I have 4 cats, what is the best dog breed for getting along with them?

Answer 1

Your best bet (on MANY levels) might be to go to your local animal shelter and talk to them about your situation. They really try to make sucsessful pairings so they can tell you which dogs have already lived with cats, etc. Also, purebreds tend to be more suseptable to health problems so you might well end up with a healthier dog. Oh, and many shelters will allow you to bring some or all of your cats in for a test meeting with a dog you are interested in.

Answer 2

The smaller spaniels tend to be very good with cats, English Cocker Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The American Cocker can be a good dog if you can find a very good breeder, but they can also be nasty, fearful dogs. Definitely avoid the terriers - they will have a ball tormenting and chasing the cats.

Dogs require a lot more attention and training than cats. I'd also suggest reading some really good books on training BEFORE you get a dog. Try not to do it randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also! These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
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

Whatever breed of puppy you decide on DON'T go to a pet shop or buy one off the internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are often kept in deplorable conditions. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there. These "breeders" have figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money.

Answer 3

It is more down to the dogs nature than the breed, I would suggest that you try a cat and dog home and get a dog that has a proven track record of getting on with cats

Answer 4

if your getting a puppy it can usually be taught to like cats, just not adult dogs. Look for a dog that doesnt have a high prey drive if you want a small dog then a yorkie is good, or a chihuahua if you want a medium dog then a cocker spaniel is good. If you want a larger dog then just look under non workiing breeds. Dogs that herd have a tendancy to chase things but like i said earlier pups can be taught not to using a water bottle

Answer 5

I've seen a few of my friends have Shih Tzu with cats. They get along quite fine that they groom each other.
But it also have to depend on the characters of your 4 cats, did they ever shown fear or anger towards dogs?

Answer 6

I have 2 cats and a long haired chihuahua, they love each other! The dog sleeps cuddled up with the cats. It's great.

Answer 7

I have a friend with 4 cats and she just got a chocolate Chihuahua and she says they all get along and play together. Good luck.

Answer 8

I recommend that you get a puppy. You can have any breed you would like as long as you do some research and take the time to train your pup.

I believe that since your cats came to your home first, you will have an easier time introducing a dog to your home. I have a Husky who was an only pet and when she was 6 yrs old we decided to get a kitten. Husky's are known to be the worst breed to have in a home with cats but I was determined to do some research to find out if it would be possible to train our Husky to live peacefully and safely with cats. I did a lot of reading and one at a time, introduced our dog to 3 kittens over the next 3 years. She will still chase other cats but ours are now part of her family and she protects them like she does the rest of her pack.

Here is some information I found on the Internet that may be helpful. There is a lot more information out there if you do some searching. You can have ANY breed of dog you want and have harmony in your house with your cats.

According to the movie Cats and Dogs, a secret war has been raging between the two species for eons with only a fragile truce keeping order. Dogs are, of course, man's best friend according to many, and cats are villainous creatures who are bent on world domination. Fact or fiction, with this type of stereotyping in the movies, it's no wonder so many people think that it's impossible for cats and dogs to live together peacefully. Granted, there are many instances where a cat and dog will have a major brawl that leaves one or the other with cuts and bruises but, in reality, it's quite normal for the two species to get along — and even to live together as friends.

Another stereotype is that you are either a "cat person" or a "dog person", but I would venture a guess that most "cat people" also love dogs and vice versa, with only a slight preference for one or the other that has more to do with that person's personality and circumstances. For instance, I love both cats and dogs, (and rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, etc. for that matter) but due to my living in an apartment building, I've chosen to have a cat because they are just easier to take care of where I live.

Genetics

Genetically speaking, it's true there are reasons that cats and dogs may tend to dislike each other. Dogs are predators by nature and tend to chase things that move quickly and that are smaller than they are. This, of course, make cats the perfect play toy for dogs wanting to utilize their predatory skills.

However, cats are also predatory, and will exhibit stalking behaviors toward dogs even though a dog is usually much bigger. In addition, cats will vigorously defend themselves, thus making this a natural rivalry.

Environmental Influence

Of course genetics and instinct alone isn't the only reason why dogs and cats sometimes don't get along. During the first few months of an animal's life, it learns who its friends and its enemies are. Thus a puppy raised with cats will most likely get along better with them. Similarly, a kitten raised with dogs will not think much of the dogs. In fact, it's often easier to raise a new kitten in a household with dogs than the other way around because cats tend to be more territorial than dogs. A highly predatory dog, however, will make it more difficult to introduce a new kitten to the household.

Training Cats and Dogs to Live in Peace

Teaching a cat and dog that have problems getting along can be a somewhat a difficult task, but it's not impossible. The best way to do this is to allow the animals to spend time together when a human chaperone is present. The more time animals spend with one another, the more tolerant they will become of each other. In fact, this can often lead to a very affectionate relationship. Puppies and kittens raised together are certainly more likely to develop a positive relationship.

If a dog has been especially cruel to cats in the past, however, it's probably not a good idea to try to get the two species to co-exist. Even if the dog can never manage to catch the cat, it will most likely never stop chasing it, making the cat's life miserable. On the other hand, a puppy might need to be protected from a particularly territorial or really mean cat.

However, dogs can also be trained to leave cats alone the same way they can be trained to fetch, sit or stand still. For a pet owner who has the time and patience, the dog can be leashed with a training collar. Another person can bring the cat increasingly closer to the dog. Should the dog sit still, it should be praised. If it doesn't, and attempts to lunge after the cat, the leash should be pulled and the dog should be told "No. Leave it!" Some dogs learn quickly while others may take longer, or may not learn at all.

Another approach for training the dog can also be utilized. This approach uses positive association. Each time the dog is in the same room as the cat, it's provided with extra attention and treats. Soon, the dog realizes having the cat in the room is a good thing because it gets more goodies. In this way, the dog will positively associates the cat with what it desires — lots of affection and treats!

Feeding Time

During mealtime, even cats and dogs that get along might start fighting. Most animals are very protective of their food while at the same time tend to be curious about the food the other animal is enjoying. For this reason, it's always best to have separate feeding places for cats and dogs.

It's also a good idea to place the cat's food in a high, hard to reach area in order to prevent the dog from trying to eat the cat's food. Of course, the food should still be placed in an area the cat can easily reach and eat comfortably. On the other hand, cats don't usually try to eat a dog's food. However, if the cat does, then the best way to deal with this is to feed the two animals at the same time, but in different locations.

Remember, cat and dog food each have different nutrients, so one should never be used in place of the other. This is not only necessary to keep to keep the peace, but it's important not to mix their diets for their own health.

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Glenn Cutforth is a writer, eBook publisher and graphic designer.
Visit his websites at: The Complete Cat.com and How To Classics.com

Answer 9

probebly a golden retrever. and i no cause i have one and i also have a cat and there like best friends so yeah i would get a golden retrever. and b sides golden retrevers are nown for being one of the nices breeds of dogs

Answer 10

a mixed breed that you find at the shelter! They are always the best! It will make your heart feel good too.