What is the best type of dog to get when you have cats

TheBlackMoth

TheBlackMoth

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As they titles says really - my 16 year old desperately wants a dog. I am happy to have one - having had dogs previously before I had children. But last time my cats were so unhappy they moved to live on the surfaces of the house.

I have five cats - different ones now - so want to think of a dog that would be ok with them. We would be looking to get a dog around end of May/June so thinking in advance to consider what breed - it would need to be a small dog!
 
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel!!!
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MOst breeds, raised from puppyhood with cats are OK with them! If they are raised together, you often find them playing rough and tumble together. My YO's collie and their cats/kittens play fight ALL the time, as do my sister's JRT and cat.
 
Ditto sportznight, so long as they are around cats from a puppy they are normally ok - even know a greyhound that isn't in the slightest bit bothered by cats.
 
Don't get a border terrier
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When we had our first border we got a book that said that it wan't if they killed the cat it was WHEN they killed the cat - our 1st border loves cats and we ended up with 3 more borders whose whole aim in life is to get the cat - we have had dogs for decades and they are the only dogs we haven't been able to train to leave our cats alone.
(I bet there are loads of you out there now ready to jump on me with tales of cat-friendly borders
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I would be more worried about the cats being nice to the dog, especially if you are getting a puppy. With five of them, I am sure they will soon sort the pecking order out and the new dog will quickly learn its place.
 
Definately not a Ridgeback - eek!!. I have 3 cats and my dog hates them with a vengeance, despite being raised with them. Luckily he isn't allowed upstairs so the cats have a safe zone!!

Serve me right really for getting a dog bred to hunt lions, on the odd occassion he has cornered one he looks at me as if to say "you're supposed to come and shoot it now, you stupid woman!"

IME this seems to be the case with all hounds but I stand to be corrected.
 
My whippet is fine with cats. She arrived as a puppy when we had two cats and they trained her to know her place i.e. beneath them! We have since had two more kittens and she is absoultely fine with them as well. The only possible flashpoint is if they put their heads into her food bowl. If that happens (and it is only the oldest cat who dares try it) she runs forward and barks and the cat runs away.

There are probably many dogs who would be fine with cats as long as the cats stand up to the dog from day one and show it who is boss. I used to have a cat who was very agressive to the neighbours dog. One day they came round to complain that my cat had beaten up their dog. Mind boggling really!
 
My ancient siamese beats the crap out of husband's westie, he's terrified of her, she even nicks his food in front of him and he just looks pitiful!

I think theyre quite amenable for a small dog if a little arrogant and stubborn
 
Well I have a sweet little moggy who used to hate dogs (when she saw one she had disappeared for 2 weeks!) My parents rescued a Basset hound when the cat was bout 4, We had a plan, kept cat in... upstairs... cat's terriorty, downstairs dog's terriorty until the cat finally accepts him...then let her out, it took a while. since said dog had died and i flew the nest with the cat (now 13 years old), took the pludge and got a JRT puppy....did same plan as old dog, it took her a while to get used to him now they are happy in same room but at distance! Boris the pup chases her outside but she still came back.... So i am sure your would be ok!
 
Firm training would help... Boris is well trained (i hope!) Misty (cat) is not scared of him now but keeps her distance.

I would have crate so the pup would be in it while the cats have the freedom to sniff it out over night, be in same room as dog/cats for while until u feel the cats had accepted the pup then who knows...

Boris is nearly 7 months old and isn't bothered about Misty but do like to chase her out!!! (Misty wins as always cos i have fence right next to the door!)
 
Most will, you'd be doing it the best way round, cats first then dog - usually less probs.

The wire viz will - our old girl who we lost last Feb started to produce milk when dad bought me a kitten *rollseyes* that's just the big softy she was. I've sold a couple of JRT pups to people with cats and mine were fine with the yard cat but that tbh is the only one they've had close contact with.
 
More or less any dog that grows up with cats will be good with them,my Aunts tiny little cat still rules the roost at 21,constantly "beating up" the danes,lol!
I second the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel though, great little dogs!
 
Definitely not a Border Terrier. My three cats need constant protection from mother's little beast (in the annexe next door).

My spaniel cross absolutely adores the cats, shares her bed and uses one of them as a pillow.

Our GSDs were also always brilliant.

I think JRs can be ok, but go for one which has been house reared with cats.
 
I was just going to post this post!!!!!
I really want a dog....but we have cats.

all the information i have look at tho screams out Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to me......
 
Why not get a mongrel, or a dog that is desperate for a new home, you may not always know their background, but that goes the same for breed dogs and their parents/backgrounds etc. My cat kicks the ass of my two rescues, he is the definate boss
 
Don't get a hound or terrier - the instinct to chase will be too strong or any breed with protruding eyes ( like a CKCS )- I've known pups blinded by a swipe form a cats claw
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You would be better with a herding breed especially if you get one as a pup - they will be more inclined to want to herd 'their' cats than chase them - a large breed like a Newfie or Leonberger would be ok too - they are usually too phlegmatic to bother about chasing anything LOL
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Now the only experience I have with dogs are GSDs, labs and retrievers.

So help me out here - what breeds are hounds and what breeds are terriers - is a jack russell a terrier?

Oh and don't want a big dog!
 
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