Thinking about buyinga dog

[Guest Anonymous]

i was wondering if anyone could suggest a good dog of medium to small size that is ok living in the city and get's along well with cats (prferably one that is also sweet and affectionate)

i'm thinking about getting a dog but i need to be fair to my cats and the dog. If you have a suggestion, please email me or respond here i guess. thanks.

[Guest Anonymous]

Hi
There is a nice website at dogbreedinfo.com and they have a breed selector where you punch in your criteria (long hair/short hair, athletic/laid-back, etc.) and they will list the perfect dog breeds for you. Good luck on finding your new family member!

[Guest Anonymous]

There is no specific breed good with cats. You just need to do some really extensive socialization.

[Guest Anonymous]

I dont think anyone should buy a dog unless it is for show purposes because so many die each day cuz no one wants them....

[Guest Anonymous]

I would urge you to save a life by getting a dog from your local shelter. Most of the reputable ones will take the dog back if it does not work out. (as will most reputable breeders)

Also, try these great sites:

http://www.bestfriends.org
http://www.aspca.org then go to adopt a pet which will bring you to petfinders

The first is the address of the largest no-kill shelter in the US. The second is a listing of dogs and cats in shelters and resuce organizations.

Whatever you do, do not get a pup from your local pet store. These poor animals are poorly bred, poorly socialized and often sick.

They come from concentration camps for dogs called puppy mills.....or from unethical breeders who sell them their culls. No ethical breeder sells dogs to a pet store. They care about their animals and want to insure they are well-placed. All the pet store cares about is do you have the $$$.

If you really want a purebred, you may find them in the shelters or recue groups...or ask your vet.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that AKC registration is an indication of any quality...it is not. In my advance obedience class we had a very mean rottweiler, two cockers with rage syndrome and a supposed lab. (this last dog had wandered up one day...so the rescuer took a picture of it and sent it to the AKC. The AKC registered it as a lab. This happens frequently. I have a "border collie"(found her as a pup on the side of the road)....they registered her... yet no one knows her pedigree. She is most likely a mix. She is spayed....we simply got the AKC stamp so we could show her in AKC obedience classes.

[Aroura]

I am a great believer in that if you are not planning on breeding or showing a dog, it is best to buy one from a shelter. If you have a cat maybe a younger dog would be best so as you can socialise it. Another advantage of getting a mixed breed is that they are generally healthier and live longer due to the decreced genetic defects. I got my first dog from the pound, and she thanks me for it every day by being the smartest, most loyal loving dog in the world, plus I get the satisfaction of knowing that I saved her life :smile:
Luv Jeanne

[Guest Anonymous]

There are a lot of breeds you might want to consider but you have to think about things other than cat chasing to help you decide - would you rather groom or vacuum :smile:, do you like up ears or down, do you like short noses or long, solid color or spots etc
To all that you want temperament added.
A well trained pleasant dog of almost any breed or mix would suit you *if* the match in grooming, activity, training etc works out. Anything from Italian Greyhound to Boston Terrier to Bichon Frise to Shih Tzu to Chihuahua to... well there are lots out there worth looking at!

On 2002-05-05 13:26, IdolRock wrote:
i was wondering if anyone could suggest a good dog of medium to small size that is ok living in the city and get's along well with cats (prferably one that is also sweet and affectionate)

i'm thinking about getting a dog but i need to be fair to my cats and the dog. If you have a suggestion, please email me or respond here i guess. thanks.