Help Choosing First Dog

I wouldn't suggest a terrier of any kind (including Dachshunds, who are classified as hounds by the AKC due to a translation error back in the day) if you want easily trainable. They're just... not, LOL. They're stubborn and hardheaded and absolutely wonderful, but they're NOT easy dogs.

Poodles are very nice and not bad at all to train, but you do have to brush them every day and have them groomed every 4-6 weeks. That gets expensive.

Any dog will be fine for 5 hours, if you crate train it. You don't want to leave a young dog unsuprivised. It WILL tear things up, if you do.

A mini Poodle will weigh in at around 25 pounds, be very agile and atheletic, and a lot of fun to have around. I like Poodles a lot, and would reccomend them if you don't mind the steriotype, and the grooming.

Beagles are very nice dogs, but I'm not sure how well one would be in an apartment. They are very trainable, but they are scenthounds, so they follow their noses (which means you'll need to keep a Beagle on leash or in a fenced area, JUST LIKE ANY DOG). They're a LOT of dog in a little body, and a lot of fun. If you get the dog out to play for a few hours a day, it would probably be fine. They do bay, though, instead of barking. It's a very distinctive sound, and if the dog is baying in your apartment, everybody will know, LOL.

Thanks for the info. Yeah, that's the only thing about a poodle, the grooming can be really tedious and expensive and I'm not the richest of college students. It's just hard finding a good "mix" of everything I need in a dog at this moment in my life. In 5 years I would have no trouble getting a labrador retriever,etc. because I would have more room for it to romp around but I just don't have that luxury at this moment  :-/ 

I actually enjoy sitting and brushing a dog that enjoys being brushed (I might as well enjoy it, it's what I do all day, LOL). You may find that you like brushing your dog, too. Either way, it IS costly to groom a Poodle. Even if you decide to do it yourself, the equipment is expensive. And it's not exactly easy to groom a dog and get it to look how you like it. 

Have you considered a Beagle?

Maybe some sort of mix from the shelter or a local rescue? Often, they have adults whose tempraments have already been evaluated.

Why not just go check out the shelter and see what they have there.  Most any dog you get is going to adjust to you lifestyle... and I disagree that any dog WILL tear up your apartment if left alone during the day out of a crate.  In fact Ive never crated my dogs.  Kayla had separation anxiety at first and did destroy things but she quickly got over it.  Lucy, Minnie, and Bailey do not do anything bad while we are gone.  Bailey chews the occasional shoe only b/c shes still a puppy and I dont think is aware that not everything on the ground is her toy.  As long as you train them and all I think they would be fine being left... and they will get more and more used to your schedule as they settle in. 
 
I wouldnt worry so much about breed, I would go to the shelter and see what they have and see if you have a connection with any of them.  If you do want a purebred I would think most anything would be okay as long as you give it plenty of time while you are home. 

and I disagree that any dog WILL tear up your apartment if left alone during the day out of a crate. In fact Ive never crated my dogs.

Really? You just leave them loose?

Mine would certainly destroy the house. They try to, while I'm here. After they got done with  the house, they'd destroy each other. I'd be really sad with no dogs and no place to live[]

Wow, thanks for the info. I LOVE beagles and their personality is JUST like me but I keep reading that they wouldn't work in an apartment. HOWEVER, it's a good idea that I should go to the local shelter and see if they have any adults with a slightly calmer temperment. And I'm definitely not picky with mixed or purebreeds

A nice little 3-5 year old Beagle mix might work well for you. You might just find your perfect dog in the kennel at the Humane Society I  know I did!

Thanks for the help! (and the encouragement!) I'll definitely go to the local beagle shelter and see if one matches!

Not that I have anything against Beagles, but they dont strike me as the best apartment dogs...but I also believe any dog will adjust.
 
Yup we leave them loose when we leave.  As far as I know they look out the window and sleep []  Sometimes when I walk in they are all three crammed onto the couch, very cute!

See, I don't think any dog will adjust. Then, I have very non-adjustable type dogs.... They HAVE to have their exersize, or they're crazy hyper. 

ORIGINAL: loveukaykay

Why not just go check out the shelter and see what they have there.

 
Yes, I agree, why don't you?! : ]
 
There are so many great dogs out there wanting homes, and they come in all shapes, colors and sizes! ; ] And sometimes in mixes of great dogs all in one! Amazing.
 
But, if you really want a purebred dog that's not that high maintance, I would suggest maybe a pug?
 
They're fun, cute, and do great in apartment living.
 
Here's some info on them. PUG
[linkhttp://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pug.htm]http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pug.htm[/link]
[linkhttp://www.thebreedsofdogs.com/PUG.htm]http://www.thebreedsofdogs.com/PUG.htm[/link]
 
Beagles are pretty hard to have since they're full of energy and bore easily. My aunt had a beagle and he would have he worst seperation problems. She had him in a crate when she'd leave him and then when she'd come back she'd find the crate either broken or in another place in the room.
 
You might even want to consider a Vizsla. : ] But then again, I recommend Vizslas to a lot of people. But I do think they'd do fine in apartment life as well, and they certainly are loving and fun and aren't high maintances and they're not that large! : ]
 

Eh. Vislas are typically pretty birdy, and are a hunting breed. I wouldn't consider them a good first dog, or a good apartment dog, but that's me.

If you would like to have a lab there are small adult mixes available on Petfinder.com. I wouldn't try to guess the adult size of a lab uppy just in case it outgrows your apartment requirements.
Good luck on your search.
 
Kay-Kay--I only crated for the first few weeks too.  I can't
see any evidence that he even moves from the couch.  I guess all
dogs are different. 

How about a retired racing greyhound? They're not necessarily old just because they are retired. I know someone who just got a 2 year old dog, who was retired because it didn't do well in racing. 5 hours by itself should be fine, as it would be an adult dog, and as long as you exercised it, the apartment thing shouldn't be a problem, although you'd probably have to check with your nearest greyhound rescue, and in my experience rescues tend to be more picky than your local shelters will be.