NEED YOUR HELP Choosing a hypoallergenic dog

My 2 Labs are Tobi & Taylor. The Terrier is Joy. ALL 3 of my babies are VERY vocal!!! Joy lived in the country with no neighbors until she moved in with me , so EVERYTHING is new to her!!! She was very well trained by a previous owner so she's allowed to stay in the house unless I have to leave home for any reason. When I return home she meets me at the gate & fusses at me. She is small compared to the other 2 dogs & they try & bully her, but she will have NO part of that!!! When I got Tobi, he had just been removed from his Mom & 9 siblings. He slept on my feet for the first few nights & by the end of the week he was going to the door & asking to go out. Then got to where he wouldn't come back in, so he made himself a yard dog!!! Fortunately my yard was fenced in. He was several months old before he started barking & then he'd bark just to hear himself bark. Now, he has 3 different barks. One is his frustrated bark like when he sees a cat or a squirrel on the other side of the fence & he can't get to it. The second is where he's barking at a known neighbor. Finally, he has an I'm going to rip you apart if you come any closer bark reserved for unknown people. Only thing is, if you walk up to him & extend your hand, he turns into a loving dog. Fortunately, no stranger knows the last part. If you're planning on getting a young puppy, I strongly suggest that you get one from a local shelter. They have already gone through the separation anxiety & are ready to be loved!!! When I've adopted pups from Mom with litters, I have them sleep in a large box with a stuffed teddy bear (or another fuzzy toy). I find the OLD wind up clock that ticks placed under a blanket & the stuffed toy to be very effective. Do NOT run to them every time they cry as you're ONLY teaching them that they will get attention if they are bad. NEVER abuse them, but DON'T let them train you either!!!

Thanks for your great ideas, Lady Marissa! I have heard to put a warm water bottle in the puppy's bed also. The clock and stuffed toy are great ideas too. No one has mentioned a regular standard poodle for an idea. They are so regal looking don't you think? They are also supposed to be one of the most intelligent dogs. One down side is that they need to be clipped frequently even if they have the all over fuzzy "puppy cut". The regular poodle look would be way too expensive to keep up with I'm sure. I like the "puppy cut" better anyway for poodles. What do you do about cutting your dogs' hair? (The retrievers don't need it too often I bet). How old can you really start training a dog to sit, lie down, etc.? I know you have to begin "potty training" right away. Did you use papers or take them ouside often to train them? I can tell you really love those dogs of yours. Deciding what dog to get is a big decision that we're not taking lightly.

Thanks for your ideas, LadyMarissa ! I have seen Bo and he is a really beautiful dog. What are your dogs names? As I've said, retrievers are one of my favorite dogs. Someone I know has a Jack Russell, but I don't know much about them. Does he bark a lot? I've heard terriers are quite vocal and offer their opinion a lot. : ) I have had cats in the past and just loved them to pieces. Can't wait to get a dog, but we do have to wait a while because too much is going on in our lives right now to give our full attention to a new member in the family. One of my biggest concerns is getting our new little puppy through the first couple of weeks away from her mom and siblings. Any hints about that?

Thanks for your reply, Nangisha. I will have to read up more on the Portuguese water dog. It would be fun to have a dog that loves water. You're right that it wouldn't be a problem giving the dog a bath then. Is that your dog in the picture? What kind is he...he's very beautiful!

Yeah it will be fun to have dog that so easy to bathe and not shedding so I will not busy cleaning hair in sofa and carpet. Yes that is my dog snowy, he is mix breed German Shepard dog and Kintamany from Bali.

I researched the Portuguese water dog and I think they would be way too expensive to buy for us. But, I'm continuing to research. Maybe I would be lucky enough to find one at a pound or rescue shelter. I've never heard of a Kintamany, but your dog is really beautiful. I've always loved German Shepherds too. My brother had one and there were three of them in a large fenced in area behind my house when I was a child.

Hi Mickey, Thanks for your reply. Do you own a labradoodle or does someone you know own one? Was it bought from a breeder? Price is a concern with us, but I'm willing to save up for the right dog. I have heard good things about this breed. As a child my favorite dog in the neighborhood was a cross between a labrador and a golden retriever. Her name was Buff and she was the color of a golden and had the short hair of a labrador. I LOVED that dog! Retrievers are one of my favorite dogs but I would probably be allergic to them. My concern would be that labrador retrievers are not the usual hypoallergenic dog even though poodles are. How do you know you'll get a mix that is mostly not hypoallergenic when the retriever is in there?

Hi GeoBro, Thanks, I'll go take a look there. We are trying to find just the right dog. I'm sure we will love any breed we decide to get. Thanks for your help. Do you have a dog yourself?