Which would be better for me?

1. I want low maintenance as far as temperament. That's why I wouldn't get a poodle. When I want to play with it, I'll play with it. WHen I want to be left alone to read or watch tv, I want to be left alone.

2. I want to litter box train it for when I don't want to get up early in the mornings or late at night to take it out.

3. I don't mind walking it everyday, but I'm not a very active person. Some times I do active things, mostly I like to be in the house and relax.

4. I will be leaving it alone all day while I work and the kids are at school. Somebody will be back around 4:00 pm.

5. When I go shopping, I'll need to leave it alone. SO, I don't want a clingy dog.

6. I suffer from allergies.

7. My kids, both boys, are 12 and 15.

8. I live in a luxury condo with no private backyard.

9. It would be nice that if once potty train, it didn't go around peeing on my carpet.

10. My 12-year-old wants a friendly, lovable, dog.

Update: I just spoke to a breeder in my state who breeds show quality bichons. According to him they cannot be left alone for more than a couple of hours. Bichons are out.

hmm.. we have Shih Tzu before.. and its not that hard in terms of maintenance..

Again, your expectations are astronimical. I suggest you have your son volunteer with a local rescue or shelter...he'll be blessed with the company of multiple dogs and learn of the plight of pets in our society.

Crestie, first I'd like to thank you for your reply.

However, yesterday and today I talked with breeders of both the SHih Tzu and Bichon and they feel the Shih Tzu would fit what I'm looking for. So, my expectations don't seem to be that astronomical.

According to the reputable breeder I just got off the phone with, the Shih Tzu would be best for me and my family as he isn't as demanding as the Bichon. Same thing I heard from a Bichon breeder yesterday.

And I am seeking my opinions from the Breed Club Members, not backyard breeders.

Also, the breeder I talked to today said, that once potty-trained, the Shih Tzu or Bichon shouldn't have accidents on my carpet.

UTI infection, maybe. Continence, maybe, but that is years down the line.

Update: according to the book I read last night, the Bichon will have "piddling" issues. Going sometimes on the carpet when he wants to. This is not acceptable to me.

Uggh!

So, it looks like this breed is no longer a consideration for me, unless anything changes in regard to what I learn as I continue my research.

[lil mutt]

are you allergic to any kind of dogs i think that will be a good deciding point to consider. Since i cant compare Bishon Frise since I havent had any Bishon Frise yet and i currently own a Shi tzu...

Hi, lil mutt. Yes, I have allergies and am allergic to some breeds, which is why if I do settle on a dog, I think the Shih Tzu would be good for me.

Tell me about your Shih Tzu please. Does he shed much? Is he good at being left alone while you work during the day, or want to go out for a day of shopping? Has he had any peeing accidents on your carpets/floors since being potty trained?

What pottytraining system do you use? I'm going to try training mine using a litter box since I live in a third-floor condo.

I have a SHih Tzu and as much as they are loving pets, being people dogs they are very clingy and dont like being left. They dont shed much but do lose some hair, more like balls of fluff.

They can be difficult to house train, and are quite stubborn, choosing to obey, most of the time, they are adorable however but for your requirements id perhaps look into another breed. Hope this info helps.

to be honest i cant really see any breed being happy to be left alone all day.
and how are you going to toilet train if you are out all day?

Hi, Saz. I want the hours of a teacher, so, most likely, I was going to get the dog during the summer and pottytrain it then.

My focus has shifted from the Bichon Frise to the Miniature Poodle. They are more intelligent and more trainable. And I really do want a dog that "gets" the potty training issue. Being the second most intelligent breed, it's going to be very easy to pottytrain the Poodle.

I do not plan on crating a dog all day long while I'm at work and my children are at school. Instead, it will be gated off in my kitchen (which has a tile floor) with food, fresh water and toys. At night, he will probably sleep at the foot of my bed.

What I meant to say is my focus has shifted from the Bichon AND the Shih Tzu on to the Poodle.

And no, I don't do needy dogs.

A word of caution. Toy poodles and standard poodles are much easier to come by than a true miniature. And the miniatures can have some serious health issues, which is why there are so few of them. If you want a small poodle, (in the same size range as a Shih or Bichon) your best bet is a toy that's on the larger end of the spectrum.

Vetgroomer, can you tell me where you're getting your info from? In my research on the poodle, I haven't read anything about the minis having more health problems. It seems any variance in health problems should be due to the variance of sizes. For instance, I could understand the toy having more problems because it is small (e.i. frail). With the mini being right in the middle of the size spectrum, why should he have more problems??

Re prone to more genetic diseases/disorders, how could this be considering all sizes of poodle are all the same breed?? (not that you specially stated "genetic", but you were vague).

[Yogi]

Health issue breakdown for Toy and Miniature as well as the Standard.
Poodle Health Problems

Originally Posted by wouldbedogowner

Vetgroomer, can you tell me where you're getting your info from? In my research on the poodle, I haven't read anything about the minis having more health problems. It seems any variance in health problems should be due to the variance of sizes. For instance, I could understand the toy having more problems because it is small (e.i. frail). With the mini being right in the middle of the size spectrum, why should he have more problems??

Re prone to more genetic diseases/disorders, how could this be considering all sizes of poodle are all the same breed?? (not that you specially stated "genetic", but you were vague).

I get my information from having studied a great deal on genetics, from reading veterinary technical journals, from breeders I know, and from dog show judges, to name just a few. Having worked in the veterinary field for quite some time, I've seen it with my own eyes, too.

Yes, poodles of all sizes are the same breed. But people who breed each variety are not crossing those varieties very much. If you breed miniatures, you aren't using toy or standard Poodles in your breeding program. You are only using miniatures. That limits the gene pool, and allows for the concentration of certain genetic traits.

Toy poodles aren't frail. They're sturdy little dogs. Miniatures are no more or less robust than the toys, based solely on their size. But there is a concentration of certain genetics in the variety due to their smaller gene pool. So while we may see the same genetic disorders in both toy and miniatures, we see a greater concentration of some disorders in the miniatures. You won't see a lot of achondroplasia (a type of dwarfism) in toy Poodles, you don't see it at all in standards, but we see a lot of it in minis. In fact, I think I see more achondroplasic minis than I do normal ones.

Please keep in mind that what you read about any breed can be very subjective. Breed clubs and breeders are often loath to paint their breed in anything less than glowing colors. Their main purpose is often to show you how wonderful the breed is. And while every word they say may be true, they can, and often do, omit some of the negatives. Sometimes it takes digging deeper, such as veterinary texts and journals, to dig out the whole picture.

^^^Wow! A man with brains really does it for me.

What makes you think Vetgroomer is a man?

I assumed YOU were a dude.

Good point, splinters...

I'm all woman.