What toy breed dog would be good to get for a beginner dog owner who is afraid of dogs and their bark?
I get scared when larger breed dogs growl or bark.
I got attacked by a corgi before and certain breeds make me nervous, but the breeds that I like are : Maltese, poodles, schnauzers, pugs and miniature mutts.
Also, due to a mild allergy, dogs with coarse hair like labs tend to make my skin itch. Yet, poodles and cavalier king Charles spaniels and those breeds mentioned above didn’t make me itch.
A dog would give me an excuse to walk around and not look weird, especially when I go too close to people w/dogs.
small dogs do tend to bark much more, especially when they’re young. A good idea for you may be to adopt an older dog (of a breed that you’re not afraid of and doesn’t make you itch) who’s out of the excitable, snappy, puppy stages and is a little bit more calm. This doesn’t necessarily mean an old dog, but I reccomend one who’s at least about two years old. There are many, many of these types of dogs in animals shelters because so many people always want a puppy that they forget that the ones who are a little older still need good homes too.
I think this would be a good idea for you becase it’s easier to judge the personality of an adult dog than a puppy, and this way you would have the best chance of choosing one who could be a good friend to you and meet your needs well. If you’re looking for a small dog, they tend to have a much longer lifespan than larger dogs (I’ve known several toy dogs who are 15+ years) so you don’t need to worry that choosing one who’s not a little puppy wil make your time with him or her too short.
Good luck!