I would say Chihuahuas are a pretty neat little dog, no, I'm not biased at all. Mine does not bark unless I, personally, get her riled up and we play and then it's still not very much. I haven't seen her shed, yet, but I'm sure she probably does (which isn't a big deal for me at all). Some, like my Spanky girl, are VERY tiny and you have to watch for them. Spanky loves cats, other doogs, and pretty much everything and everyone (except my FIL, it seems). I would definitely look into them.

Doxies are sweet. Overall, they seem to be a pretty healthy breed minus the back problems and they're prone to obesity. They are nice, sweet, loving, protectors. However, they can be incredibly audible at times!

Maltese, Yorkies, and Poodles are awesome.