More and more families live in apartments, condos and small houses that just don't have a large fenced yard or room for a dog to run. Since there are a large number of small to medium sized dogs that are ideal matches for these types of living conditions there is no need to avoid getting a dog, but you do need to carefully match up your living conditions and your lifestyle with the type of dog that you want.
The first consideration for any prospective dog owner is how much time you actually have to exercise, groom, train and socialize the dog. Being honest with yourself is absolutely essential since the dog that you choose needs to meet the levels for these activitiesl that you are able to provide. High energy breeds are not good in small living spaces where they are going to be left home alone most of the time while high grooming breeds aren't a good choice for someone that has little time to take them to the groomers or do it themselves. It is also important to remember that kids will need adult supervision to care for even a smaller or medium sized dog so you can't expect to leave it all up to the kids.
The second consideration needs to be exactly what size of dog you want. There are several house dogs that are medium sized, up to about 40 pounds at mature weight, while there are others that mature at about half or less of that amount. The very tiny toy breeds are often not ideal matches for homes with small children, simply due to the small size of the dogs and the difficulty in young children understanding safety issues with these dogs. Very small toy breeds also often have more dominant types of personalities, making them challenging for children to work with.
Of course a huge consideration with a house dog is the type of coat he or she has. Double coated breeds will shed more than single coated breeds but often have much shorter and easier to maintain coats. These double coated breeds will typically blow their coat or completely shed the wooly inner coat once or twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. During this time the amount of hair shed will be substantial and you will need to increase your grooming requirements as well as plan for additional housecleaning. Some breeds such as the Poodle, Bichon Frise, Miniature and Standard Schnauzer, Wirehaired Fox Terriers and the Tibetan Terrier are all good breeds for allergy sufferers. Many of the hybrid or designer dogs or just the good old mixed breed dogs that have these breeds in their background may also be a good choice.
Choosing either a purebred or a mixed breed dog will also depend a great deal on how much money you want to spend and how concerned you are about having a purebred pet. Many dog owners find just the dog they are looking for at a rescue, shelter or even the local pound. Adopting a dog is a great option in that you not only provide a wonderful, loving family for a dog but you can often find the perfect dog for your house a tiny fraction of what a purebred would cost. Since most owners will never show, breed or compete with their dog the purebred is not necessarily the only option you have. Even when buying a purebred it is important to research the breeder and ask for the health certificates on both of the parent dogs to select the healthiest and best possible puppy.
Some common and more uncommon small to medium house dogs are generally described in the list below. Each dog will have his or her own personality and it is important to pick a dog that has a good temperament for the current age of your children and your family's lifestyle.
American Cocker Spaniel – this dog has long been a popular house dog although they can also be a working hunting dog. They are very gentle and sweet yet playful and active in the house. The Cocker Spaniel is good with kids provided they are raised together and well socialized with children. The Cockapoo is a popular hybrid that is a cross between the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, providing a lower shedding, often hypoallergenic medium sized house dog.
Beagle – the Beagle is hard to beat as a companion dog for active children. These smaller sized hunting dogs love to explore, play and just spend time with kids and people. They are always happy, rarely if every aggressive or territorial and can tolerate being left alone during the day while the family is at work or school. Some Beagles may be problem barkers, which is a load baying type of bark, and can be prone to chasing other pets if not socialized with cats and other animals as puppies. The Beagle, when trained and socialized, is a good dog for children to walk and interact with since they have a great deal of patience and understanding with kids. They will need to be kept on a leash when out of the house as they will get on a scent and simply ignore their owners calls to return.
Keeshond – there are two different sizes in the Keeshond line but the smaller 35-45 pound group makes an excellent house dog that can also tolerate time outside in a variety of colder conditions but is not a good match for a very hot climate. They are a spitz breed and have the sharp facial features, beautiful fluffy coat and tightly curled spitz tail. A very happy dog they are content indoors but also love to have time outside. The Keeshond is perfect for more activity families with kids and the dogs bond very well with children. The thick, dense coat is black with gray markings and the eyes are surrounded by lighter circles of hair that resemble glasses or reverse raccoon markings.
Miniature Australian Shepherd – this is not a true "miniature breed" as it does typically weigh between 20 and 40 pounds. Like the full sized Australian Shepherds these dogs have a medium length coat and come in a variety of colors and markings including parti-colors, tri-colors and merles all with white or tan markings. Some merle colorations may have a gene for deafness so puppies with this coloration need to be carefully tested. These dogs are very active outdoors but will be moderately active indoors. They love interacting with children and are highly intelligent and playful. Some Mini Aussies are prone to herding children, other pets and even adults so they do need to be obedience trained as puppies.
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