New home which breed?

[itsbetterthanabox]

We are buying our first house and will have a medium size garden now
We are first time dog owners so would like low maintenance and calm dog. Not too loud hopefully as its a terrace and hopefully a fairly small dog.
I'm hoping to start a home business which will mean customers coming to the house so one that isn't too crazy and will jump or be aggressive to strangers and also one that doesn't shed hair literally everywhere!
Happy to walk it about 30 mins a day but am slightly time restricted so maybe a breed that likes just a walk around the garden instead sometimes too or chilling out.
Does the right breed exist?
Thanks wise dog owners.

[tabulahrasa]

30 minutes a day isn't ideal tbh...most dogs would benefit from either a longer walk or another walk.

Jumping or aggressive with strangers are to do with you

[tabulahrasa]

That was a bit abrupt, lol, I hit post by accident.

Jumping or aggressive with strangers are to do with you rather than breed.

Dogs aren't really low maintenance pets if you want calm and well behaved it takes input to train them to be like that, yes breed helps a bit, but it's training and enough exercise that's really important.

[VivaLeBeaver]

A greyhound would be good apart from the size requirement. But they curl up small and sleep a lot so are kind of less unobtrusive than a smaller, bouncier dog.

[Costacoffeeplease]

I don't think you want a dog, unless it's a stuffed toy variety

[TooOldForGlitter]

30 minutes a day isn't enough for any breed. IMO all dogs, regardless of breed, should enjoy at least an hour a day of exercise.

I'm not being patronising but cats can make lovely low maintenance pets and many are very every good fun and affectionate. A dog isn't right for you if you only want a half hour walk. You'd end up with an unhappy stressed pooch.

[TooOldForGlitter]

*very, not every, sorry!

[TooOldForGlitter]

While I agree about greyhounds being a fairly 'easy' dog in most cases, mine would be very miserable if he only got a half hour walk.

[Floralnomad]

I agree with pp that a cat may be a more suitable pet ,it really doesn't sound like your lifestyle would be suited to dog ownership.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

I don't think a dog is suitable at the moment either, raising dogs is like raising children and what you describe sounds like it would make for an unhappy dog.

[Humansatnav]

30 mins a day walking ? Not fair on a dog. Mine gets 2x 45-60 mins plus a 20 min late evening stroll.

[itsbetterthanabox]

Ok that's useful. Thanks. I've not owned a dog before so I didn't know I was thinking so unrealistically!
I've been told by many people I know that they just walk their small dog for 20 mins or so every other day and let it run about in the garden. So I based it on that. Is this not enough then? I definitely don't want an unhappy pet so maybe a cat is better for us. Feeling a bit sorry for my friends dogs now! How much walking should a mini dachshund, chihuahua and Bichon frise have? (These are the breeds they have)
Thanks

[Costacoffeeplease]

It's not just the walking, but everything in your post, that screams 'don't get a dog'

'Low maintenance
Calm
Not too loud
Isn't too crazy
Jump
Be aggressive
Shed hair'

Anyway, better to ask and find out than go ahead and another poor dog end up in a rescue kennel

[tabulahrasa]

An hour a day should be IMO at least an average amount of walking, for any breed dog...it's not about exercise, it's about the mental stimulation.

I'd always take an hour as the starting point, add in more for a more active breed of course, but less than that routinely is just not enough.

That doesn't have to be an hour's hiking or anything it could be walking the school run in the morning and a trip to the park later on, but um, yes, I do feel sorry for your friends' dogs.

A healthy chihuahua (taking the smallest as an example) is completely capable of walking for miles and doing anything that a bigger dog can...in fact more so as they're not as prone to the joint problems that large dogs get.

[insanityscatching]

Eric's a tiny shih tzu poodle cross so would fit your requirements on non shedding and small BUT he loves his walks. He goes for an hour after the school run, he has an afternoon stroll before the afternoon school run of about 45 minutes, then dh takes him early evening for an hour and a half usually and 20 minutes round the block before bed. Basically whenever someone is free and willing Eric is up for a walk.
Our neighbour has a pure shih tzu and he has a one hour walk with the dog walker and a short stroll morning and evening round the block as they are elderly and the dog is about 8 now I think.
I don't think any dog would be happy with just a roam round the garden, they need to smell new scents to keep their minds busy to make them happy and that needs to be done away from the garden.

