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Speaking as a dog owner and slum er landlord.
property damage, bites, and insurance issues are the main reasons. Having said that, we will rent to those with size appropriate dogs. Unfortunately no pits, chows, rotties, or dobies. not our choice really and Im surprised that German shepherds are not on that list. (of which we have 2).
We also like to meet the dog before agreeing to rent to anyone with one.
One thing to keep in mind with hounds (which includes beagles) is that they can be very loud. My family tried to rescue a beagle that had really bad separation anxiety and between the noise and damage it just didn't work.
One alternative that may not be as easy to find is the basenji.
Basenji:
No bark
No shed
No smell
I looked into getting one of these 15 yrs ago. They are not easy to train and tend to be aloof and cat-like in that they can be a little anti-social
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basenji
93EXCivic wrote:Ok so this summer I am renting a house with a friend and I really want a furry companion but I am having trouble figuring out a breed to go with. I want a rescue dog and I am going to look at pound dogs but it would be nice to have a couple breeds picked out to look to rescue as well.
Basically I am looking for something that will be allowed at a rental house (so probably not big or pit bull or rottie), fairly inactive inside, requiring about 1-2 hours exercise (probably towards the lower end of that but I would like them to be able to go on hikes and the like with me). I don't really like the temperament of most small dogs I have met and I more of a big dog person. Also my roommate is looking at getting a dog as well so I really need to avoid dog aggressive. I would prefer not wiry hair but that may be getting to focused.
A greyhound would top my list except from what I have seen they probably won't be taken at most rental places because they say smaller dogs.
If you hunt around for a small female greyhound, you can probably find one around 40lbs (especially if you can get it weighed soon after retiring).
Greyhound cons: sensitive to hot weather, can't really be off-leash when not fenced in. They also have really thin skin, making dog parks a risky place to be. Other than that, they're about perfect for what you're looking for. After an hour of exercise they'll be powered down for the rest of the day.
My two spend probably 18 hours like this:
Don't bark much, love other dogs and people.
Smaller sighthound breeds will get progressively more active, so don't buy a whippet expecting a baby greyhound.
jrw1621 wrote:Basenji:
No bark
No shed
No smell
I looked into getting one of these 15 yrs ago. They are not easy to train and tend to be aloof and cat-like in that they can be a little anti-social
I looked at those but I had cats at my house for years when I was growing up and I want a dog because it isn't well cat-like. Also they can make noise just not barking.
93EXCivic wrote:914Driver wrote:Shiba Inu, beagle sized people dog.
I forgot about those.
I was going to recommend this. It's a small Akita. The only downside is they need an owner that will work at the training. They are very smart and if you are aren't willing to commit to training them they will tire of your attempt at controlling them. Then you can give it up.
Having had 3 Akita's, I LOVE their temperment and personality. My wife isn't sure she wants another big dog. In a few years I might have one (or I'll just get another Akita and, when it breaks past the 90 pound berrier say "huh whah? I thougt it was a Sheba?! Who'da thunk it?"
fromeast2west wrote:One thing to keep in mind with hounds (which includes beagles) is that they can be very loud.
+1. Gertrude is a loud mouth.
Thankfully, my neighbors seem to be OK with it. I attribute that to three things:
1) most of them have dogs
2) she's quieter than the pack of rabid chihuahuas that live across the the street
3) I lock her inside the house when I go to bed and let her out in the morning when I'm going to work....neighbors are less cranky if they are not sleep deprived
DrBoost wrote:93EXCivic wrote:914Driver wrote:Shiba Inu, beagle sized people dog.
I forgot about those.
I was going to recommend this. It's a small Akita. The only downside is they need an owner that will work at the training. They are very smart and if you are aren't willing to commit to training them they will tire of your attempt at controlling them. Then you can give it up.
Does that mean that rescuing one will be a bad idea?
93EXCivic wrote:DrBoost wrote:93EXCivic wrote:914Driver wrote:Shiba Inu, beagle sized people dog.
I forgot about those.
I was going to recommend this. It's a small Akita. The only downside is they need an owner that will work at the training. They are very smart and if you are aren't willing to commit to training them they will tire of your attempt at controlling them. Then you can give it up.
Does that mean that rescuing one will be a bad idea?
No, you just need to be a little (I stress a little) more asertive. From my experience with Akitas, they are very smart. Let's say you train them to sit, come, or not pass through an outside doorway without a password. You show them two or three times. They get it. If you belabor the point they'll just walk away like "dude, are you slow? I got it." But, like kids, they relish limits. If you give them the run of the house, it's HIS/HER house. That's where it becomes problematic. With ours, once in it's lifetime (when they are young) they grow some cajones and try to become pack leader.
