Hi,
Can you give me some suggestions on a dog breed. Here are my criteria:
-Small/medium sized dog. My wife has a bad back so she needs something that will not yank her off her feet
Size is less important than proper training
-Short hair and not a major shedder
Dogs all tend to shed around the same. You perceive more or less due to the type of coat and length. A short haired dog will shed just as much as a long haired, it just looks like less. Dogs with curly coats vs smooth tend to mat up rather than depositing hair on the floor. But you need to groom them so you are trading one thing for the other.
-Something that has at least some traditional dog energy. I want my young boys to be able to play fetch and rough-house wrestle a bit with this dog...I don't want a foo-foo lap dog
My 200 lb Mastiff was more of a lapdog than my 20 lb Schnauzer. Pound for pound my mini schnauzer was the fiercest animal I've owned. I've known plenty of foo-foo dogs that were great fun to rough house with.
-Not a major barker like a hound
Vocalization can be breed specific but don't count on it.
-Good with kids and other dogs
Pretty much any dog if properly socialized.
-Something with lots of personality
May have to trade for your the next item on the wish list
-Easy to train with a mellow disposition
See above
For reference, I used to own a Boxer/lab cross. She was a wonderful dog on all accounts. My wife used to own a Bichon-Frise.
We are looking for something "in the middle"