Some dog advice

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clowny

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I have been thinking, and I stress thinking, of homing a rescue dog. I fell in love with the smaller dogs when I was in France earlier in the year. The only experience of dogs I have is via my aunt, who puppy walks for the Guide Dogs. Obviously they are labs or retrievers.

Those who know me, will know I have 4 cats, 1 buns and 6 piggies - plus I foster for Jill (Honeybunny).

I work from home so obviously any dog would not be left at home for long periods.

The breeds I am leaning towards are chihuahuas or pomperanian - the main reasons being that they would be smaller than my cats and hopefully would not be perceived as being a threat to them.

I am not going into this lightly and would therefore appreciate any advice that those with dogs and other animals are able to give me. My husband isn't too keen (although had a dog when he lived at home and loved him to bits) hence asking for extra advice over and above me doing my breed 'homework'.
 
I don't know much about chi's or pom's. We have 3 dogs & our lhasa, the smallest, is the worst one with all my small furries & has been on the receiving end of my mums cats claws more than once for chasing/tormenting :)
 
Small dogs are big dogs in a small body...:)) People think Chihuahas as they are small will be easy... Not the ones i know about!

A ****zu is a lovely little dog and with puppy training classes and the right training (as all dogs need) you will have a good family pet...

In my experience cats get on better with dogs that are like they are... a exciteable and lively dog will upset them just as much as a large dopey and laid back breed...
( adding: this is not always the case btw!)

Edited to say SHih Tzu (these blimmin asterix! Lol)
 
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My mum has always had dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs, and other small furries.

The very tiny breeds can be a bit naughty as others have said. I think the best dogs we ever had with the all the animals is Cavalier King Charles and Mum's current staffies are fab with them all too.
 
Chihuahuas and poms are not ideal first dogs, they can both be very snappy and require firm but kind training. They have a reputation of being little and cuddly but as already been stated they suffer from "little dog syndrome" It is also extremely unlikely you will find either in a rescue. When clients ask for a recommendation for first dog I always say stay away from anything with the word terrier in the name, most of the spaniels are a safe bet as are bichon frises (but require huge amount of grooming!) Cavaliers are super cute and if you try a rescue such as Many Tears they often have ex breeding *****es. If introductions are done slowly and carefully you shouldn't have any problems with your cats even if you go for a larger dog such as a Labrador. Shih Tzus can be Shi**rolleyes again requiring a lot of training and are known in the dog world as little rottweilers if a shih tzu doesn't want to do something he wont. If you can wait then go to either crufts in March (Birmingham) or Discover Dogs (London) and see all the breeds for yourself.

Finally don't rule out crossbreeds take a trip to your local rescue and see what mixes they have in, OK you wont know exactly what its going to look like when it grows up but crossbreeds often have less health problems, longer life expectancy and insure cheaper.
 
shih Tzu's are lovely dogs. I'm also looking to getting a dog but not just yet. I have to research it and also more importantly afford it. :)

I have looked around at the bishen frise breed and ther is a rescue for them down South.

If you are after a breed then you can still go to a rescue. There are over 700 breed rescues and this is what I intend to do. http://www.dogpages.org.uk/breeds.htm For the Bischen Frise they cost £100 which is so cheap for a dog of its kind.

Good luck with it!

Louise
x
 
You should try the dogs trust and see what they have, they dont just have crosses. Some of the dogs they get in are brought in by their owners as they may be moving abroad so they then have some background info on the dogs. I know when i got my GSD there was alot of dogs there that are good with cats and small furries. If you go and see one you like but it doesn't say on the dogs info sheet about cats they will cat test them for you.

I have found that my cat doesn't like little dogs or even kittens for that, and she will just go and hide. Where she doesn't mind my GSD and my sisters golden retreiver.

You'd be best off getting a dog that is laid back and not a really excitable. The excitable ones tend to be the ones that try to chase as they think the cats playing. You also need to introduce the dog to the cats slowly especially if they are not used to dogs, if its done slowly then you have more chance of them getting on.
 
Oh and another thing about Chi's and Pom's.......

yap yap yap yap yap yap yap yap yap yap yap yap yippety yap yap yap yap yap yap yap... :))

If you want a laid back dog who (with the rigth intruction and introduction) i would reccommend a greyhound... There are so many in rescue and despite their reputation as chasers they can coexist with cats and small animals nicely (obviously dont leave a dog and small animal in the same room together)... THey see the animals as "theirs" whilst cats outside can still be fair game!
 
We have had quite a few dogs including poodles, Border collies, mongrels and they have all got on with our cats that we had before they arrived. The only problem that I ever had was when I got my German Shepherd puppy and he tried to flatten one of our cats to the floor with his paw - he was only playing but the cat wasn't impressed and went to live with our elderly next door neighbour.rolleyes

We now have a Bichon Frise and he's wonderful with the piggies and really gentle with everything - I can trust him 100%. He is really laid back and I can't find any faults with him at all - well except he is greedy.:(|)
 
I have six chihuahuas.And they are sweet hearts.You could go and see some and see their temperment.Take soming that smells lke your other animals and see how the dog racts to it.
 
we have a rescue jack russell, he is cool but his history makes him a bit harder than if we had got him from a breeder. He has issues over food in the sense that he is protective over it, we can manage him and food but others can't as he is not use to them and thinks they will take it away so its hard to send him to anyone if we want to go out for the day. He is getting better but its slow progress. He also hates and I mean hates to be alone, he will pine for hours and hours if left. He much prefers to sit in the car for 10 mins if we pop to a supermarket than stay at home, you cannot even go to the loo without him. He is a bit anxious of being alone.

He is a nice size but very active and needs loads of exercise.
 
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