So, you little-dog lovers! C'mere! I got a question for you!?

Question

Two hyper, happy-go-lucky great danes who want a playmate... and seem to take to smaller dogs faster than any other.

However, the majority of smaller dogs they've BEEN around scream and run and hide like people from Godzilla.

SO. Anyone know of any cat-friendly breeds that would be able to deal with a great dane barreling toward them head on and leaping over their heads (No risk of injury... they're quite good at it. They even manage to compensate if the critter beneath them moves) in a frenzy over joy and play?

Mixed breeds, of course, are at the top of this list (Yes, you shelter-mongering, guilt-tripping nuts, I intend to get a shelter dog if at all possible, and kindly stay out of my question. Thank you) but a base OF breeds would definately help in looking for the right dog. =) Thanks you guys!

First answer: Yeah, I've looked at terriers and I'm more prone to getting a cairn.... but I'm worried about the cat issue. I've known fairly few terriers to deal with cats well.

Answer 1

LOL - thats is too funny - (shelter mongering guilt tripping!)

In answer to your question I would personally go for the bigger of the smaller dogs, having owned a great dane I know how playful they are and how well they mean, but never the less accidents do happen. Ours pushed my brother (about 16yrs ago, when he was about 5) off a step and my brother broke his arm. The dog was just wagging his big tail and saying "gimme a pat gimme a pat"! So if you were to live the two together, there is a chance of accidents happening.

Good choice for a small dog because they are very energetic and most of the time hld their own really well. I would stay away from ones like Shi Tzsu, Pug, maltese, Chiuaua (<---how the hec is that spelt?!) and go for something maybe with jack russell, kelpie, terrier, even something with a bit of labrador or retreiver in it (medium size cross small size is a perfect mix for what you need)... and any combination of not tiny, but still small (and VERY small compared to a great dane) type of dog.

Your dogs probably like small dogs because they are so different to themselves and full of energy!

Small dogs will however be likely to get scared to your dogs so getting a pup is important... then it can grow up around the other dogs and get used to them. Adult dogs tend to not adjust so well. Remember to supervise them and keep the little one safe until it is well and truly settled in though.

Anyway, good luck!

Answer 2

1. ( sorry, i have to do it again) Post your dogs Name, Breed, age etc. Penny, Pug, 8 months Noah, Westie, 2 years Kelsey, Border Collie, 3 years Casey, Mutt, 8 years 2. Did you rescue your dog from the streets or shelter? I rescued Casey from the streets. I bought all the other ones. 3. Has your furry friend ever killed a wild animal? ( bird, mouse, etc.) All the time, sadly. I try to not let them but they're fast and little animals aren't. 4.Whats the most expensive thing your dog has ate, ruined, or chewed on? Oh lordy. Noah chewed up my 800$ Prada shoes 2 hours before Prom. Penny isn't a chewer, thank god. Kelsey chewed up the kitchen floor. Casey isn't a chewer. 5. Does your dog bark at EVERY living ( and non living ) thing he sees, that moves? Noah does. Penny doesn't. Kelsey does. Casey does. 6. Did you name your dog? All of em :) 7. Does your dog like the sprinkler, or hose? Not really. 8. If your dog had a theme song, what would it be? Ahh, this is going to take some thinking. 9. Is your dog secretly a cat? Penny is secretly a seal. 10. Does your dog eat human food or table scraps? Yes, they eat human food every day.(The good kind) They occasionaly get a little hotdog for a treat. 11. If you gave your dog a pop bottle, would she destroy it, snuggle with it, or eat it ( or anything else ) Destroy it. Been there done that. 12. What would your dog do, if you left the house, and there was a perfectly cooked turkey sitting, way back, on the counter? ( details! ) Penny would most deffiantly stand on top of Casey, and reach the counter. It's happened before. 13. Does your dog howl at night, or howl when a fire-truck comes through the neighborhood? Suprisingly, no. 14. Can your dog open doors? I hope not. 15. If your dog was any other animal, what would it be Penny would be a Seal or Sea Lion. Noah would be a fly. Kelsey would be a dog. Casey would be a sloth. 16. If your dog was any other Person, what would he/she be? Penny would be Tyra Banks. She's FIERCE! Noah would be someone that is extremly calm and powerful. 17. Do you find your dogs hair everywhere, and i mean EVERYWHERE, or is your dog neat and tidy, and it never leaves hair? Ha, you're kidding. I'm CONSTANTLY covered in Pug hair. The rest don't shed alot. 18. Has your dog ever had surgery? If so, what for? Just to be fixed. 19. Does your dog prefer = Hard floor - Soft bed= The couch! Dog food - Table scraps ( thats an easy one! ). Yeah. They'll take the good stuff. A walk - A trip to the dog Park. Neither. They like sleeping. Tennis Ball - Teddy Bear Teddy bear. Dirty - Clean DIRTY! Couch - Dog bed COuch! Fence - Shock Coller Fence! 20. Does your dog love to leave slobber all over your face when kissing you, or small wet kisses? Penny is a super slobberer. The rest don't use their tounges. 21. Does your dog follow you around everywhere? Penny does! She's a velcro dog. The rest could care less. 22. Does your dog run to you when you come home every day? Yep! 23. Did you like this survey? Do you want me to make a # 3 survey? Go for it!

