[Ange]

My dads birthdays coming up and I wanted to get him a small puppy to keep him company during the day. I'm just not sure of what breed to go with... he would want something small that could act as a little guard dog but at the same time nothing thats going to be annoying him too much during the day i.e yapping, digging... can anyone suggest anything? I was thinking maybe a pug, I've heard they have a bit of attitude and make good guard dogs but are really lazy which would be perfect... the budget just doesnt quite stretch that far though! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Intuitive Dreamer]

Although everyone else would disagree and think these dogs are yappy...I would suggest a Pomeranian.I had one before and she was NOT yappy at all.She was an amazing dog.She was protective and loving and cute as hell.The next time I get a dog I am without a doubt getting one again.I love them.

[Jes D]

a beagle, jack russell.

[maria m]

well u should get a pug if your dad wants a small dog to guard the house.But if your dad wants a small playful dog u should either get a Shitzu or a Beagle.

[Space Ghosty]

Trust me on this. Get one of the larger female, shorthaired, chihuahuas. Contrary to belief they are not yappers. If you Dad is a mellow person who is in control of his attitude on life, the dog will mimic his energy. The only yappy thing about chihuahuas is their high pitch vocal cords. They mostly bark when someone knocks on the door. They are the sweetest lovy dogs in the world. They also make the ultimate lap dog. The only cruel thing is if he has to leave the dog alone for more than 3 hours at a time during the day every day. Any dog will develop some attatchment disorder if they are left alone. Dogs by nature are pack animals. So I recommend 2 dogs to keep each other company. They do not have to be purebred, and you can save a ton of money if they arent. My mom got 2 for 80 bucks each. If your Dad has only room for one dog, i hope it has access to a yard so it can lay in the sun. Then you should get a medium size dog so you dont have to worry about hawks or other large predators killing small dogs. (It happens). If its strictly an indoor dog. I recommend Chihuahua (larger shorthair) You wont be sorry. Chihuahuas also make excellent alarm dogs. Dont kid yourself on guard dogs. Anything smaller than a labrador isnt effective "guard" and by no means get a lab they are sweety pie non guard dogs!

[lili_dela_vallee]

First off, i'd make sure he really wants a dog, and the responsibilities of it. Maybe you've already done that, but it's important if you haven't.A good idea would be to go to your local animal shelter, and tell them exactly what you are looking for. You might find the perfect dog for him. While it may not be a purebred, or a pug, many mixed breeds make great dogs. One of the advantages to this is that you can often get a dog that already has an amount of training and socialization, maybe young, but already housebroken for example.Of course you can watch your local newspaper, and see if something turns up there. People sometimes need to find a good home for a dog they just can't keep.As far as breeds, and guarding, my favorite breed has always been the Bull Terrier, although this might be a little larger then you are wanting. There are other terriers I like also; however they often have somewhat stubborn temperaments.If your father doesn't mind long-haired breeds, and the care involved in keeping them clean and un-matted, that will broaden your possibilities.Since a purebred dog may be outside your budget, I'd suggest checking out the more common breeds, to find out what characteristics they have. Then you'll know what to seek out or keep your eyes open for.A good site for this is IAMS site, where they have a lot of good and well-organized information on each breed:http://us.iams.com will take you to their home page.I hope I've been some help. Best of luck to you. ~smiles~