Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

- The dog should not be too hairy/messy so that it sheds the house with hair

- Should have minimal health problems

- Great at athletic activities

- Wife prefers a bit of "coat" on the dog

- Smart and playful

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

You don't state if you have, or possibly will have children in the future, as this will certainly change the answers, however: The dogs that most fit into your requirements would be Poodles,Mini, Standard and Giant. Long-lived, healthy, playful, intelligent, and very clean. Schnauzers: Mini, Standard and Giant. Although they appear alike, they are seperate breeds, but also fill your needs. BUT if this is your first dog, stay away, VERY head strong, and powerful. I suggest you contact the AKC and do your research. YOU also need to be the right owner for the dog, don't forget that. It is a tremendous commitment, be prepared.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

shih tzu - its hair but it doesn't shed. They have hair, not fur. so its still compatible even to people with asthma.

Labrador - its athletic, big doesn't require much grooming but it sheds every now and then.

Dacshund - midget but is highly energetic. very intelligent and is also good for athletic activities. they were bred for hunting purposes. also good as lapdogs too. minimal shedding.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

Labradoodle does not shed and is athletic.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

Long haired chihuahua or pekingese.Dashunds are nice too %26amp; they also come in long hair.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

Ok, just so you know, NO DOG doesn't shed at all. All dogs shed at least somewhat. I want to say a German Shepherd, becuse those are all traits meant for the German Shepherd... except for the shedding. I don't own a German Shepherd, nor do I spends lots of time with them. But if you can deal with a little shedding around the house, that's your main dog.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

I would say hands down the best dog I've ever had was a Boston Terrier. They are very sweet and loving, with lots of energy. We never had to take her in for anything more then normal shots. They love to get out and play, balls and disk are favorite toys for them. They will always be happy to see you and do not require any brushing and do not sheed due to there very short coat. They have beauty very much like a pit but have a much better temper.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

the first thing that comes to mind for an smart, playful, athletic dog is a lab or golden, but both shed a fair amount. you're taking a risk health-wise with pretty much any purebred dog b/c purebreds are infamous for having genetic health problems like hip dysplasia (sp?), blindness, heart problems, diabetes, etc. mixed breed dogs are much less likely to have major health problems like this b/c they are less likely to be interbred, but any dog can still have health problems. other energetic and athletic dogs that come to mind are Australian shepherds, pit bulls (and YES they make wonderful pets!!!), cattle dogs, border collies, catahoula leopard dogs, huskies, greyhounds, jack russell terriers, etc...if you're looking for a dog that can spend lots of time being active, you might want to stay away from short nosed dogs like bulldogs and pugs b/c vigorous activity can cause them to have breathing problems....hope this is helpful!

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

check out this website it might help you http://www.american-dog-training.com/dog...

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

Wheatland terriers are great. We have one and he never really gets sick, he loves running around outside and playing and he is very smart. Another great thing about this dog is that he doesn't shed at all, so there is no hair loss. He loves running and jumping. So I think that would be a great dog for you and your wife.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

A million different breeds could suit your needs. As far as the coat, any dog that has a coat that your wife prefers, will shed. Shedding can be minimized by proper grooming and regular brushing, so just plan on brushing the pooch daily and it will save your house from pet hair.

You also mentioned minimal health problems. This is tricky because all breeds have issues they are predisposed to and it depends entirely on a good breeder to keep these traits from being passed on to the puppies. I purchased a Doberman puppy from a champion line and was totally confident she was healthy as both parents were perfectly healthy. When I had her spayed, we found out she has a hereditary bleeding disorder that Dobies are prone to and we ended up spending nearly $2000 just to keep her alive. Just because both parents appear healthy doesn't mean the pups are so you need to make sure the breeder has done ALL genetic testing recommended for the breed. Mixed breeds are sometimes healthier as it widens the gene pool and some of the breed specific disorders are not passed on.

All breeds are smart and playful, it just depends on what activities you would like them to participate in. If you want a dog that enjoys playing fetch, get a retriever, or if you want a good swimmer, a Newfoundland would be a great choice.

Anyway, narrow the field down by what activities you want to do with your dog, the size you would like, and activity level and then check out akc.org on the list of breeds and it will give you a breed standard on each one.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

Well, if you don't want shedding, you will want to stay away from anything short haired. Labs, Dalmatians, Boxers, Heelers, etc. shed bundles just about year round. So do Goldens, German Shepherds, Corgis, Chows, Shar Pei, and anything with a double coat. The flip side is, dogs that don't shed (much) mat and require regular grooming.

I would advise to stay away from the "doodle" breeds as they are unpredictable in coat. We have some that come into our grooming shop who have the poodle coat and don't shed (but mat like crazy), and others that don't have the poodle coat, and come in for de-sheding treatments... so you never know what you are going to get.....

"minimal health problems" would be a relative term : ), what is minimal to some, is a lot to others, so research is your best friend on that one.

If you are are looking for an athletic, smart, and playful companion that doesn't require massive grooming and won't shed you out of house and home I would look at some of the wire-haired terriers. Welsh Terriers, Airedales, Irish terriers, Wire Fox Terriers, Scottish Terriers, etc. They need to be groomed, but not constantly, are definitely smart and feisty fun little companions. Go to a dog show and check out different breeds, see what appeals.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

I know the perfect breed- American Bulldog. I have one, he's 6 months old, very athletic, he's already 70lbs, wonderful playful personality. He's great with kids, strangers, other pets, and is by far the best dog I've owned. I also have a golden retreiver, but the american bulldog is better behaved and much smarter. They really are all american dogs, like chance from homeword bound, or petey from the sand lot.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

I would try a Jack Russell terrier, but they need LOTS of exercise!!

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

A Jack Russell would be good. It is quite active and playful. It's fur is very easy to mantain as it is quite short. It is quite obedient and quite small in size too. Jack Russells are a good choice.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

So you want a smart, energetic, dog that has a bit of a coat, but not one that will put a new carpet on your floors?

- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

- Australian Shepherd

- Brittany

- Labrador Retriever

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

I have a Bullmastiff, Sophie. Search Ashtons bullmastiffs. She is the best dog I have ever had.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

Boston Terrier. Period.

Which dog-breed can be the best pet for me?

Just so that you are aware-"Doodle" dogs must get the poodle gene to not shed-no guarantee what they will inherit.