What breeds/mixes of dogs might get along with a male cat and a loud, energetic 6-year old?

Question

The cat is declawed in the front; we got him that way from the humane society. He is an indoor cat who would like to be an indoor/outdoor cat.

We have a small/medium yard. After training, the dog will need to stay at home by himself for about nine hours a day during the school year.

In the end, we may just get a nice shelter mutt, but it still might help to see what breeds are recommended.

Thanks for all responses.

We'd get a young or adult dog. A puppy would be too much in a lot of ways.

To everyone who answered: THANK YOU!!!
On YA, I often ask questions and get very few answers. On this one, I got lots of good answers to my question. I'll only choose one, but there were a lot more than one. Thanks again.

Answer 1

http://www.pgaa.com/canine/general/size.html
This is a great web site that can help you decide what type of dog will best fit with your life style. Whatever breed or mutt you decide on, be sure to train and exercise the dog it helps a ton with excess energy!

Answer 2

I can't recommend a particular breed of dog, but felt the need to share with you something I learned about declawed cats from personal experience with several of them. Since they don't have claws to defend themselves, they are much more likely to bite.

Cat bites become violently septic very quickly. Despite an immediate trip to the ER and both injected and oral antibiotics, my hand became so swollen and painful after a bite from a customer's cat that I couldn't work for a week.

My Pomeranian was bitten in the throat by a cat I adopted from a shelter -- this was after they'd been getting along and playing together for two or three weeks. Because of the Pom's thick fur, I didn't realize the cat had bitten him until he almost died from the infection.

A friend of mine was bitten by one of her own cats, and spent two weeks in the hospital, during which time they discussed amputating her thumb because the infection wasn't responding to antibiotics.

I suppose what I'm trying to tell you is that, no matter what breed of dog you get, watch the interaction between your cat and your new dog until you're absolutely certain they are not going to harm each other. And if the dog lets out a sharp squeal while playing with the cat, don't assume the dog was just startled.

Answer 3

I just got a 8 week old male tuxedo kitten for my 10 month old female that is white with black spots. My female cat is very friendly but has so much energy and so playful. The female hissed a few times to the kitten but in less then a day she didnt hiss at him any more. Now they are both playing together chasing each other around. The only problem now is that when they play, the bigger one, is a little too rough since she needs to learn that the kitten is alot smaller than her and she needs to be a little gentle. I think your cats should be fine once they get to know each other. They will be little partners in crime in no time. Good Luck A suggestion I might add is maybe get a female kitten so that the two males dont get too aggresive with each other since by nature two males are more aggresive to each other than a male and a female are.

Answer 4

Well, I have two dogs and they're both great but between my cocker spaniel and my australian cattle dog/blue heeler I'd advise you to get a blue heeler/australian cattle dog, they're so calm and good with children who are very active. My niece and nephew are so active and would bother her so much but she would just let them do whatever, it didn't matter...when she got upset or nervous, she'd just go away and hide under a bed or something, but my cocker is not as nice, she'd bark at the children and stuff like that. I have heard Beagles are good dogs for children...
As far as them being good with cats...um, if they are raised with the cat since they're puppies they will be good with them, if you get an older dog it will be difficult to tell, unless the Humane Society or whoever you buy it from assures you the dog is used to being around cats and kids...
Both of the dogs I have are females and they are medium dogs, 25-35 lbs for a female...for a male ...um, they probably get up to the 45 lbs.

Answer 5

the thing is there is no particular or "special" breed.
the best you can do is ask the shelter or breeder if he is good with other dogs. if he is good with other dogs then he will most likely be good with other animals.

make sure your dog is not too young because then you would probably have to have somebody come and stay withe the dog for a few hours. if you want him to stay alone for that long make sure its around 12 months old.

also make sure yourdog is not too big or not too small. if he is too big then he is probably not going to get along with your cat. if he is too small then he will have something i call little dog syndrome. that means he thinks he is a dog that is too big so he will pick a fight with your cat and most likely get hurt (i mean the dog). you should go with a medium sized dog.

also make sure the cat and dog are apart until you get the dog spayed/nuetered. if you put them together before that then your dog will try to kill your cat (literally).

p.s. if you need any more help just e-mail me at [e-mail]

jacob V.

Answer 6

This is going to come as a surprise to you, but I would say a bulldog. I have an English Bulldog and she is GREAT with kids. I baby sat 8 kids at the same time during the day and through all of the yelling and crying, she didn't do ANYTHING. I also had a cat who was very old and mean and the dog never tried to do anything to her. They sleep a lot and are bored very easily. I love them.

Answer 7

WOW, lots of good opinions. Shelter dog..good idea. Puppy...good for learning to get along with the cat...the cat will keep him in line, if it's a pup. Mixed breeds/mutts are typically easier going, less high strung and don't have the physical problems associated with the in-breeding of show quality dogs though. If you're going to leave it alone for 9 hours, get lots of chew toys, lots of excercise for the dog,[daily], and spend many of your home hours with it. If you don't have the time to devote to the dog, stick with the cat...they're more independent and don't require the extra attention that you will need to give to a dog...I have a dog and it's somewhat like having a child.

Answer 8

A lab is the best dog for kids and other animals. Your cat may get annoyed at him if you're getting a puppybut the cat will get used to him/her. After you train the dog, you still would need a doggy door. I'm only gone for 7 hours at school and when I come home my dogs really need to go. So now they have a doggy door. You should get one to. Sure the dog may be scared at first, but he'll get used to it.

Answer 9

As long as you get a puppy, they dont see any animal as a threat. Cats adjust pretty quick too. I had cats and dogs, but always brought puppies young into the home introducing them to the cats. At first the cats would claw and go on, but within a week they were buddies as though they lived together from when they were both pup and kitten.

Any dog will work, just let it be a pup.

Answer 10

Nine hours is a long time for a dog to be left alone. Dogs are more dependent on their owner than cats are. Where cats can be left for a day, a dog can feel abandoned if left for too long. There are great doggy daycare facilities but to be honest it sounds like you might not have the much needed time that dogs require and deserve.

Answer 11

Golden Retriever's are particularly good dogs for young children & the cat. You will find there are many good rescue shelters for golden's in almost every state. They will allow you to pick the animal that best suits your needs and you will be providing a caring home for loving animal.