What breed of dog would be the most compatible for me and my family?

Paranormal Princess: What breed of dog would be the most compatible for me and my family?
I live with my parents and my dad is talking about gettting a dog. We have 2 cats- one is almost 14 and the other one is 7 years old. Dad’s cat passed away in February of this year and he’s been talking about getting a dog ever since. Dad talks about getting a Lab or a border collie, but I don’t think either one of those dog breeds would be the most compatible with our 2 cats. Mom’s 7 year old cat is very territorial of the back porch and attacks any animal that comes on or near it and my 14 year old cat runs whenever an animal comes in the house. Mom’s alllergic to dog hair, so we can’t have a longhaired breed dog. What kind of dog gets along well with cats, because Dad’s starting to get serious about getting a dog?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Hea Dude !
Any type of Lab

Answer by Simplystunning
A Boxer would likely be the ideal addition to your family. Sweet, loving, good with kids, ok with cats and very loyal. Good luck.

Answer by Danielle G
Jack Russell Terrier

Answer by quizqueen
poodles are good for allergic people because they don’t shed. but most dogs don’t like cats and most cats don’t like dogs. Good Luck

Answer by autumnfaerie8
The best thing to do is go to your local animal shelter or animal control facility. If you can, try to find one that collects information on pets that are turned in by their owners. That way, you can find a dog that may have already lived with cats. There are so many animals in shelters all over the world that need loving homes – go save one! I used to work in a shelter and I can tell you there is a different dog for every need, I know you will find one that will fit in with your family life. I got my dog from the shelter I used to work at and he’s the best dog I’ve ever had.

Answer by victoria9042002
SHEPARD, LABADOR,OR ANY SMALL BREED DOG

Answer by Sexy_Beautiful
My advice, get something small or medium sized. Somewhere along the lines of a Beagle or maybe even a terrier of some kind. Beagles dont shed that much and have short hair to begin with. A terrier, like a Jack Russel would be good too because they dont shed that much.

Answer by JH
Labs don’t mature until they are about 3 yrs. old. I have a black lab and she is hyper 24-7. She is almost 1 1/2. They are ball crazy, but are very loving. It can get annoying when they get all up in your face for attention(leterally). Their tails are long and wag furiously(knocks things off of low tables and such, and hurts a little when it hits you). If you get a lab, get and older one that won’t bother the cats when it’s not spending time playing ball with you.

My ex-girlfriend had Shitzus. They don’t shed, but they are tiny. I thought they were cool.

Answer by torbaynewfs
It still depends on other aspects of your lives. How many are willing to take the dog for LONG walks in ALL weather??? Do you like being active with the dog. Do you have a fenced in yard??
There are things other than cats that are the factors on which breed you should get. Make a list of your favorite breeds and research them to see what they require. The most common reason a dog doesn’t work out is that people have unrealistic expectations of the dog and the dog then has to go. Do some research and you will find a breed that fits what you are looking for!!!!! Remember….even many shorthaired dogs can cause allergies to flare. It isn’t the hair, it is the dander and even in a litter, there will be pups with more dander than others.

Answer by Steve
A good site to find a pet is petfinder.com. They have list of animal shelters and pets available. I got my dog that way.

https://www.petfinder.com/index.html

Answer by Candie
As far as behavior goes (ie: getting along with cats) It really depends on the dog, not so much the breed. There are specific breeds that tend to be more friendly in general, but that is no guarantee.
If your dad is looking for a older dog, it is best to find out as much information on the dog as possible from the previous owners. Wereas with a puppy, they generally have to be socialized by the owner.

If I were you, I would start with looking for short haired dogs, since your mom is allergic. Here is a site to help you out. https://www.akc.org/breeds/breeds_a.cfm

Then once you and your family have found some breeds you like, take the time to check out dogs in your local area. It’s good to spend some time with each dog to get a feel for it’s personality. Researching breeds and dog training information will be extremely helpful!

Good luck

Answer by RHB
As long as you get a puppy and properly socialize him with the cats, any breed would be fine. Also, I think that Havanese are hypoallergenic.

Answer by Dawn A
A lab would be OK,get it as a baby so all will adjust living together happily in the house,A border collie is a nice dog but they really need to be kept busy they are herding dogs with a very strong drive so if you don’t have the time and energy to work with these dogs it could be disastrous in the home,look on AKC.org there you will info. on all the breeds and you can decide which will be more suitable to your family.

Answer by doldaggabuzzbuzz
I do agree that you should visit a local shelter and see if there is something there to suit your needs. The people there can help guide you to a dog that will fit your lifestyle. That’s what they do, and they are pretty good at it.

