French Bulldog?

Bulldogs in any form are AWESOME!!! LOL. Sorry, I'm a bully lover. My experience/ expertise is with the English variety I'm afraid.

 

Do they surrender when they fetch the stick?

 

dude, they are not that smart!!! have some friends that have them..

get a bull mastiff!!! or get a Boxer..

 

Puggles (half pug, half beagle) for me.

 

Noel--

I deal with a LOT of them, and my advice would be to go with a Pug or another breed, such as a King Cavalier (assuming you're looking for a smaller breed without a "small" personality). Here is why:

Of the dozens of breeds we deal with, none have such consistent, extreme food allergies as the French Bulldogs. And they run across the color lines, too (Fawn, Black, Pied). While bigger dogs will tend to have basic allergies like corn/grains or airborne allergens, the Frenchies tend to experience compound allergies, making their feedings a nightmare. We currently have seven active French Bulldog clients, 3 others who have moved from the area and two more neighbors whose dogs are inelligible for daycare (more on that later). One of the latter owns a pair, so that's a total of 13 dogs, and every single one of them is on a special diet. About half of them have to special order their proteins, since they can only use meats like Ostrich, Emu or even Kangaroo. We jokingly call it the Marsupial diet. The others have found "something that works", but any deviation results in an instant flare-up. I'm sure there are breeders out there with successful lines of allergy-free pups, but at this point I wouldn't want the risk. Besides...

...of all these dogs, only two of them have personalities I would describe as enjoyable. The rest have ranged from aloof, pushy, stubborn or downright testy. I know there are many owners out there who can write contradictions to this, but every day I see 50 different dogs across all breed lines, and Frenchies have pushed their way close to the top of my "list".

Another breed that has become curiously popular that I discourage is the Puggle (sorry Jerry!). People fall in love with their looks, but 50-60% of them are a handful to deal with. It's still a hybrid breed, and there are far too many inconsistencies with their personalities (ie. too much Beagle). One of the breeds that has pleasantly surprised me the most is the Dachshund. Growing up, these were always the grumpy dogs. But dealing with several of them now, they're a lot of fun and very playful. They're great in pairs, too. Something to consider when getting a dog is to rescue one. Every breed has it's own rescue organizations, too, so if you do want a particular type, you can still look for it. Often times you can get a puppy if that's what you're looking for. The advantage to adopting an adult dog is, you get a much better read on what your dog is like. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

 

Somebody on F-chat owns these guys but I can't remember who it is. I though it was such a good pic it was my background for about 6 months?

Are you out there Frenchie Owner?
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I would definitely agree with the inconsistency part.

We have 2 females. One is definitely more like a pug and the other is definitely more beagle - Both in looks and personality. Love em both to death.

 

Have a friend with 2 French Bulldogs...I love them!! Very cute and loveable. Have met 1 before that was pretty high strung and not too friendly, shame as this was a cute looking dog. I have 2 Pugs of my own and must say they are the greatest most comedic, loving dogs I have ever had the joy of owning. Very spirited and intelligent, I have experienced them be stubborn but they are also extremely loyal....I have had the pleasure of owning German Shepards and Dobermans in the past, obviously different types of dogs...I've been around the block with many dogs. I cannot say enough good things about Pugs, they will having laughing all day long. Good luck! They do shed though once a year...in a 365 day cycle

 

Yeah, but, what about the Dogs?

*snicker*

 

Boston Terrier?

My first and only dog. I swear it was almost human sometimes. Very smart and well mannered. It would be about the same size as your Pug.

MDS

 

Boston Terriers are mostly black. They just have "white socks" and a white neck.

MDS

 

Noel, if yo want something different look up the Shiba Inu. I have two of them, and both have great personalities and always keep me smiling. From a French Bulldog, I'd consider this to be a full 180, but they probably have some of the same traits as the pug--mine can get A LOT of energy sometimes and they are little rockets when they run around... Some are full black, but mine are tan and people constantly comment that they look like foxes. Sometimes they are a little cat like (one of ours in particular) but the other is "dog" about 90% of the time. They are just a little bit bigger than the pug too; don't know if the size of the dog was important or not. They can be a little stubborn, or just in their own world, but I wouldn't change mine

Also, Jack (Gilles27) I'd be interested to see what your take on the Shiba is.

 

LMAO......

 

Puggle in all black. How can you go wrong?
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I'm a big fan of Pugs--great personalities, and they rarely seem to have issues with other dogs.

I've only had the opportunity to work with one Shiba Inu. She's a great dog, about 5 years old. It's not a breed we see around here, so other than "Sara", I can't really say much. If she's the example, then they would seem like a great option.

Haven't seen an all-black Puggle. Definitely cute dogs!

Noel, one other option that fits your criteria is a Schipperke. They look like shrunken Huskies, and usually come in all-black. I've only met 3, but they're all good pets.

Something very important to consider is this: Where do you currently live, and how long do you plan on staying there? The biggest mistake I see people make is thinking that, because they live in buildings (read: smaller condos or apartments) that a smaller dog would be a better fit. There's a consistently inverse correlation between the size of a dog and their energy level. Larger dogs like to get out and run, but when they're at home they're more comfortable and content to relax. Especially when you're not there. Many small breeds were developed for sentry duties. As a result, they are more anxious and vocal. I can't tell you how many calls I get from people who live in a highrise with a small dog whose barking has become annoying to the neighbors. A lot of buildings have weight limits and restrictions such as service elevator-only access with dogs. I think your schedule allows you to get outdoors with a dog most days, and even weekends. Downtown is actually a very stimulating environment for a mid- to large-sized dog that possesses confidence. I used to live on Clark & Oak with a Golden, and she loved walking along Michigan Avenue, Rush Street, etc. Chicago has been very pro-active with regard to being a dog-friendly city. But ultimately, pick the dog that best suits you personally. Regardless of breed, a happy and confident dog will be a calmer, more relaxed dog at home. And as a long-term commitment, keep in mind the likelihood of your moving to another location at some point.

 

We have 2 pugs. I never owned a dog growing up and I didn't like the idea when my wife started talking about it but I tell you they have me wrapped around thier paws now.

 

Noel,
I know that you're looking for smaller breeds because you live downtown. However, Jack brings up some great points about the energy levels of larger dogs. Honestly, a Newfoundland might be right up your alley. They're available in solid black, very laid back and don't require large amounts of exercise. If you've got enough space to share your home with one, you might be very surprised at how well it could work.

 

Agreed 100%!

 

lovely dogs dude. . u are blessed

 

What about a Scottie?