And I will name him Bob.
For a long time, I have really wanted to have a dog. Since I stopped working full time though, it has gotten more serious. I am going around town running errands by myself and would love to have a buddy to keep me company during the day.
More recently though, I have gotten more serious and have been researching the best kinds for apartments and city living. I want to be a responsible pet owner and to make sure that the dog would be happy living in our small apartment, etc.
What have I come up with? CONFUSION.
Most sites, like this one, have information on apartment dogs that seems to be just focused on whether they would be okay without a yard and a lot of living space. Which is important! But even more important for most apartment dwellers, in my opinion, is whether the breed barks a lot. or at all. 
After looking at endless dog sites, I was pretty convinced that a French Bulldog would be a good choice for us because they seem to be suitable to apartment living and are not big barkers. Then I read info in a book today that says they are barkers.
I realize a lot of it depends on the dog itself and its personality- I am just trying to get a general idea of what to expect. If we have a dog that is a barker, we will have to move. Not a fun situation.
Also, I don’t care what the fancy schmancy dog clubs say, the french bulldog ideal is CornNut:
tee hee! Okay, that was just an excuse to post CornNut’s picture. COME ON PEOPLE! I am not made of wood.
I joined the French Bulldog Club of Boston on meetup.com- there is a meeting in Southie on Saturday and I am hoping to go so we can meet some Frenchies in person.
Does anyone have any feedback on French Bulldogs or other ideas of quiet dog breeds? Good dog info sites? Books?
April 12th, 2006 at 5:02 pm
I wanna puppy! No advice or help, just had to whine a bit
April 12th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
May I suggest The Basenji, they are supposed to be great for small houses or apartments. They also are very clean and cat-like. They don’t bark and I really want one!!!! French Bulldogs seem good too, as well as Boston Terriers. The AKC is actually a really good reference site. Can you tell I really want a dog?! Good luck Jess:)
April 12th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
I had a greyhound in Cambridge until October 2004, when the old girl just got too old (15). Best dogs in the world. My cat makes more noise than Nancy ever did–seriously barked maybe once in the entire time I knew her. I was heartbroken (then unemployed) but I’ve been lurking on the adoption sites again waiting for the perfect greyhound to come up. I’d strongly suggest looking at greyhounds. If you want to go the small dog route–my upstairs neighbor had a very sweet (and quiet) corgi. But I’m not sure if that’s the breed or the individual. Also, my experience has been adult dogs are great companions. I raised a puppy when I lived in Northampton and Sydney was a fulltime job. Sadly, he had an auto-immune disorder and had to be put to sleep at age 4. But I’m sticking to the adult and senior dog route until I’m retired after the puppy raising experience.
April 12th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Such a cute puppy!! I don’t know anything about Bulldogs [other than they are damn cute!] but if the bulldog doesn’t work out for you I can three suggestions: greyhound, greyhound, greyhound. Surpisingly great apartment dogs.
Good luck!
April 12th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
I hear the Japanese Aibo is good in apartments.
April 13th, 2006 at 12:41 am
no advice, but that dog is SO DAMN CUTE!
April 13th, 2006 at 8:18 am
All I know about Frenchie’s is that Martha Stewart has 2, so apparently they are a “good thing” har har.
CornNut is adorable and I’ll be insanely jealous if you get a little dog, I want one
April 13th, 2006 at 8:20 am
Definitely look into Basenjis. Super smart, clean, non-stinky, and they do not bark…they make a whistling, chirping sound. They also don’t get very big. My doggies Sampson and Cricket are litter mates and are basenji-beagle mixes. If you have ever seen pics of Cricket on my blog, she looks like a pure basenji in the face and ears.
Here’s a few links for more info:
http://www.basenji.org/
http://www.basenjirescue.org/
My sister and I found Sampson and Cricket through Petfinder.com, which I highly recommend. Good luck, and whatever you decide, I can’t wait to see pics!
