[bixa525]

Hi, my husband and I are empty nesters but we do both still work fulltime jobs. I would love to adopt a dog that is around 1 to 2 years old and is past the puppy stage. I realize that when adopting your choices can be limited but can anyone suggest a medium sized breed that is fairly easy going, one that doesn't require a ton of exercising, a dog that is affectionate and also a dog that could be left by itself for at least 6 hours a day? Also is a girl or a boy dog better to adopt for the traits I am looking for?

[cigwyllt]

Hi there - how lovely to be looking for a dog that needs you. I do hope you are successful.

I don't think particular breeds are all you need to think about - in every breed there are huge variations between different dogs in their requirements for attention and stimulation. I think I would avoid a collie or any of the high intelligence breeds - they could be bored with your lifestyle and find ways to entertain themselves but there are lots of dogs that would be quite happy with what you have to offer.

Having said that, greyhounds be one of the most laid back and lazy breeds. A run in the morning, a run in the evening and a sofa to lie on in the day. Bliss!

One thing that could be a problem (and unfairly so I think) is that many rescues will not home to people who work full time outside the home. For some dogs yes, it is necessary to have people close by for most of the time but some rescues do not take individual situations into account and simply refuse to rehome a dog if it will be left for more than four hours a day.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by bixa525

Hi, my husband and I are empty nesters but we do both still work fulltime jobs. I would love to adopt a dog that is around 1 to 2 years old and is past the puppy stage. I realize that when adopting your choices can be limited but can anyone suggest a medium sized breed that is fairly easy going, one that doesn't require a ton of exercising, a dog that is affectionate and also a dog that could be left by itself for at least 6 hours a day? Also is a girl or a boy dog better to adopt for the traits I am looking for?

I am thinking cocker spaniel (lot of hair though). I am esp. 'into' this breed as that is what I have. My Max is a senior now but even as a younger dog --he wasn't that active and likes to just lay around most of the time---Of course dogs are individuals too and his demeanor may be different than others. Here is a link to a good site where you can look up about all kinds of breeds--pics and description--what they are like, etc:
cool:

Dog Breed Info Center®, DBI

[Lara's mom]

I have an 8 month old shorty jack russell that I have to rehome. Are you interested? I'd fly him out to you. He's pure bred and a potential breeding dog.

[cigwyllt]

You're not serious are you???? What's gone wrong?

A JR would go crazy home alone for 6 hours a day, especially a youngster. Please don't get a JR!

[angiesample]

Personally i am a fan of mutts... i would go to the humane society, ASPCA, or go through a company called ARPO... they are all great places to get ur new dog. Since they are rescues u probably will have to deal with some baggage bc u have no idea what they went through before u got them. A lot of these places require appt. and u can tell them.. im looking for a low to medium energy dog, medium sized... or whatever qualitys are important to u and they will show u what they have... Good luck in whatever dog u get and be sure to post lots of pics! Good luck!

[DoggieVogue]

Hmm yeah I would go to the shelter you plan to adopt from and go from there. There's not much use for getting your heart set on a specific breed.. because the ones in the shelters tend to be mutts. Not all the time, but a lot. I love mutts as well. And you'll have to meet with a few and figure out their personalities as well as ask the shelter about each dog's tendencies and demeanor.

[bixa525]

Thanks for your responses, I am fine with a mutt or any other medium sized dog although I do seem to really like the cockapoo's because they don't shed much and from what I have heard about them they can be a good family pet. I realize there are many other dogs out there that would make great pets for us and we are working with our local Humane league to adopt one. For the lady who offered the Jack Russell I would have to decline. I know JR's are highly active and can get into trouble when left alone for too long. I don't understand how some of the rescue groups expect people to not work. Most people that own pets do work and the pet learns to adapt to being left alone for short periods of time. I certainly wouldn't leave my dog alone any longer then I would need to and I didn't mention this but I work in a group home overnight with Mentally handicapped adults so I want a dog that I could take with me to work at night. The only time the dog would be alone would be when I sleep during the day for about 6 hours. I think some of the rescue groups go a bit overboard. I realize they want to place the pet in the best home they can find but geez give us people that have to work for a living a chance to give a dog a loving home too. So I am guessing male or female doesn't play a big part in the decision?

[Todd]

Sorry for the long list but I cannot find the link. here are dogs with higher to lower energy levels. Your best best would probably be groups in 2 or 1 catagory and possibly 3...

