Considering a Papillon? What are the pros and cons of this dog breed?

The samoyed is an active large breed dog but they are also usually great with people and other dogs. The pros and cons I will give you are generally for the breed itself, individual dogs can have different temperaments. The pros for apartment living: friendly towards strangers and other dogs, they love kids, and are very loyal to their families. The cons for apartments - these dogs were made to WORK. If you do not exercise the dog vigorously on a daily basis (running is a favorite activity) the dog will get bored and likely destructive in the apartment. They have a moderate tendency to bark or howl which may not endear you to your neighbors. They also shed A TON - and this will be much more noticeable in a small space. In addition, a female dog in heat may attract the attention of male dogs that are not confined - the presence of strange male dogs around an apartment complex may also be unwelcome! Good luck in your dog search. Thank you for using pet coach.

This is a great question, and one which does not have a simple answer, as there is no one pet food that is best for all dogs, even within a specific breed. Certain types of specialty dog foods, including grain free diets may be linked to heart disease in dogs, so I recommend talking to your vet about potential risks for Lilly and her sibling. I recommend a small breed adult food until they reach 7-8 years old, and then switching over to a senior formula slowly over the course of a week. You can mix a small breed adult wet food in with the dry if you think they'd prefer it, and a skin support formula such as the one below with omega 3 fatty acids can help support the skin https://www.royalcanin.ca/products/catalog/Royal-Canin-Veterinary-Diet-Canine-SKIN-CARE-SMALL-DOG-dry-dog-food/223038 See the links below for more information: https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/newsevents/cvmupdates/ucm613305.htm https://talkspetfood.aafco.org/rightpetfood https://www.hillspet.ca/en-ca/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/how-to-transition-my-dogs-food If your dogs are overweight or have other health issues, I recommend speaking to your vet as there may be other diets they recommend that can both help the skin and help manage their other conditions. I hope that helps!

I am sorry to hear you lost a dog recently. Whether to get a puppy or an adult will depend on your lifestyle/schedule and the personality of your other dogs. Puppies require much more frequent care than adult dogs, so if you are gone for long periods of time this can be problematic. Puppies can also be pestering to older/senior dogs, so if your other dogs are older or have some mobility issues they may be less tolerant of a puppy jumping on them/biting them. The plus side to having a puppy is you have first hand opportunity in all his training. If your schedule doesn't work well with a puppy then I would consider fostering an adult dog from a reputable rescue on a trial basis to see how it goes, and if it seems a good fit you can adopt the dog!

I don't think you need to be concerned. As a pair, they are probably just most content to keep each other company, hence the lack of interest in other dogs. Ask your vet if they are both at a healthy weight. If they are overweight, that may contribute to them not being very playful. Other than that, I would not worry about changing their food. (if they are at a healthy weight , don't worry about it, if they are overweight, talk to your vet about a food for weight loss). I think it sounds like you have some lovely couch companions! I hope that helps you, thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I am so sorry to hear about your losses. I would definitely consider a mixed breed dog from a shelter or rescue group. A medium to large sized dog, such as a retriever or pit bull mix might be a good size if you are looking for a dog to be a "protector". You will want to be sure to talk to the rescue group or shelter about what you are looking for in a dog and what your lifestyle is like (active vs. mostly sedentary, living in an apartment vs large fenced yard, other pets in the house) so they can fit you with the right personality for your dog. You can also look at http://www.akc.org/find-a-match/#slide1 to help get an idea of some breeds you may be interested in (however a mixed breed is always a great choice).

Chihuahuas are loving devoted dogs when properly trained. They can be protective, and aggressive if spoiled, not socialized or have not had obedience training. I would not recommend this breed for a new dog owner or in a house with small children, since they often will bite and can be stubborn. They also can have some medical issues such as luxating patellas and sometimes back problems. One of the best personality small dogs is a Shih Tzu. They are great family dogs, are affectionate and live a long time. They do need to be groomed though to keep the coat from matting. Many people clip them to keep the fur short and manageable. I'm glad you are researching dog breeds before you get a dog to make sure it is a good match. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

What a cutie! She appears to have some Papillon in her due to her ear, but her coloring is reminiscent of some larger breeds such as a Rottweiler or a herding dog like an Australian Shepard. It is hard to say for sure. There are some genetic tests you can order for more certainly. I would defiantly say there is some Papillon, and 100% cute!