April 13th, 2006 at 8:42 am
I have a Schnauzer, which is supposed to be a huge barker (and he can be), but a lot of it is in the training. Also, I cannot preach enough on the importance of crate training. TBone will be barking away but if we tell him to get in his box, he will be so quiet, and it’s not because he doesn’t like it, it’s because it’s his safe place. Good luck!!!
April 13th, 2006 at 8:46 am
That is the cutest little puppy!
I always suggest mixed breeds of meduim size…they seem to have a less high strung demeanor. If only Petey could have puppies…
April 13th, 2006 at 9:29 am
i have a couple of friends who have a french bulldog (she’s adorable, her name is panda) and i’ve never heard her bark. there are a lot in my neighborhood, too, and they seem pretty quiet in general. i also second the idea of corgis, though, because they are FABULOUS dogs. sweet and fun and perfectly apartment-sized. they don’t really bark, either, in my experience.
April 13th, 2006 at 11:15 am
Hi Jess! This is the first time I’ve commented, though I’ve been a long-time reader of your blog. That little puppy is adorable! I wanted to share a little advice for people thinking about getting a dog that I got from my sister (who worked at a german shepherd kennel for over 10 years). One thing you should defintely look into very much are the medical problems associated with any specific breed you decide to get (if you’re thinking of getting a purebred dog). Unfortunately, purebred dogs are often extremely inbred, leading to all sorts of conditions such as allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disorders, etc. I know a lot of people aren’t aware of that when they get purebred dogs, and then end up paying lots of money on medical bills, or just end up putting the dog to sleep because the dog has so many problems. If you could go to a humane society, they often allow people to take a puppy home for awhile to see if it’s a good match for them. It would give a puppy a good home, and as other commenters have suggested, if it’s a mellow puppy by nature, training can help reinforce that. Sorry for the long-windedness! I hope this helps, and best of luck on getting a puppy!
April 13th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
like sarah b, i have a schnauzer, and read they are sposed to be barkers, Ruby is not. She’s a talker,yes. but not a barker. unless the creepy neighbor walks by, then she goes crazy,but she knows he’s creepy apparently. she quietly talks to me with low barks and sort of a howl, a low quiet one. usually she has a toy in her mouth which muffles it and that just means she wants to play.
i crate trained her, she goes to bed at a usual time (around 10pm) and wakes up when i get up. she even takes naps at regular times. she loves to be outside, but not necessarily for playing or running, she just loves to smell everything! i have read they are very routine dogs, and so far ruby is proving that theory. She’s adorably loyal and hilariously funny.
my nephew had a basenji, it never barked. but other than that i don’t know much. and i know nothing of the french bulldog.
April 13th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Hey there … I have a Boston Terrier (they’re originally bred from Frenchies), and she is almost silent. Although I wouldn’t recommend a Boston (need too much exercise) a Frenchie or a Pug would be perfect! They really don’t bark much, and most are very laid back. They’re all little shedders, though, not bad if you brush once a week. Good luck; I love little bully dogs.
April 13th, 2006 at 7:07 pm
That is a cute dog. I like the name. A lady I work with bought her 2 year old daughter a bunny and named it “Oreo”, but the little girl calls the bunny “Bob” - so they had to change the name to “Bob.”
April 13th, 2006 at 7:56 pm
//basenji//
Laurenn had one and thinks they’re the perfect breed.
I’m crazy about French Bulldogs. OH MY GOD. There are two at the dogpark that I just adore. Have you looked into rescue? http://www.frenchbulldogrescue.org/
April 13th, 2006 at 11:25 pm
i have no good dog advice but i f-ing love corn nut.
April 14th, 2006 at 8:18 am
I will say this: don’t get a terrier if you want a quiet dog. I love my terriers with all my heart, but they are barky schmoos. I would also like to say to get a rescue schmoo if you can! They are full of love.
April 14th, 2006 at 10:29 am
Bob! Bob! Bob! Bob! Whatever kind of dog you get, make sure it’s a Bob!
