I have a standard Chihuahua that is a little over 5 pounds. Before we adopted her, I never would have considered a chihuahua as a pet. I thought they were very high strung and yappy.

Pumpkin is my little angel, though. She is very quiet and well-behaved. She's good with everyone and will sit in your lap all day if you let her.

If you want to avoid a yappy dog (and this goes for ANY breed), you really need to observe how the dog interacts with people and other animals. You'll probably have a good feel for its personality within an hour or two.

BTW: here are pictures of my little "rat":

I have a teacup poodle, named Maya. She barks at strangers. And she'll beg for food everytime I eat.

A couple of my female friends have pommeranians. They are great little dogs. I'm a big dog guy, but i love both the pommeranians i've met.

The one yawning looks like my dog. She's a terrier mutt. We have no idea what she's mixed with since we got her from the pound. She'll be 13 this year and is still a ball of energy with a VERY sweet disposition.

Bichon Frises Rule!!!
 

This is the link to a list of breeders. My mama got a Bichon because I'm allergic to dogs, and Buffy gives me NO troubles at all, because he has hair, not fur!! Their name literally means "curly lap dog" and they are just bundles of fluffy love!

How can you resist them?

http://www.puppyshop.com/caninebreed...on_dspaans.jpg


http://www.bichon.org/images/photos/1puponas2.jpg

I had a kerin terrier growing up and when he died a few yrs later my parents got 2 Pomerianians and they are HUGE HUGE ham and cheese sandwiches......one is a big ham and the other one is a big cheese and they know there spoiled rotten!

honeychile --

Those Bichons are TOO cute! I've seen them before but never knew what they were called. What kind of money would you spend on one??

My mama's was a rescued stud from a puppy mill. I would SOOO love to meet some of his puppies!!

The going price seems to be around $400, but there are a LOT of rescue groups available. I don't have a link, but they're listed on Yahoo.

I am NOT emphatically NOT a dog person, but these guys have me wrapped around their little paws!! They are so loving, so gentle (Buffy's squeak toy squeaked and he licked it until it was "better"!), and yet not yappy. I am seriously thinking of getting one of my own!

One of my co-workers has a min-pin and I don't know if this is typical for temperament for them, but that dog is a maniac! If it was any bigger than it is, it would wreak havoc! Very yippy, quite an attitude and thinks it is boss of everything (including my 90 pound Alaskan Malamute who could eat that thing for a snack if she so desired).

Another co-worker of mine has Italian Grayhounds and she loves them. They aren't as hyper although I think they get a little bigger than a min-pin.

Personally, it's not a dog until it's at least 20 pounds, but that's just my preference. (And I like the really big ones like my Mal).

Dee

I LOVE BEAGLES!!!!!! I plan on getting one in the next few months. The only problem is that their bark can be very annoying. You have to train them young not to bark or just get use to it.
Two other great small dogs are a Rat Terrier or a Boston Terrier. Both these dogs rarely bark. My boyfriend has a Rat Terrier and my roomie has a Boston Terrier. Both dogs are energenic and friendly.

Rat Terrier
http://www.ratterrierclub.com/pictures/jade.jpg

Boston Terrier
http://www.petnet.com.au/dogs/doggif/D190.GIF

If you like the Terrier type dog, a Jack Russell is also a good dog.

ETA:
For those in the Central Florida area, my roommate's Boston Terrier is pregnant and her puppies are due at the end of the month. Her dog is purebread and the father is also a purebread Boston Terrier. (It's her boyfriend's Boston Terrier) She has the AKC paperwork. PM me if you want more info.

I have heard that about min-pins, but I love them anyways! They do have major attitudes, I love it! Hahaha.

The Greyhounds seem like they're great dogs, mostly good with kids, and very low maintance (other than you have to keep them warm).

I also tend to agree with it not being a dog until it's at least 20 lbs, but I can't have a dog that big in my apt :( If I had my choice, I'd have Pit Bulls (we had 3 at my house in Muncie), a rott, a dalmatian (have one of those at my dad's), boxers, or a St. Bernard! :D

Small beagles are really cool! At least, the ones I've known. But I am allergic to them.

The Bichons run from 14-17 pounds. Right now, Buffy is about 17#, but he's recovering from surgery and hasn't been allowed to exercise regularly.

my friend in elementary school had 2 schnauzers. OMG one of them scarred me to death. EVERY time i would come over, it would bark and chase after me. I seriously cried one day cuz it came after me and almost bit me. Granted I was like 9 but still... till this day I can't stand little ankle bitting dogs. And they are pretty high maintenence too.

http://www.vetcentric.com/images/hom.../schnauzer.jpg

I don't like most Terriers, but I forgot about Boston - - they're too cute! I do know people that have had them, and they seem to mostly be friendly.

Mr. BetaRose and I are looking for a dog as well. We've researched quite a bit, and found that a boston terrier is the best match for us and our apartment lifestyle. Besides, who could turn down a face that cute :)

http://userpic.livejournal.com/12388541/488745

He's not mine, but I just adore that picture!

ZTAngel, I'll be PMing you!