't shed much and (usually) get along with other dogs. :wink: [/color][/quote]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I was WAITING for that...

but think a minute. A Golden is a 75-90 lb. dog. your Boston is what? 20 lbs? While Goldens (again, if TRUE TO TYPE) are very gentle, and usually
very tolerant, they are also, (in my experience) blunderbusses. They dont MEAN to step/stomp/trip over little animals, but it happens. My Golden was a big, lumbering, loves-evething-that-moves baby, who stepped on my cat repeatedly. Didnt mean to, just kinda happened. The cat would sqwack,
the dog would try to lie down and look contrite, and usually ended up lying down on the poor cat...how much clumsiness can a Boston tolerate?


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[DogPaddle]

Shed less dogs (not to be confussed with shedless dogs.)
Poodles
Schnauzers
Lhaso Apsos
Shihtzus
Most dogs that require regular clipping/timming and grooming.

[DogPaddle]

You can find useful sites that help you choose a breed, some of them have shedding as one of the factors.
Type the following into a google search:

dog breed chooser OR selector

Have fun.

[Canis erectus]

You know, if you're patient I bet you could find the ideal mutt at you local animal control or humane society. You'd want to look for an adult dog, probably at least a year old, so that you can have a good idea of what the coat is like.

You wouldn't know it by seeing her picture but Zoey (on the left) really has a dream coat. Her coat is silky and rather human like, it has no undercoat, requires no clipping, and only sheds any noticable amount of fur for less than two months out of the year. This is all really funny when you consider that she'd a Borzoi mix.

The actual point being that you never know what sorts of results can be brought about by hybrid vigor. Really, if you're looking for something specific, a mutt is probably what you're looking for. The only problem is finding that particular mutt in a sea of thousands.

By the way, a Boston Terrier is a great idea, though maybe a little too pushy if their existing dog is older.