hi! im living in mumbai, india. i looking for a dog breed that would be suitable for apartment life in mumbai; weather - hot & humid, space- no yard. I have a medium sized apartment & will be able to give it 1 long walk a day. Also, i'm a first time dog owner. thanx.
P.S.- im a guy, so no breeds like poodles, chihuahua etc.

Thanx for all ur help, its going to be the pug or the whippet, any suggestions which one?

Resolved, Pug it is!

[mightymite]

Small breeds for apartments
English Toy Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles
Pug
Peke
Japenese Toy Spaniel
Bichon Frise
Bolonese
Coton
Maltese
Italian Greyhound
Toy or Mini Poodle

- most of these toy breeds I just mentioned were developed to be the companion dogs of women royalty and were really developed to sit on people's laps all day. They need attention and don't like being left alone for a long period of time - but they can live in an apartment very comfortably.

(no terriers -and no small herding dogs = they are small but fiesty and need lots of exercise. Stay away from Corgis, Jack Russell Teriers, - even yorkies aand Silkies - who despite their small size are really "big dogs.")

Some big dogs actually do well in apartments! Look at the temperment - not the size of the dog as your gage. For example, most of the gazehounds lie about most of the day and have been bred for quick bursts of energy and then sleeping in kennels - so a grayhound, for example, as long as you cuold take the dog out for a run once a day (that's a run, not potty breaks- that would be, of course, more often) will do fine in an apartment.

[mightymite]

I just posted a detailed message to you but don't see it - think it's being moderated?

[mightymite]

OK - I guess it just disappeared - so I'll try again:

First please give little dogs a chance! My brothers are "tuff guys" and still cry over the loss of our yorkie, Maggie who used to play football and basketball with them!

Having said that though, I wouldn't recommend a small terrier for an apartment exactly because they are so fiesty! Stay away from Jack russels, jagd Terriers, and most of the terrier and toy teriers - they are truly hunting dogs and may go stir crazy in an apartment

Small dogs who do well in apartments (and this is for the general readership - not just you - so please indulge me for a minute):

Bolongese
Cavalier King Charles
English Toy Spaniel
Coton
Pug (guys do like Pugs!)
Pekes
Japenese Toy Spaniel
toy and mini poodles (I have a friend who does disc dog with her toy poodles and know many people who do agility and flyball - so if you can get past the coat - poodles are cool dogs)
Bolognese
Maltese -

What all the dogs I just mentioned have in common is that they were developed to sit on the laps of royalty. While they MUST have companionship they do well in small places. They just want to be with you!

However, as a general recommendation, don't look at the size of the dog, look at the temperment. Go with a "show line" not a "performance line." Labs are a good example of this. The English Show line lap is a stocky and more easy going dog. A field breed lab will destroy your apartment and retrieve your toothbrush every morning!

A group of dogs, I would strongly suggest you look at are the Gazehounds. From the diminutive Italian greyhound all the way up to the Russian Wolf Hound (Borzoi). These dogs were bred for quick bursts of energy and then general lying about and sleeping in kennels for the rest of the day . . .

Well...(pulls out huge Dog Bible)
Although I have never owned these dogs, I know some and I would assume they would be good.
Bulldog:40-50lbs and usually gets along with everyone. Unfortunately, snoring is a nightmare and they can drool.
Shiba Inu:15-25lbs, smart but can be independent. It would need good socialization with other dogs or it could get very aggressive with them.
Corgi:25-35lbs, loving of family and friends but cautious of strangers. Might try herding kids and other animals.
Portuguese Water Dog:35-60lbs, devoted and smart. Several possible health problems
Bernese Moutain Dog:75-105lbs, gentle, gets along with everyone. Also Several possible concerns
Bullmastiff:100-130lbs, low activity level, very docile
Pit Bull:35-60lbsVery gentle and loving dog when trained right!Do not get this dog if you don't have time to socialize it with dogs and people.

I will also suggest a Mastiff, they are great dogs but huge. Only get a Mastiff if you have the space for it. They can also be expensive to own due to their size.
It is always great to get a mutt from a local shelter. Mixed breeds are usually very loving and have less health problems.
I would continue on but I have t go now. I have been sitting here for almost and hour typing to you and getting info out of my book :-) Good luck, I hope you get a good dog.

Originally Posted by mightymite

OK - I guess it just disappeared - so I'll try again:

First please give little dogs a chance! My brothers are "tuff guys" and still cry over the loss of our yorkie, Maggie who used to play football and basketball with them!

Having said that though, I wouldn't recommend a small terrier for an apartment exactly because they are so fiesty! Stay away from Jack russels, jagd Terriers, and most of the terrier and toy teriers - they are truly hunting dogs and may go stir crazy in an apartment

Small dogs who do well in apartments (and this is for the general readership - not just you - so please indulge me for a minute):

Bolongese
Cavalier King Charles
English Toy Spaniel
Coton
Pug (guys do like Pugs!)
Pekes
Japenese Toy Spaniel
toy and mini poodles (I have a friend who does disc dog with her toy poodles and know many people who do agility and flyball - so if you can get past the coat - poodles are cool dogs)
Bolognese
Maltese -

What all the dogs I just mentioned have in common is that they were developed to sit on the laps of royalty. While they MUST have companionship they do well in small places. They just want to be with you!

However, as a general recommendation, don't look at the size of the dog, look at the temperment. Go with a "show line" not a "performance line." Labs are a good example of this. The English Show line lap is a stocky and more easy going dog. A field breed lab will destroy your apartment and retrieve your toothbrush every morning!

A group of dogs, I would strongly suggest you look at are the Gazehounds. From the diminutive Italian greyhound all the way up to the Russian Wolf Hound (Borzoi). These dogs were bred for quick bursts of energy and then general lying about and sleeping in kennels for the rest of the day . . .

thanx that helped, ive done a little research on the breeds u've suggested and kinda found the pug to be it; but someone had also suggested the whippet- any views on that breed? which of these would be a better choice to make considering apartment life?

[mightymite]

I think it really comes down to personal preference and your life style. Generally speaking the whippet is a healther breed (that Pug Snout can be a problem with breathing and Pugs do have eye and skin problems as well). Whippets, like the rest of the Gazehound family were bred to expend quick bursts of energy at amazing speeds and then lounge around the rest of the day. So if you go with the Whippet, ideally you should have a park or area where your dog will really get to run at least once a day. For the rest of the day the wihppet would be happy to sleep on your bed in the apartment. The Pug is not an althete. While I have known many playful Pugs in my day, generally speaking, the Pug is not going to need a chance to run, just some attention from you, maybe a good game of tug sitting on your living room floor.