I will say, however, that if you are specifically looking for a pure-bred, that your mom would appreciate a smaller, shorter-haired dog that doesn’t have a regular shedding season. You’re going to laugh, but Chihuahuas and Boston terriers can both be wonderful family dogs, as well as many other small breeds. And yes, they learn to love cats if raised with them. I’m not sure of the shedding habits of other small breeds, but I know there are others. Look for breeds that do not have long or even medium-length hair. And read carefully about the breed, and especially the breeder, before you bring one home. (You could always go with a hairless breed as well… )

Good luck to you, and I hope you find what you are looking for!

Answer by jayhawk1124
get a Labrador, they love all people especially little kids. They are loyal, super smart, & easy to train. I wouldn’t have anything else

Answer by meg_to
My experience is this: I presently have one 3 year old cat; three dogs (1.5yrs , 6 months (Bichon/poodle cross and 3 months). Before I got my 3yr old cat Mary, I had another cat Silly who DETESSED all animals (and passed away at 20yrs 1 year ago – lots of hissing during that time! First, the type of animal depends on the size you want – if you want a large animal that is friendly, ‘manly’ and fun – try a Golden Retriever/poodle mix, aka ‘Goldie-Poo – takes the standard poodle and is extreme low shedding and non-allergetic. If you prefer a more medium sized dog, then go for the Mini-Goldie-Poo – same as above, but crossed with a mini-poodle, therefore, the weight is between 30 to 40lbs. I have heard great things of these dogs. Lastly, I swear by the Shi-poos – my two little guys are amazing, get along well with the cat (took time and patience though) and are extremely easy to train and are great lap dogs. My Bichon-poodle cross is also great, but a bit more active, and my ‘piss off’ an older cat. If you want more information, the following website has great information for dogs groups, specific breeds, and even poodle crosses and what fits best in all different types of families. Take your time, research and above all – do not expect the love or like between any cat or dog to happen overnight!
website:

Answer by redsgirl
Any dog would be fine, as long as you train them as puppies.

Answer by .straw
hi,i have 3 cats, they are 1 2 and 4, but i have border collie mix dog,bitch,and a miniture pinscher male.he pesters the cats he dont mean too he just wants too play but wiv him being of possesive nature he sometimes growls at them,

my collie mix shes great wiv cats she dont bother them.

see my cats have been brought up wiv dogs from day 1.

so its realy ur parents decision,if they think ur cats will adjust,cats r usually cool,once ajusted to dogs.when they know thier part off household.

bye hope u can make mind up,and have many happy yrs wiv whatever u choose.

Answer by vinay g
German shafed

Answer by mojomama420
unequivocally–a pit bull! before you count them out, consider this: i own two. they are great with cats, as well as other small animals and children. don’t believe the stories you may have heard. our female nursed our cat when he was a kitten, though she had never had pups of her own. as long as you start with a pup and socialize it–that means getting it around as many people and other animals as you can–you will end up with a fantastic companion and protector. someone already pointed out that it’s the dander, not the fur that sparks allergies. i have a severe allergy to dog dander, yet my pit bulls hardly ever bother my allergies. not to mention they hardly shed at all and don’t require much in the way of grooming. a lot of people have suggested labs, but they have a tendency to get overweight without a lot or exercise and hip displaysia is a common malady to the breed. pit bulls have no inherent health problems and are one of the smartest dog breeds out there. they were bred specifically to be companions to people. and anyway, could you really take a dog seriously if it was called a “goldie-poo”? for god’s sake! that’s ridiculous. if you want a good dog, you can’t go wrong with a pit bull.

Answer by Katie C
Labs are great dogs! I think your family would find that they are really sweet dogs.

Answer by Dog_trainer
I think you are absolutely right! Border Collies are high-intensity, high-drive working dogs. They require a LOT of exercise, and preferably a job to do or they can be insane to live with. We’re talking at least two thirty minute STRENUOUS runs every day, not a casual 3 mph walk around the block. Many Border Collies end up in the pound because people can’t deal with their herding instincts, car chasing and odd behavior (like guarding pots and pans!)

Labs can be very powerful and playful, and could easily hurt a cat without even meaning to. Plus they shed terribly and aren’t good for people with allergies. I’m surprised your mom could tolerate cats if she really is allergic to dog hair – usually it’s the other way around. Your mom should spend at least a few hours at the breeder’s home to see if it bothers her.

With cats, you definitely shouldn’t get a terrier!