5 (Highest)
Affenpinscher
Airedale Terrier
American Foxhound
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Berger Picard
Border Collie
Boxer
Boykin Spaniel Brittany
Dalmatian
Field Spaniel
Flat-Coated Retriever
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Goldador
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Harrier
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Setter Irish Water Spaniel
Jack Russell Terrier
Labradoodle
Labrador Retriever
Miniature Pinscher
Pointer
Pyrenean Shepherd
Schipperke
Standard Schnauzer
Weimaraner

4
Alaskan Malamute
American English Coonhound
American Eskimo Dog
American Water Spaniel
Appenzeller Sennenhunde
Australian Terrier
Barbet
Beagle
Black and Tan Coonhound
Bluetick Coonhound
Border Terrier
Boston Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
Briard
Bull Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Canaan Dog
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Cocker Spaniel
Curly-Coated Retriever
English Cocker Spaniel
English Foxhound
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel Finnish Lapphund
Finnish Spitz
Fox Terrier
German Pinscher
German Shepherd Dog
Giant Schnauzer
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Goldendoodle
Irish Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier
Kooikerhondje
Kuvasz
Lakeland Terrier
Lancashire Heeler
Leonberger
Manchester Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Norfolk Terrier
Norwegian Buhund
Norwegian Elkhound
Norwegian Lundehund
Norwich Terrier
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Old English Sheepdog
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Plott
Pocket Beagle
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
Redbone Coonhound
Saluki
Schnoodle
Scottish Terrier
Shetland Sheepdog
Siberian Husky
Silky Terrier
Small Munsterlander Pointer
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Stabyhoun
Tibetan Terrier
Treeing Tennessee Brindle
Treeing Walker Coonhound
Vizsla
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Welsh Terrier
Whippet
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

3
Afghan Hound
Akita
American Pit Bull Terrier
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Azawakh
Basenji
Bearded Collie
Bedlington Terrier
Bichon Frise
Black Russian Terrier
Bloodhound
Bolognese
Borzoi
Bracco Italiano
Brussels Griffon
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cesky Terrier
Chihuahua
Clumber Spaniel
Cockapoo
Collie
Coton de Tulear Dachshund
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Doberman Pinscher
English Toy Spaniel
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Great Dane
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Greyhound
Havanese
Ibizan Hound
Icelandic Sheepdog
Italian Greyhound
Keeshond
Komondor
Lowchen
Maltese
Maltese Shih Tzu
Maltipoo
Newfoundland
Otterhound
Papillon
Peekapoo Pharaoh Hound
Pomeranian
Pug
Puggle
Rat Terrier
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Samoyed
Scottish Deerhound
Sealyham Terrier
Shiba Inu
Skye Terrier
Sloughi
Staffordshire-Bull-Terrier
Sussex Spaniel
Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Spaniel
Toy Fox Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Yorkipoo
Yorkshire Terrier

2
Basset Hound
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bulldog
Bullmastiff
Chinese Crested
Chinese Shar-Pei
Chinook Chow Chow
Dogue de Bordeaux
French Bulldog
Great Pyrenees
Irish Wolfhound
Japanese Chin
Lhasa Apso Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiff
Pekingese
Saint Bernard
Shih Tzu

Don't forget grooming needs too and also. Most breeds are pretty easy going if they have the ower energy levels.

Good luck!

[bixa525]

Thank you Todd, this list is very helpful!

[DoggieVogue]

I definitely agree with you about the whole going overboard thing. I understand completely that they want the best home for each dog but the idea of finding a family with someone home at all times is just not always going to happen. A shelter told us we weren't an ideal canidate for adoption because of that reason, so we got our lab from a breeder. and I think she's a pretty great, happy, well adjusted dog! Good luck on the adoption! I hope you find a perfect match

[Yogi]

Todd, she is not only looking at energy level but is asking about medium sized dog as the size she is looking for. That eliminates about 2/3rds of the dogs you listed.
Best choice that in fact does not require a lot of exercise would be a Whippet.
They are very much like the Greyhound in that they can be very much a couch potato until you want to walk them. Generally quiet dogs also. If you want a smaller dog ie: 16 inches an Italian Greyhound also fits some of what you are describing. Good luck with you search.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Yogi

Todd, she is not only looking at energy level but is asking about medium sized dog as the size she is looking for. That eliminates about 2/3rds of the dogs you listed.
Best choice that in fact does not require a lot of exercise would be a Whippet.
They are very much like the Greyhound in that they can be very much a couch potato until you want to walk them. Generally quiet dogs also. If you want a smaller dog ie: 16 inches an Italian Greyhound also fits some of what you are describing. Good luck with you search.

Oh I should have paid attention to that lol. Well as far as more laid back dogs that don't require as much exercise...