April 14th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Ok, you have a ton of comments already, and I’ll be honest that I didn’t read them all. However, I would not recommend a bulldog. We have a bulldog and she’s a serious barker. I’ve heard nothing but good things about greyhounds as apartment dwellers, so that’s always an option…good luck with the search! I want a puppy too so much but our apartment won’t allow them. Sadness.
April 15th, 2006 at 11:39 am
Aww. I want a dogggie too
As for advice on what barks and such, no idea. I just wanted to swing in and say hello since I haven’t had a chance in a long time.
April 15th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Hmmm. High Energy Sadie barks like she sounds. But I have a friend who had a whippet and I don’t think it barked at all. They are like small greyhounds. She had it in many a small apartment in France and NY…
April 16th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
We met a Frenchie in our old neighbourhood once - I fell in love immediately! I don’t know what the situation is in the US, but French Bulldogs are quite rare up here and hard to find (and very $$$$!). I definitely second being aware the potential health problems for any breed, but there are no guarantees regardless.
A rescue would be a good option if you could find the right dog since they are often adults and you could get a feel for their personality. Remember: Don’t buy from a pet store! Good luck…
April 18th, 2006 at 9:54 am
I have a friend with a Frenchie and he is one of the sweetest, best dogs I have ever met. They have stayed with us twice, and I have never heard the dog bark– and I have two dogs, three kids, and five cats. Lots to bark at. So, I wouldn’t say they are barkers. I think they are fabulous dogs. Well, okay, that is based on ONE dog, but he is fabulous.
April 18th, 2006 at 9:59 am
here is the url for a post I did about the French Bulldog: http://www.jenorama.com/jenarchives/2006/02/breaking_news.php
April 19th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
Hi, I am de-lurking to give you some advice on something that I know ALOT about….and that’s dog companionship.
Since you a are first-timer at this, what I recommend is that you look for rescue organizations of whatever breed you’re interested in. You can usually find rescue orgs of most well-known breeds. With these groups, you could probably find a puppy that’s a little older (rather than just out of the womb) or even a really young grown dog who is already housebroken and knows some basic obedience. Plus, these rescue people WANT it to work out for you, so they’ll be honest with you about barking, shedding, intelligence etc. Believe me, the puppy months are the hardest with the housebreaking and training, so why not just take that out of the equation and know what you’re getting right off the bat, rather than waiting until it grows up?
Using one of these orgs is also ALOT cheaper than getting one from a breeder. You can have the breed you want….plus have it already trained for you.
I also encourage you to go on Petfinder.com where you can put in your zip code or state and see literally hundreds of available dogs in your area. This is the time of year when all the rescued puppies are going to be in need of homes because spring in the big “heat” season for females.
If you still decide to go the breeder route, please call the national or regional association (do a search on the web) of whatever breed you’re thinking about. They will give you an honest desription of the breed and its characteristics. Not all breeders are reputable and some (not all) are just in it for the money, but the association leaders want the breeds to succeed, so they’ll usually educate you.
Whatever you do….please, please, please, I am begging you… do not buy a dog from a pet store. Those dogs are bought from puppy mills which are horrible places that have horrible breeding practices and usually torture the dogs that are there. Buying the dogs just exasturbates the problem. If you want to know more about them, just google Puppy Mill and you’ll see what I mean.
I’m sorry to go on so long, but I’m even more passionate about dogs than I am about knitting. Please email me if I can be of any assistance and I wish you and your husband much success in finding your furry little family member.
Take Care-
Terry
April 21st, 2006 at 11:45 am
I know someone who lives in a 700 or 800 s.f. condo in Boston who has a French Bulldog and has had no issues with him. Be careful who you buy from, though, because there is a breeder in the Boston area who has had some issues with her practices.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:21 pm
I have a Boston Terrier and he was a GREAT apartment dog before we bought the house. In fact, he finds our house too big and has no interest in the yard we paid good money to have for him. He doesn’t bark at all. He loves to go out to the park and walk through cities and play, but at home he likes to cuddle up on the couch. He snorts and snores, and is overall adorable and when we moved out of our apartment, our next door neighbour had no idea we had a dog. Check them out. There are lots of pictures of Oscar on my blog.