I’d suggest going with an English Cocker Spaniel (NOT the American Cocker!) or an English Springer Spaniel or a Welsh Springer Spaniel or a Portugese Water dog or a Curly Coated Retriever or an Irish Water Spaniel. (Maybe even a Havanese or a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen – but I don’t know any personally. You’d have to go to dog shows and check them out.) These are somewhat rare breeds – check out www.ack.org for breeders. The PWD, CCR and IWS look a bit like Standard poodles, but they’re not as high energy. They’re easy to train and don’t shed much at all. The IWS and the PWD tend to be on the shy side, so make sure you get her out and socialize her while she’s young. And because they don’t shed, they’re going to need more grooming than the average dog.

BEFORE you get a puppy, I’d also suggest reading some really good books on training. Try not to do it randomly – there are a lot of bad books out there also! These are some of my favorites:
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs – Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don’t Shoot the Dog – Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method – Volhard
Dog Problems – Benjamin
Cesar’s Way – Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I’ve ever seen on TV.

Answer by zette
a maltese ot yorkie or lab these are good family dogs

Answer by Alleycat
Whatever you do DO NOT GET A BORDER COLLIE. Don’t get me wrong, they are phenomenal dogs, but they are serious working dogs with an incredible herding instinct. They will make your resident cats miserable! They can nip as well (again, it’s part of the herding instinct) and are no good with children. They are also so intelligent, they get bored easily and constantly need a job (or they will destroy your home). A Labrador Retriever is an all around wonderful breed. They make fantastic family dogs, have great temperaments and are known for doing fine with people, other dogs and cats. If your mom is allergic to dogs, however, hair length is really irrelevant. All dogs shed and most people are not allergic to the hair, they’re allergic to the dander and the saliva. If you want a hypo-allergenic dog, get a poodle. Poodles don’t have fur they have hair and are great for folks with allergies. They’re smart dogs too and come in 3 sizes…toy, minature & standard. Good luck.

Answer by lizliz332002
A puppy or a shelter dog that has been screened. If you go with a new puppy make sure that whatever breed it is (or dominant breed if a mixed dog) doesn’t have a high prey drive. Remember if the cats run that the dog will chase. If the cats stand their ground and swat the pup in the nose, the pup will learn to respect the cats’ space. Also training, training, training and lots of socialization for any pup. They need to be good members of society.

Answer by tashasbrother
If Mom is alergic to dog hair then do not get a dog. Short hair means just that Short! Its still there you just dont see it so easily.
So for the sake of Mom’s heath you might want to let this idea go.

Answer by Diane
if your mom is allergic to dog hair u might want to get a poodle since they dont shed. as far as that goes. if you have a cat that will stand up to a dog then any dog will do. cuz we had a cat that would play with the dogs and just stand there if they started messing with him. somethin happened to that cat and we had to give that dog away but we got a new cat that was real skittish and we got a new dog too and that cat will run from the dog so the dog will chase it . the skittish cat had kittens and the dog killed one oof them. so really the cats just have to stand up to the dog.

Answer by jjbingham29
depend of what you family like is like do to

go to dogfancy.com and the will have servey you can take and that will give you some idea about what kind of dog you want

Answer by xzb2h6
Personally, I think a Golden Retriever is the best dog. Just make sure that whatever dog you choose you give it proper training. You can read more about dog training and dog training books at . Hope it helps.

Answer by Cindy G
the cats are going to have a hard time with any breed but they will get use to a dog with lots of love

Answer by Jenn
Your local humance society will have dogs up for adoption. They “test” dogs to see how they interact with children, other pets, ect… They will be able to help you find a dog that is good with cats. The biggest question is will your cat adjust to the dog. Bichon Frise (sp?) are good for people with allergies.

Answer by harborgirl2006
Lab’s are the best

Answer by charlee
any type of dog as long as it is a pup but i wouldn’t get to large of a breed it might play to ruff when it gets big you might worry about your cat adapting to the dog tho

Answer by Judy
Blue Picardy Spaniel

Answer by harlyheart
snoop doggy

Answer by Quiet one
Get a poodle if anyone is allergic to dog fur because poodles hair never falls out; and there is nothing to be allergic too. A poodle pup would get along with cats, and probably want to play but would not ihurt a cat.

Answer by Yasmen W
Yorkshire terriers are cool.

Answer by Amanda C
A Chihauhau or get a dog and shave it.
(JOKE.LOL.JK.):)

Answer by lodeemae
depending on how much room you have for a dog to run and how much time you have to spend with it makes a difference. a shetland sheepdog might be a good choice because they do look like a collie, only in a smaller body. but then, they do have longer hair that your mother wont be compatible with.

personally, i have a pit bull who does like to run and play.. a pit bull is a good size because larger dogs need more space.
pit bulls dont seem to shed as much as some other breeds do. and they can be the most loving and protective dogs alive, if they are treated right. and my dog even nursed an orphaned kitten until the kitten grew up. any dog can be a good companion, but my pit bull is just right for me.