[Lokibuddyboo]

I have a chihuahua cross Jrt and he gets about 30 minutes off lead about midday and two short (round the block walks) 1 early morning, 1 late night just to do his business but he does spend most of the day time running in the garden with other family dogs and he's perfectly happy.
He also gets some indoor playtime with me once a day, if it's raining he refuses to go for a walk or out side I have to make him.
My sisters small chihuahua crosses are the same one short walk and then running out the garden most of the day and some play with a ball or something indoors.

[imabusybee]

30mins isn't enough as pp's have said. I know a chihuahua who walks for 4+ hours a day with his owner & he's one of the happiest & healthiest dogs I know. When you give a dog a home you're also pledging to do your best by the dog & give it the best life you can - which means 1+ hrs walking whatever the weather 365 days a year. If you can't offer that then consider another pet :) it would make you a more responsible person to admit this than a lot of people I know who imo don't do right by their dogs.

[mistlethrush]

An older greyhound might just about deal with that if there is some quality lying around in the garden available during the day - but they are not small!

Bichons and miniature daschunds etc can have quite a lot of exercise and many are definitely not quiet (some of the noisiest dogs on our recreation ground are miniature daschunds)

[SonceyD0g]

Retired greyhound or whippet

[itsbetterthanabox]

Ok. I'm interested in a whippet or greyhound but if you don't think garden plus 30 min walk is enough I won't. Some posters think it is though. What's the general consensus.
If I can't look after it properly I won't get a dog. I'll think about a cat or possibly rats. I would like a pet having never had one as a child but only if I can take care of it properly

[TrionicLettuce]

I've got whippets and whilst they're happy to make do with just 30 minutes off lead occasionally, or the odd day off when it's raining, it wouldn't be sustainable long term.

On average mine get around an hour a day of completely off lead exercise, I've got three so they play chase meaning it's an hour of pretty hard exercise for them. There have been occasions when their walks have been very restricted and although they managed (I had a terrible bout of bronchitis last year and they were getting only a few minutes off lead most days with a fair few days of no walks at all for weeks) they definitely missed being exercised properly and were much happier when I was able to get our routine back to normal.

[SonceyD0g]

According to retired greyhound trust a greyhound only requires 2 20 minute walks each day. Think you could manage that? They have a great website with lots of info and rehome thousands of dogs every year so should be able to find the right one for you. Good luck

[VivaLeBeaver]

I think a dachshund should Definietly have more than 30 mins a day, they were originally bred as very active hunting/ratting type dogs.

I have a Bichon x and walk her for an hour off lead each day. She will happily miss the odd day though. We have a massive garden though and will take herself off outside and get into mischief breaking into the chicken run and digging up the veg plot!

I have no idea about chihuahuas but have a perhaps unfair opinion that they can be very bad tempered......

[VivaLeBeaver]

And in fairness all the stuff on your list


'Low maintenance
Calm
Not too loud
Isn't too crazy
Jump
Be aggressive
Shed hair'

Was pretty much on my list when I got my dog. I don't think its a bad thing to consider this at all as long as you're aware that all dogs will have mad days, or even be a bonkers individual, all will bark at some time, they might jump, and probably shed.

However considering general breed characteristics is good if it then means if that's your wish list you end up with a whippet rather than a husky or a springer spaniel or a collie.

[Floralnomad]

I think if you have never had a pet you should start with something that is less than a 12+ year commitment to see if you and pet ownership are really suited . I highly recommend rats , we have had several sets in the past , cannot have them now as the dog can't live with anything else that is furry !

[basildonbond]

I agree that your set-up doesn't sound like a dog would be a good idea but a cat, especially one of the more 'dog-like' ones could be perfect

We have an ex-street cat from Dubai who is the most 'interactive' cat I've ever come across. When I'm at home he follows me around like a little shadow - except he's much noisier than any shadow would be . He talks and talks and talks and when I'm out he goes and talks to the neighbours ....

The oriental type breeds can be very dog-like but with the bonus of not needing walks and generally being much more self-sufficient