April 21st, 2006 at 6:43 pm
try urbanhound.com
they have lots of good info for city dwelling dog owners.
April 22nd, 2006 at 11:40 am
You could also look into the Havanese. They’re small dogs, (about the size of a cat) reasonably easy to train, and they love everyone especially kids and cats. They shed within their coat so if you keep them in a puppy clip and brush regularly you shouldn’t find fur everywhere. You can check them out at www.mts.net/~mckay55/ or just google Havanese ABC’s. French Bulldogs are wonderful dogs, but, they can be stubborn (not an easy train for a first timer) and they shed fur everywhere. That said, regular exercise (Greyhounds need a LOT), grooming everyday and training classes for you and puppy can make a wonderful relationship between you and any dog.
Good luck with your hunt for the best companion!
April 22nd, 2006 at 12:55 pm
Came for the knitting, stayed for the pup. That bulldog is adorable. Basenjis might work. My dad has had 2 basenjis for about 10 years. He’d get another pronto. They are just as tidy, barkless (though they do vocalize in other ways) and elegant as you could want. Some are very affectionate; many act a bit aloof and superior. Great dogs. But they are not couch potatoes; they will be wired and tense unless you walk them briskly for 30-60 mins a day, minimum. Something to consider, FWIW.
Oh; if you fly a lot, it might be nice to have a dog (breed) small enough to take on-board–not sure about the maximum size, but the cargo hold is awful for a dog, and flying won’t work at all except with non-stops–wouldn’t it be nicer to travel with your buddy if you could? I wish I had considered that before I got my 4-legged darling. EVen good kennels aren’t for all dogs.
We’ll wait for pix of your final choice.
April 22nd, 2006 at 4:44 pm
I know a really sweet, quiet dog…but she’s large and she’s the runt. So a Burnese Mountain dog would probably not be a good apartment dog, but they’re really sweet, and would probably herd your yarn for ya?
~Suz~
April 24th, 2006 at 9:56 am
I think Frenchies are cute, but they do have a number of health problems that make them very high-maintenance. I saw someone post that you should look into this before making any decisions about a particular breed. I definitely agree with that. As a veterinarian, I have to say that there are few (if any) pure breed dogs that don’t come with the potential for health problems, but if you’re aware and willing to spend the time and money, this shouldn’t stop you from adopting the dog of your dreams. I know a lot of mixed breeds with health issues, too, so it’s always a gamble.
Off the top of my head, Frenchies get airway disease because of their smooshy faces (”brachycephalic syndrome”), and they have basically lost the ability to reproduce on their own. They can also develop dental disease because of their abnormal (but breed standard) conformation. I believe skin diseases are also common in all bull dogs. Some have neurologic disease associated with their stump tails. Most of these are minor and annoying, but the airway thing is pretty serious.
Hope this was helpful. Good luck on finding your perfect dog!
April 24th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Hi, I know you’ve got a lot of advice there already but i would like to second a few. Definitely do not buy from a Pet Store (usually equals puppy mill) and probably best to go the rescue route. As someone above mentioned the handlers there WANT things to work out for you and will help you find a good fit for your needs. Definitely look into breed related ilnesses, and have your puppy checked out by a reputable vet as soon as you can after bringing him or her home. In terms of good apartment dogs I would strongly recommend a Shih Tzu. I grew up in a home of collie dogs (my mom had 7 of them) and THEY are talkers. My Shih Tzu has barked once in her whole life and it was in warning to another dog who got too close to my baby. She doesn’t shed and is good for people with allergies. A very clean and well behaved little dog. They can be a bit “diva-esque” but otherwise PERFECT
Good luck with your search!
April 30th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
I am CornNut’s agent, if you have any questions please ask.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:19 am
what a cute little puppy!! i wanna have one of those~!!! haha!!
plus, i like the name bobbie or BOB. i find it so cute.. kawaii ~!!