Looking for the best dog for me in an apartment?

I live in an apartment in Austin, TX so I figure a short haired dog would feel the most comfortable. I also want a medium to large size dog because small dogs just aren't my thing. Some online tests say a Basset Hound would be good for me but I'd really like a lean hound dog like an American Foxhound or something of the sort. I will be working full time so I will need to keep the dog gated in the kitchen until he/she is completly house trained during the day. I am active at night, fortunately Austin is very pet friendly so the dog will be out just as much as I. What bread do you all suggest would be the best fit for me?

Beagles are good. My dog is part beagle and he sleep most of the day.

Hounds of that sort are very energetic, Basset Hounds are usually even tempered, not showing much interest in spending energy. Another breed I'd suggest is a Bulldog, they weigh about 35-50 pounds and short haired. Usually not requiring too much exercise, and they tire easy, ideal for apartment life. The only real problem with the Bulldogs is they get over heated easily so you'd need A/C or cool water around constantly along with shade.

online tests arent that accurate , maybe a Labrador or a Coonhound , maybe a Mutt from the shelter , Staffies , Pits , Bulldogs)

A Pit Bull is the best... they require very few bathroom breaks...they are quiet and will sit around all day long!

Hound dogs like Bassets, Beagles and Foxhounds can tend to bark A LOT when left alone during the day! This can be a problem in an apartment. However, if you like hound dogs, check out Hound Rescue in Austin TX. They may have an adult dog who's been evaluated & doesn't have a big problem with barking. Here's the website:http://www.houndrescue.com/You could also check out your local shelter or humane society. Explain your lifestyle & situation in honest detail- often times, the dogs are surrendered with a bit of "history" and shelter workers want to see the dogs' new homes be a success. If a dog was *knowingly* surrendered for a barking problem or other "household behavior" problem they will not lie to you. Plenty of shelter dogs are surrendered for OTHER reasons than behavior (allergies, people moving, having a baby, etc)....and you can find perfectly nice, already trained, dogs of all breeds (purebred AND mixed).

Have you considered a French Bulldog? Great apartment dog, and if you're out at night, you won't believe the attention they get.

One of the BEST apartment dogs around is the Greyhound. As long as they have the opportunity to stretch their legs once or twice a day they are quite happy to lounge about infact they have the nickname the 45 Mile per hour couch potatoes. They're a larger dog, 26 to 30 inches at the withers and 65 to 85 lbs. Have nice short hair - they can tolerate heat well. And definately have that lean hound look

Check out the beagle, too. It's a slightly smaller dog than the foxhound, but they look pretty much the same, I think. The beagle is a little stockier than the foxhound, and the foxhound is a little taller than the beagle, but they're both hounds and they're both delightful animals!American Foxhound information:http://www.akc.org/breeds/american_foxhound/English Beagle information:http://www.akc.org/breeds/beagle/index.cfm

As a general rule, if you live in an apartment, I would be wary of any hounds as barking and baying is a very common reason they end up in animal shelters. Yes, I know there are always people who have them and don't have problems...but I can tell you from working in an animal shelter that we had innumerable purebred hounds turned into us because of barking issues. It happens with other breed categories, as well, but is across the board often a problem with hounds and apartments/townhouses.Also, just because you are in an apartment, I wouldn't limit yourself to a short haired breed. As far as shedding, some of the biggest shedders (labradors!) are short haired dogs, and some of the technically hypoallergenic breeds are actually longer haired. If you don't want to brush or groom a dog, you may want to take that into consideration - but I wouldn't choose the type of hair based on being in an apartment.That said, I would suggest going to your local animal shelter, and telling them what you are looking for and have them recommend a specific dog. Because so many dogs are poorly and over bred these days, even normal breed characteristics can be way off mark. If you just want a dog that is a good match for you, go to a shelter that does temperament testing and personality assessments on their dogs - many shelters do an excellent job of matchmaking these days. About 25% of dogs in shelters are purebreds, by the way, so just because you go to a shelter doesn't mean you can't get a purebred...and shelters have lots of puppies, too, if that is important to you (but all things being equal, as cute and fun as puppies are, I would take a well adjusted adult dog any day!).Even if you get a puppy - you really don't know what you are getting unless you are going to a top breeder. And those are NOT the people advertising puppies in the newspaper or at pet stores...and top breeders who know what they are doing are also going to, understandably, be much more expensive. Unless you are really in love with a specific breed for a specific reason...a good shelter that knows their dogs and understands behavior assessments is your best bet! For shelters near you, try http://www.petfinder.com

You DEFINITELY need to consider a retired racing greyhound, and here's why.1. Age. You don't have the right lifestyle for a puppy right now, mainly because you work full-time. Puppies need to be taken out every two or three hours, and fed about thrice a day. They also need to be socialised, trained and so on. Because of this, they need almost constant attention, which you'll find it hard to provide when you're gone for seven hours a day. Retired racers are usually about 2-3 years old, still young but already housebroken, socialised and not really rambunctious enough to want to play 24/7 (plus, they won't chew up half of your furniture).An adult dog is also good because you already know what you're getting. You know its temperament, looks, trainability, etc.2. Short-coated, and shed quite minimally.3. Energy levels are good. The thing about retired racers is that they've got the "greyhound zoomies" out of them already, but they still love a good run. This means that they're always ready to rise to your energy level. If you can only manage a half-hour walk in the morning, they're laid-back enough to sleep the rest of the day while you're at work. If you want to take them out when you go for lunch, have a jog and then go to the beach, they're up for that too. It's a myth that greyhounds need to run like 5 miles every day. Greyhounds are sprinters. Even in their racing days they only run a 30 second race, say, once a week, and they spend the rest of the week recovering. You can build endurance in a greyhound, but it is not their nature to go-go-go. More like sleep-go-sleep.4. Naturally quite laid-back, and because of this, pretty polite. Super intelligent and naturally well-mannered because of their polite disposition.5. Don't bark much, which is good for apartment dogs because unlike the beagle (VERY noisy) you won't get unhappy neighbours.6. Lean and houndy just like you said.7. Retired racers are usually free of genetic diseases like hip dysplasia that many other large breeds are (the greys have to be cleared of this, or else they can't race). And lastly,8. By adopting a retired racer, you are saving a life that would otherwise have faced an uncertain fate. Many racers, after they have passed their prime don't get to go to comfortable forever homes. They just get chucked by people who realise they can't get anymore money out of them.Please consider a retired racing greyhound. I truly and honestly believe this is the perfect dog for you.http://www.retiredracinggreyhounds.comhttp://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/

A Foxhound would not be a good match for someone in an apartment. Look instead at a dog like a Boston Terrier.