I am wanting to get a dog to train to help my mom but more importantly serve as a companion. She has trouble getting around it would be great if I could get a dog to pick up things she drops, fetches stuff, etc.
Here are the kickers:
Her place has a tiny yard;
She can't take them for leash walks (unless they are brilliant on leash) as she can't walk well;
The dog will spend the majority of it's life in the house, in a tiny yard, or in a car (so no herding, hunting, etc.);
The dog can't be too rambunctious as she isn't steady on her feet.
Her current dog is 9 and about 40 lbs. He is a mutt I got in the South Pacific.
Thoughts? First and foremost is a dog that is a companion, but personally I'd like to keep it for a year, train it, then give it to her to do basic tasks like sit, stay, pick it up, fetch, etc.
I have a pretty good handle on larger dog breeds, but have never been interested in smaller breeds so don't know much at all about them.
Here are the kickers:
Her place has a tiny yard;
She can't take them for leash walks (unless they are brilliant on leash) as she can't walk well;
The dog will spend the majority of it's life in the house, in a tiny yard, or in a car (so no herding, hunting, etc.);
The dog can't be too rambunctious as she isn't steady on her feet.
Her current dog is 9 and about 40 lbs. He is a mutt I got in the South Pacific.
Thoughts? First and foremost is a dog that is a companion, but personally I'd like to keep it for a year, train it, then give it to her to do basic tasks like sit, stay, pick it up, fetch, etc.
I have a pretty good handle on larger dog breeds, but have never been interested in smaller breeds so don't know much at all about them.