What's your favorite dog?

The blog is going to take a little hiatus over the next few weeks, so I wanted to take the time to get some more feedback from the readers.

So far, we've had you tell us whether you like or dislike dogs. But let's see what you think about them overall.

Please leave a comment with your opinion if you get a chance. Tell us who's your favorite and - if you want to - why. Thanks for participating throughout this process. We really appreciate it.

Wheaten Terrier

Lesley and I watched a Dogs 101 episode the other day that featured the Wheaten Terrier. It was voted the No. 1 apartment dog in America and apparently is one of the most popular dogs in New York City for that reason. They also said it's a perfect dog for a couple because it's a "fluffy" dog for a girl and a pretty cool dog for a guy.

Wheaton Terrier: Fluffy+Awesome=Winner

Size: 30-45 lbs
Life expectancy: 12-15 years
Grooming: Frequent combing
Shedding: Not a big shedder

Pros
Happy and playful
Puppy attitude throughout life
Seldom bark without reason
Great apartment dog

Cons
Doesn't do well with heat
Needs to be combed fairly regularly

What do you guys think? It looks like a pretty good dog. Leave your opinion in the comments and please vote on the poll on the right.

Sources: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/softcoatedwheatenterrier.htm

***If you would like to recommend another dog, please leave a comment below***

In defense of the Boston

I feel that Brian is letting his own opinions ruin the objectivity of this highly credible blog. Not only did he post an un-cute picture of the Boston, he let it be know that he does not like them at all.

To combat this bad PR I ask you to scroll down and look at how cute my cousins' dog Shea (like the stadium) is:

SO CUTE!

Boston Terrier

One of our neighbors had a Boston Terrier when I was a kid. It kind of annoyed the hell out of me, so I have negative feelings when it comes to the dog. However, multiple people have sworn we should look into getting one and that they are the best dog ever. This blog is all about being fair and open minded, so I'll put it out there for the crowd to decide.

Boston Terrier - This guy looks mad at someone

Size: 10-25 lbs
Life expectancy: 15 years
Grooming: Occasional brushing and washing
Shedding: Average shedder

Pros
Very intelligent dog
Playful and affectionate
Friendly with strangers

Cons
Can be high strung if not exercised enough
Can sometimes be a barker

Looks like a lot of the descriptions for dogs, especially terriers, we've seen so far. A lot of you have expressed strong opinions already about the Boston Terrier. Let us know some more, if you can, in the comments, and as always, please vote in the poll to the right.

Sources: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bostonterrier.htm

***If you would like to recommend another dog, please leave a comment below***

Beagle

Everyone seems to have a beagle. Maybe that makes them a little boring. Or maybe that's because they're great dogs. They are definitely cute. A lot of people have suggested beagles mixed with a variety of dogs, and maybe that's the answer too (but definitely not the puggle). The beagle also has more of a howl than a bark ... not sure if that's a positive or a negative.

Beagle - Stop howling at the moon!

Size: 20-25 lbs 
Life expectancy: 12-15 years
Grooming: Occasional brushing and washing
Shedding: Average shedder

Pros
Happy dogs, constantly wagging their tails
Social dogs who deal well with strangers and other animals

Cons
Really need to exercise to remain calm
Have minds of their own
Will get away if let of leash outside due to tracking instincts

Seems like this dog could be a little under-exercised in our situation. That might make them a little annoying. The site I looked at said they would do OK in an apartment as long as they get enough exercise. What do you think? Leave a comment and please vote on the poll on the right.

Sources: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/beagle.htm

***If you would like to recommend another dog, please leave a comment below***

Calling on you, readers

We're coming down the home stretch on the blog. I think we'll put a couple more breeds up so we can narrow it down to eight dogs we really like. Then we'll pit them head to head in some sort of bracket of death - or just a regular bracket, I haven't decided yet.

So we need your help. What dogs do you still want to see on the blog? What have we missed? By now, you should have a pretty good idea what we're looking for and what we're concerned about, so please help us out.

Leave some comments below or e-mail me at brian.tahmosh@gmail.com with your suggestions, and we'll see how many we can get up there before everyone gets bored and goes home.

West Highland Terrier (Westie)

The westie is a little on the small and girly side, but I wanted to give it a chance. He's pretty fluffy and has almost a whispy mustache. They also always seem to be smiling. Maybe that's just their look, or maybe they're just always having fun.

Westie - Getting into shenanigans

Size: 15-25 lbs 
Life expectancy: 15 years
Grooming: Easy to groom. Twice per year, with brushing
Shedding: Little to no shedding

Pros
Easy to train
Loves companionship
Will do OK without a yard

Cons
Likes to dig and bark

The barking could be an issue if it's really an obsessive trait. I don't know if it's that bad though. I also wonder if it's too girly looking. That's what you're all here for though. Let us know in the comments and please vote in the poll, as always.

Sources: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/westhighland.htm

***If you would like to recommend another dog, please leave a comment below***