Choosing a small breed dog.

Question
We want to get a small breed dog for our family.  We are having trouble choosing a breed. We do not want an outdoor dog, we would prefer one that doesn't shed and has a good temperment with small children(Ages 6 and 10).  I heard that mini Dashounds are good but can have back problems, my son also likes the pug but I read that they shed alot. Also, we have a pet guinea pig and it's cage is on the floor...do you think it will be safe with a dog in the house.  

Answer
Hi, yes pugs shed a lot!  It would not be safe for the Guinea Pig to be on the ground with a dog in the house.  They give off too much fear and a dog will trigger on that.  Dachshunds do have back problems.  You should check out the American Kennel Clubs Breed list to get an idea of the types of small dogs out there and then contact a lot of breeders to get ideas of their temperments, special problems etc.  Here is their link for all the breeds: http://www.akc.org/breeds/breeds_a.cfm  Hope this helps,

Dawn