The besttreeratdog i ever had was a toy poodle my aunt had when i was a teenager.He stayed within sight and brought them back to me when i shot them out with a pellet gun ,he didnt bark at them just stood up on the tree and stared at them.got my bag limit with him quite often.I currently have britttanys and love them.They do shed, they run the yard now,my wifes much happier.I got a big wiem that sleeps beside my bed everynight,he sheds too but his hair is onlyabout a quarter-inch long.There are a lot of good breeds out there I wouldnt rule anything out.