Answer 3

Hi :) nice to know some one else out there loves giant breed dogs. I have two great newfoundlands - i reckon both breeds would get on as 1. they are very big. 2. they are the softest friendlest dogs and 3. Because they so damn cute! lol They are so many dogs like this is shelters, for example some dogs are put in there because they are not show worthy...e.g. been fixed, too small, not the right shape and dont walk right - and even sometimes if they have the wrong mixture of colour in thier fur...i know its sad :( so have a look for newfoundlands! :)

Answer 4

After careful consideration,,we have come up with an answer..you can consult our site www.avatark9.com if you would like us to give you further input....we belive that ANY breed of smaller dog would be ok for your danes to have as a playmate,,BUT,,,,you will almost surely have to get the new dog as a puppy. If its possible,try to stay away from breeds with "smaller",or"brittle"bones in the legs,,like minpins,or chiuaha's,or pom's,Too many times we have seen these breeds come in with broken legs from "rough play,or accidental dropping........as breeder's of chinese crested's it would seem a natural response for us to recomend a crested,,but in this instance,we do not...they are a great and energetic dog,but a bit fragile...we would reccomend a beagle type,or a terrier type,these are prevolent in the shelter's......

Answer 5

I dont really know what breed to suggest but, terriers are small to medium breeds and they tend to be pretty fearless! lol! I dont know how great they would do with cats.. I guess that would really depend on the individual dog. I would suggest going online and reading about some different terrier breeds. That would probably be your best bet! Good luck! : )

Answer 6

I am a pet sitter and I sit for a several small terriers that live in a house with a cat and a bigger dog. They live in harmony! I think Terrier is the way to go. I have a scottie mix and she LOVES my cat and loves playing with big dogs. Her best friend is 3 times bigger then her!

Answer 7

A rat terrier is a high energy breed and should make a good companion and be able to keep up with the danes

Answer 8

A terrier is the way to go --I have a Jack Russell female, adopted, that was raised with another dog and two cats. She wants to be friends with the neighborhood cats, but most of them are terrified. Her best pals are big dogs...especially a huge boxer that is all kangaroo energy.

I was lucky to know the background of my dog. The unfortunate situation of most adopted dogs is the lack of history. Any dog, raised with the companionship of other animals, usually adapts and enjoys the company.

Terriers are usually not afraid of anything, curious of everything, and need to be "put in their place" occasionally.

Kudos to you for your happy menagerie!

Answer 9

Maybe not a cairn, but a silky terrier. Silkys are larger than a yorkie (up to 18 lbs. vs. a 8 lb yorkie), but look very similar. The reason I do not suggest a cairn is that they tend to be more aggressive and hunters for anything smaller than themselves.

Answer 10

I have a mastiff 2 pugs 2 medium silver yorkies and 2 miniature black and tan yorkies..all get on well with the cat..all play together and all sleep together as one big happy family ..the cat now and again will tell them off if they disturb him..and two of the yorkies have a snap at each other ..but no fighting at all..the mastiff thinks the pugs are her children ..and the smallest Yorkie (as big as a bag of sugar) sleeps on the back of the mastiff..