What kind of dogs are perfect with kids and cats, and are great inside pets????

Question

I'm looking for a dog for my 6 year old daughter. She has always wanted a dog, but we have a cat in the house. I want a dog that would be OK to be around our cat and easy to get trained to go outside to use the restroom. I would prefer one that is medium sized, and can stay by himself while we are at work without going nuts. Can someone please help me????

Answer 1

Labrador Retrievers are the best for both families with small children and cats.

Answer 2

By the way - a cockapoo is NOT a breed - it is mutt created by backyard breeders out to make a buck by breeding poor quality dogs on whom they have not done the health exams for hereditary problems that are necessary in ANY breed. No serious breeder would EVER.do such a thing as breed mutts with their dogs.

Some breeds do better with cats than others. You may want to avoid the breeds that have a high prey drive - German Shepards, Rotties, Boxers, all of the sporting breeds (Goldens. Labs etc) This is any breed that is bred to chase and find and retrieve.

On the housebreaking - to be realistic, no breed is exactly "easier" than another.

I would suggest that you adopt an adult dog - shelter or breed rescue. Many mixed are wonderful pets but since you won't know their size until grown, an adult is best.

Now, the herding group has some medium size dogs. Herding dogs were bred to be able to stay still and watch their charges for hours. Some of them are still good at that -
but probably not a border collie.

Here is a link to the AKC website.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm

You can read about the different breeds.

Here is a link to the Herding Group on the same site:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/herding_group.cfm

A lot of the Non-sporting make great pets for your needs - I grew up with Boston Terriers who happily snoozed all day:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/non-sporting_group.cfm

Here is a link to all of the National Breed Clubs for the different breeds. The breed club's websites all give you tons of information about the breed and what kind of home it is most suited. On each club's website is either a list of serious, responsible and reliable breeders who take great pains to produce healthy sound dogs and have been involved in the breed for years, or a contact for a referral to such a breeder: A serious breeder will help you decide if the breed is right for you - they don't want to just sell a puppy - they want the perfect match for the puppy and its new home. The breed club's websites all have a section about deciding if that is the right breed for you - including all the negative things and why you wouldn't want one.

http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cfm?action=national&display=on

Now all breed clubs have a breed rescue. Dogs lose their homes for things not their fault - divorces, deaths, etc. Breed rescues go to great trouble to evaluate each dog for personality, temperment, attitude to kids and cats (and no, just because they are a certain breed does not mean they will be like little clones in beahvior), level of training and health. They are also always available for advice and assistance after adoption. Here is a link to the list of breed rescues:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm

Adopting through rescue would be a great way to avoid the housebreaking thing.

WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT BUY FROM A BACKYARD BREEDER - they don't do the health exams of the parents for hereditary health problems, know anything about the animals families and bloodlines, or have the expertise to help you later - assuming you can find them!

Answer 3

Dogs need love and attention, and your puppy/dog wont get it while you're out all day and he's stuck in the house alone. Toilet training is a phase you must be there for, he can't do it by himself. You might want to consider either rescuing one from your local animal shelter that is already toilet trained or just dont get one at all. They need love love LOVE and you can't provide it when you're at work. Cats are OK coz they are independant and live their own lives, dogs are more people dependant and do get lonely. Cats are less social animals, they cope alright on their own. Don't just get a dog because your daughter wants one, she is too young to be responsible for an animal as demanding as a dog. Maybe wait until she's a little older to understand the commitment of looking after a dog.

Answer 4

getting a dog can be difficult. before you get any dog you want to do some research on the dog you want. Also go to the local humane society to see if they have anything you like. Mosr of the time the humane society can give some good information on dog breeds and what kind of dog are great with 6 year old kids and cats. its important to get a friendly dog that love cat. also cxall different breeders and they can give information as because breeders sometimes do have cats and puppies learn to be nice to cats and some even have kids

Answer 5

My friends mom had a three cats and the dogs she always got were Golden Retrievers. Golden Retrievers are also great with kids. They really are the best house dogs I have seen. My uncles has a few young kids in his house and he has had two Goldens. God they are just perfect dogs. I am sure there are other great family dogs but, in my opinion Goldens are the best.
I hope this helps.

Answer 6

Getting the largest standard (15") beagle would be a good choice for a well rounded matchup. In general a companion beagle will not go looking for trouble if you've raised them yourself, which is good for your farm. If you get a puppy and raise him around the farm he will be accustomed to the other animals- beagles also do great with cats, especially when they are raised with them they can become best friends. He will protect you if it is absolutely needed from other animals. I have seen a beagle take a lunging rottweiler to protect their owner whom the rottweiler was lunging at.. They are usually pretty easy going depending on how they were raised, but they know when something is wrong and will pick up on your energy as to whether or not a threat is present. They also really want to please their owner and respect a pack leader, which makes training great- just be consistent.

Answer 7

First of all, dogs are not meant to be indoor pets. Secondly, since you work and your daughter is only 6, consider waiting a few more years. For her sake, and maybe your job situation will change so you can be home more. Any shape size or breed of dog will be miserable stuck at home all day while ya'll work. Dogs need alot of supervision for the first year of their life +, as well as hard core training for an excellent pet with young children. Consider the time you spend at home, and consider your financial situation first. Dogs, unlike cats-NEED regular vet visits and thats a must. Please dont get a dog so you can leave it at home all day.

Answer 8

firstly, get a female dog. the female dog won't bark most of time,and much less aggressive than male . but on the other side, the female dog has less memory ( means hard to remember what you taught her before). If you want to train female dog pee in the specific place, you will try more times than trainning a male dog.

secondly, most samll size dogs are docile, but Chiwawa is a exception. My dog is Bichow, and she is very docile, sometime i bring her to my friend's place, and she played with those cats there. . everytime people visit my place, she shows very frienly to them .

thirdly, although it is not 100% true, but in the most case it is true that the long-soft ears dogs always has better temper than short-stand ears dogs.


That's my experience about dogs. i had 3 different male dogs beofre plus one female dog i am having right now.

Answer 9

A black lab if raised from a pup is one of the best dogs you can find. They are smart. and they love like none other. if you get them as a pup they will adjust to a cat be great with your daughter. And learn How you want them to behave in the house.

Answer 10

i have a half rot half shepherd and this is the best dog

big do 85 pounds but excellent w/children and needs plenty of exercise. So be prepared to walk the dog or have a LARGE yard for them to play in.

Boredom for a dog is what causes mischief....exercise...exercise...exercise...and we can all use some of that