none

Most poodles I've met are like my Grandma's poodle.  My Grandma#%92s poodle is very stable and is a really good lap dog named C.J.  He is picky about whose lap he sits on but once he gets to know a person he will jump into their lap.  My grandma inherited him for a good friend of her who passed away.  She says that he#%92s like a little person and that her friend#%92s spirit still lives on inside this poodle.  It#%92s like he has his originals owner#%92s personality.  She takes him every 2-3 months to a groomer for his hair cut but other than a bath every now and then he#%92s very easy to care for and is next to her side almost all the time.
 
Gizmo gets along with CJ well but CJ isn#%92t very interested in playing with other dogs.  He doesn#%92t mind the company of other dogs but would rather prefer to sit on the lap of a person and look cute then run off and play.  He can be a yapper and will bark at every one who ring the doorbell, for my grandma she like that and thinks it's a good security system[]

Maltese are also going to be more upkeep with the coat than any of the listed breeds. They mat VERY easily. They're also notorious screamers. Of course, you'd teach your puppy not to scream, but that's something that you would almost certainly have to work on.
 
Cresteds, from what I've been told and read, are people oriented to the point of being weirdos[] They're one of my favorite breeds, but... they're high maintenance (and one of my close friends comes from a Crested family, has shown Cresteds, etc).
 
Shih Tzus and little Poodles both sound like they'd fit you pretty well. Poodledoos shouldn't be much more coat upkeep than Shih Tzus (except maybe while they're blowing pupper coat, but ALL dogs need more help at that time). Both of those breeds are versatile, and more or less active according to their lines. I can't wait to see PUPPY PICTURES. I'm a puppy addict....

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus
Are they nervous, high-strung dogs?... Yes, they are high-strung dogs. I define "high-strung" as follows: barks easily, does not adapt easily to change in environment, is suspicious of strangers and will growl at them, and flips in circles and jumps around when excited (like when you come home after a five-minute absence, for instance).However, with the person that they have bonded with they do not display most of these characteristics; infact, they display radically different personalities. Chihuahuas are truly the "Jekyll-and-Hyde" of dog breeds: your friends will see the worst side of them and never believe you when you tell them that your Chihuahua is really a gentle, sweet-natured dog.

 
I can honestly say that I have not seen that behavior exhibited in my chihuahua, my son's or my best friends.  That being said they are all long haired chi's....   If you spent one hour with Zoey you would be convinced that you need a lh chihuahua.  That is how the my son and bestfriend ended up with them.  My bf actually now has two of the little darlings

Luvntzus--
Have you thought about a Havanese?  They are a bit sturdier than a Maltese--more along the size/weight of the Shih Tzu.  We have a friend with a female and she is just a love and a great lapdog.  My tzu is much like yours--very independent.

Hmmm, tzu mom with your Tzu being independent like mine and the fact that it's a basic breed description of them, I'm thinking if I want a reliable lapdog I'll have to go to a different breed.

Jennie- I've read the same thing about Cresteds and I really think they would be a little much for me. I'll definitely be posting pics when I get my puppy. It could be as late as this summer though before I get one...


Heidandseek- That's great to hear that your chi and the others you know aren't anything like the description I posted. It sounds like there is definitely a difference in temperament between the longhairs and shorthairs. I wonder why? I actually like the longhairs better anyway because they look more cuddly. Another huge perk for me would be that they're very low maintenance grooming wise compared to a Shih Tzu, Maltese, or Poodle. Even with Gingerbread being in a puppycut I have to spend at least 15 minutes combing, redoing his topknot, and cleaning his eye area. Plus, if I got another Shih Tzu, Maltese, or Poodle that would double the grooming bills every 4-6 weeks. I also really like the colors that Chis come in- I'm a chocoholic so I really like that they come in liver and chocolate colors. That part isn't super important, but I figure if you're going to be looking at a dog for 15 years or so, you might as well like the way they look. [] I also like how tiny Chis are... less to feed, less cleanup and less space they're taking up in a 1 bedroom apartment. I think I may have decided here!! []

Xebby and Tiffy- Thanks for your posts! I'm still considering Toy Poodles and Maltese, but I think I may have decided on the Chi!

It sounds like there is definitely a difference in temperament between the longhairs and shorthairs.

 
My friend's Chi is short haired. I posted photos of him with Teenie at the beach, recently.... He's a very fun dog, and very sweet. He acts like a toy dog, though[] Teenie does, too. Toys aren't really the best type, for me. I'm a more active person than the lifestyle they seem to prefer. I've taken Teenie too far, before, without even realizing it.

[linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=236263&mpage=1&key=jeremiah��]http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=236263&mpage=1&key=jeremiah��[/link]

quote:

ORIGINAL: Scout in Canada

Are toy poodles very stable? I thought toys often had issues. The only toy poodle I've met was a nervous wreck, jumpy, and scared of everything.


That's a good point. I'm sure they're not all like that, but I have read that certain lines can be more timid and high strung. I think I'd probably feel better going with a breed like the Maltese or Shih Tzu that's known for not being the typical yappy, snappy little dog. I also want a quiet dog and from what I've heard, Poodles can be pretty yappy. I know training does play a part, but so do genetics...

 
It would seem to me that a poodle who is nervous, jumpy and scared has not had decent socialization. Perhaps there are lines of poodles who are like that - I don't know of any.
 
My definition of yappy is a squeaky dog who barks for no reason but to hear themselves bark. If that's your definition then poodles are not yappy. They will be sure to let you know when someone is at your door. At my house the noise is unbearable when someone comes to the door but I cannot blame the poodles for that - only myself for not training them better when the older ones were young. Many of my puppy parents tell me they have trained the pups to sit quietly at the door after a "there's someone here" bark.  

My Zoe would spend almost all of her time in my lap if she could.  She is very laid back and relaxed, tho we can get her wound up if we want to!  She loves to play fetch.  My daughters BF's family has a Tzu as well.  Her personality is different than Zoe's.  She is much more hyper and doesn't like to cuddle as much.  We can put Zoe in almost any position[ie:lying on her back on our lap] and she stays that way. Daughters BF's dog, not a chance!
 
Good luck with which ever breed you choose!

I'm glad you're considering a long haired chi. Sophie, my mom's, is so wonderful. Here are some pics (at her current age of 14) - maybe later I can post some from her younger days.
 

Sophie is cute! It looks like she's posing for the camera in the second picture. []

Luvntzus,
Have you thought about a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?  The breeder I got my Josie from also has Cavs.   If I didn't love Lhasas I would consider one.............Pablo rescue/foster Cav even cuddled up to me when we were watching a movie, I don't think one of us didn't have a Cav on our lap.

I think Cavaliers are some of the cutest dogs ever, but they're a little bigger than what I want. Plus their personalities I think are more clingy/sensitive than I'd like. I do like English Toy Spaniels, which are a smaller, smushy faced similar breed, but they're really rare and tend to be timid/sensitive.

I'm about 75% sure that I'm going with a longhaired Chi. The other 25% is still holding out for another Shih Tzu. []

japanese chin?? perfect lap dogs. I have one and he doesn't shed much at all. loves to cuddle and very mild mannered

I really enjoy our maltese puppy.  We have had him for 10 days now and he has been a pleasure.  From the first night with us he did not cry and still hasn't, plays with our older sheltie, kids, and 2 cats.  Our family is really charmed by him and I think he is pretty smart, he uses the puppy pads or goes outside to potty (we watch him closely while we are working on housetraining), learned to walk on the leash in 1 walk, and is learning to be groomed.  I don't know if they are all like this, but I really enjoy his company.