Dog Owner Chat V. 5

[Fantelle]

@chunkychad ;; if you're looking to get a puppy, pretty much any breed can be trained to get along with an existing cat. of course, you're right that some breeds will be much harder to pair with cats. huskies come to mind as 'probably not a good idea'.

also, it's good that you're keeping in mind what temperament your cat has. if you say you have a timid, scared cat that's going to choose flight instead of fight, that's a trigger to the prey drive of most dogs. i have a terrier mix who chases after my parents cat because she will run off, but who stays away from my roommates cats because they'll attack him if he comes too close. a cat that can set their boundaries when it comes to dogs will be much easier to pair, but i'm sure you can also find a match for your more timid cat.

here's a list for you with some breeds that tend to be cat-friendly. for you and your needs specifically, the following come to mind: shetland sheepdog, poodle, cocker spaniel, whippet/italian greyhound/greyhound, and border collies.

[Deerskin]

@drift.
Oh man, the part about the training huskies makes me reconsider a bit more. They're a gorgeous breed and I'd love a dog that I can leave alone for a few hours if neccessary, but I'm not sure I have the energy to handle them if they require such a large amount of energy compared to other dogs. But what you said about GSDs made me more resoluted to get one. I'd love a dog I can both train and play with, or a family dog of some kind, ven hough it'll just be me lol.

And yes! I think polar dogs are a sledding dog or a landrace dog? It's the type of dog my family has right now (I live on my own so I don't see her daily though), and they're a very fun breed. Their fur is thick enough to sleep outside in the cold winter and they're used for pulling sleds. I'm a bit sure about the exact breed since they just refer to her as a polar dog and she has a pretty thin coat imo compared to a husky or a lapphund or something like that.
They're planning on having her bred sometime next year and they offered to let me buy a puppy, but I just don't think I want one. There's nothing wrong with them or anything, I just prefer GSDs, huskies, golden retrievers, and in general the type and size of those breeds.

Actually, if you don't mind? I'm going to be moving to a very forest-y area with a large river next to my house and about two handfuls of neighbours, and my family and I often go to beaches or a lake on my grandmas property when it gets hot or we want to be outside, so I'd love a dog that enjoys water or is atleast comfortable with it.
But because of traintracks nearby and the size of the river next to my house it, especially after rain or in winter, it needs to be possible to train it for perfect callback commands. I'm a bit worried that's not possible with dogs with independent personalties like shiba inus or water-loving breeds like golden retrievers, and I'm worried GSDs are just averse to water in general. Do you have any knowledge on this?

[chanel]

@chunkychad

honestly the first breed that came to mind while reading your post, was a labrador or golden retriever. social dogs, moderately active and intelligent. i train dogs and i remember this lab that came to me for service dog training. he did phenomenal and his owner does sports with him like dock diving, disc and IGP. both goldens and labs are extremely versatile.

if you're going to a breeder, be very careful. if you need help looking for breeders id be glad to lend you a hand. labs and goldens are popular breeds and if you get one from a backyard breeder, they might not fit the standard or temperament that you wanted. i had a golden retriever that came in for training, she was dog aggressive and bit a child. the owners got her from some lady on facebook that did no genetic testing or raised the pups with puppy culture. an ethical breeder will help you find the right puppy that will fit your lifestyle! i know a lot of breeder so if you need help feel free to message me!

if you want to stick to adopting, again be careful. you might be able to find an adult dog that fits your lifestyle. but if not, be prepared to do some socialization training.

as for cats, any puppy can learn to get along with cats. if your cat doesn't stand up for itself, its your job to create boundaries.

some other breeds that might work for you: cocker spaniel, cavalier king charles spaniel, or a papillon

[coffee.berry]

Golden Retriever.
Labrador Retriever.
Beagle.
Pug.
Bichon Frise.
Shetland Sheepdog.
Basset Hound.
Poodle.
But mostly, I'd reccomend a Golden Retriever or the Shetland Sheepdog, as my aunt has a Sheepdog and 2 cats, my grandma and grandpa have a Golden Retriever (they also have a cat!) and I have an Alaskan Malamute.

[lisica,]

@chunkychad; I have no professional advice or anything but I do have a dog and a cat lol so from experience...

like someone else said generally any breed can get along with cats! Of course it depends on the dog and puppies are so much easier to train to get along with cats. My last dog was a border collie and she used to chase cats but with careful introductions she managed to put up with my cat that I got when she was 9. She spent a couple days growling at him but after that she mostly just ignored him lol. They were never the best of friends but they tolerated each other and that says a lot considering she hated cats before! I know introducing a new dog to a cat is different (especially an older cat), however I have a 6 month old border collie now and he has never tried to herd my cat, or nip at his ankles, like all the websites told me he would before I got him lol. My cat is 4 and is obviously used to dogs so that defo helped with him meeting my puppy!

Basically it’s possible with at least most breeds with slow introductions and scent swapping etc!!

I think i just echoed everyone else but yeah what they said

[fairytale.]

The best girl had a birthday! May turned 7 on the 8th. She is just the best dog ever and I am so lucky to be able to call her mine. She spent the day relaxing on our deck and then playing in the yard with her daughter and granddaughters. On Wednesday, my best friend who owns May's son is coming to visit and we're all packing up to go to a dog show. We will have May, May's two kids Thora and Rowan, and three of Thora's puppies (who are too young to show but are going for the exposure). It will be my first show in a year and a half and May will be making her debut as a veteran (a special dog show class for senior dogs) with my other best friend handling her. May hasn't been in the ring since she finished her grand championship in January of 2019 so it will be fun to get her back out there even though it will be hard to hand her off to someone else to handle haha. We have an exciting week ahead and it seems like the best way to celebrate my best girl <3

[ᴍᴀᴏᴄɪғᴇʀ]

Happy belated birthday, May!
I really love how you've got the whole family connected, and I hope she and everyone have fun at the show!
That's the most tender nibble I've ever seen from a dog presented with a treat; what a high-class lady.

[payno.]

Meet my friends new puppy Honey! She’s a supposed pit bull mixed with shar pei. She’s 7 months old and absolutely insane but adorable.

[drift.]

The best girl had a birthday!
-snip-

awh happy belated birthday to may ! she has such a kind face. Hope everyone has fun at the show :)

[imacatmeow]

Marking also....

My dog is a mix. I call him a Shaby because he is a Husky Shepard Lab mix! He has the color/pattern of a German Shepard, floppy lab ears, and the slim yet curly tail of a husky!