I like the corgi for an apartment dog, a female should be right at any places 25lb limit, although it will take careful diet-monitoring as corgis tend to go with the see-food diet and are renown for being chunks, although everyone always assumes that your dog is fat because it is fluffy and has no legs, which is a perception thing. Mine is a red and white female, on the small side of the breed. looks about like this:
Temperments run the gamut, Mine is the princess and is fairly demanding of attention when we return home, or are driving with only one hand on the wheel. I have seen them ball-obsessed, but mine could not care less, I've seen them be anti-social and agressive, but mine loves people and tries to be bossy to puppies that she thinks are being too rowdy. Corgis do smile 
and can look very intelligent.
dyintorace wrote:Too bad big dogs are out. This is mine (~160lbs) and he doesn't need/like much exercise. Teddy bear personality is the bonus!
I want it.
How do Shiba Inus handle the heat? I am in Alabama after all.
imirk wrote:I like the corgi for an apartment dog, a female should be right at any places 25lb limit,
So far the only thing that any of the houses I have looked have said are either "small dogs" or "no bigger then a Spaniel". To me small dog is under 50lbs, medium 50-100 and large over 100+.
Funny thing is that none of the apartments around here have size limits just a list of 7 dogs that aren't allowed but the houses have size limits.
dyintorace wrote:Too bad big dogs are out. This is mine (~160lbs) and he doesn't need/like much exercise. Teddy bear personality is the bonus!
He's quite the artist.
Has anyone had a Black Mouth Cur? They are on the higher end of maybe allowable scale.
Why not just go with a black rescue dog from the pound? Lab mixes are great.
Brett_Murphy wrote:Why not just go with a black rescue dog from the pound? Lab mixes are great.
I am going to look at pound dogs as well but with the number of breed specific rescues and the known temperament of breeds makes them tempting.
You also run the risk of running into the known health problems of a breed. Corgis and other long dogs tend to have back problems, several Corgis my wife has seen also have Addison's (my sister also owns a Corgi with many health problems).
Pretty much if you ask about a breed, my wife can name a few problems the dog is likely to get.
Most mutts are healthier because of their genetic diversity. Something to keep in mind. There are many Pit mixes out there that don't look it, just ask our "Border Collie:"
We leave her alone with a rabbit running loose for about 12 hours a day at times, and to say she's lazy is selling her very short on ability to sleep. Pit mixes are really great city dogs. They're quiet, good-sized, friendly, and extremely lazy, but have enough energy to go for a run if you feel like it.
Wife says, whatever you do, don't get a Cavalier King Charles. Or anything "blue."
Getting a dog is "risky" when you are renting from the standpoint that the dog may not meet the terms of your lease and/or what happens when your lease is up? I guess I'm saying this because you rarely see pets on CL with the ad saying something like "...dog (or cat) has become a bit territorial in it's OLD AGE". You do however, see tons of ads where the owner says they are moving and can not take the animal with them. If you were moving into a home long term (as in you just paid your 2nd or 3rd mortgage payment)....I would not have used the word risky.
93EXCivic wrote:Maroon92 wrote:Corgi or Basset.
Seriously. They are not the typical "small dog" that you are thinking of. My Basset sleeps ALL DAMN DAY, but if we go hiking, he is usually still ready to play catch after a 6 or 7 mile stretch.
How bad are the back problems with Bassets?
Do Corgis have a similar temperament to Bassets?
Bassets can have back trouble as they get older. More so if they are allowed to get too fat. Ours stays at a steady 35ish pounds (I have seen them as much as 60 pounds...). Also, you have to try to keep them from jumping too much (ours is bad about that).
Corgi's tend to be a little more hyper, but like others said already, their temperaments are drastically varied on a dog by dog basis.
Either breed are child friendly, and both are very loving.
My Basset nearly never barks. He whines or moans occasionally, but usually only when he wants something...usually snuggles, or bathroom breaks.
93EXCivic wrote:Brett_Murphy wrote:Why not just go with a black rescue dog from the pound? Lab mixes are great.
I am going to look at pound dogs as well but with the number of breed specific rescues and the known temperament of breeds makes them tempting.
Yeah, that's what people think, but I believe that's a risky generalization about purebreds. They are bred mostly for looks, not personality or the type of work they were originally meant to do. I just saw this video for the first time last week, and it's confirmed a lot of suspicions I had. It's 60 minutes, but if you watch the first 15 you'll get the idea (the whole thing is very good though). Pedigree Dogs Exposed I've also found that many of the breed rescues are both expensive and difficult to adopt from. $300 for a Golden Retriever from the local rescue and you'll wait months and jump through endless hoops to get approved. Local shelters are around $120 and it's a pretty simple process. I understand the argument of trying to find truly good homes through a vetting process but what this, and some other, breed rescues demand for approval borders on the absurd.
I've adopted 4 dogs so far, 3 of which have been mixes. 2 have been the difficult to adopt 'black dogs'. 1 was a senior dog. The purebred has been the biggest PITA of all 4, but I take the blame because he was selected because of his breed and not his personality. Mixed breeds only for us from now on.
Shelters around here will ask if you are renting and if so want the landlords number so they can check if it is OK for you to have a dog. We've been called several times, mostly for cats though, which we have had more damage done by cats then dogs. Go figure.
