Cat friendly dogs

So I have been thinking about getting a dog. We had a husky/shepard mix growing up. Don't get me wrong, I love my Limerick, but I miss having a dog. Does anyone know what dog breeds that are traditionally "cat friendly"?

I think Labrador's are wonderful with kitties!

most any dog if a puppy cant be taught protper kitty to doggy edicate

Beagles are known to be cat and children friendly. but like sharky said, most dogs can be taught to overcome most of their prey drive.

The herding dogs often try to recreate the EDS commercial on herding cats. Though mine rarely bother.

It's a matter of training the dogs, providing safe havens in each room for the cats and don't trust them alone together for quite awhile. My large dogs are terrified of those small critters with the sharp claws.

Salukis are well known for getting along with cats, in fact they are pictured in the AKC book posing with cats!
http://www.windhundwelt.de/images/!!saluki-165.jpg

Well......the following general "breed groups" can be bad with small animals:
hounds
terriers
pointers

That includes, like German shorthaired pointers, bealges, coonhounds, rat terriers, jack russles, pits......

I'm inclined to encourage you to looking into adopting an adult dog who's been proven cat friendly.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

I'm inclined to encourage you to looking into adopting an adult dog who's been proven cat friendly.

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I agree!

We have had all types of dogs - from chihuhuas, labs, shepards, chows, huskies, goldens, jack russell, poodles, terriers and many mutts. Never was one cat-aggressive. It really does depend on early training.

I adopted from the shelter, the dogs were all temperment tested with kids, other dogs and cats, my Bear passed with flying colors on all tests.

If you do adopt a shelter dog, make sure it's a shelter that does temperment testing.
Obedience training (regardless of where you get your dog/puppy) will further reinforce good behavior.

Thanks for the advice... I'm leaning towards a small breed dog. My sister just got a corgi mix puppy. One of her co-workers found him. She has a 3 year old cat and so far things are going well.... Able (the cat) was a bit upset at first, but after she took him for a walk Able seemed perfectly fine with the puppy.

Any dog can be taught to live with cats, and other 'small animals'; and any dog can also learn to chase cats and small animals. Seeing a trend here?

It doesn't really matter too much what breed you really want, what matters is how much training you are willing to do, to ensure the dog knows that cats are off limits as a toy. I have two dogs that are mostly herding dog; these dogs are 'natural chasers' because of their herding instinct; but mine know that chasing the kitties, and squirrels and such are not acceptable. It took awhile, especially with my Border mix, because she was already 6 months old when I got her...but she learned a firm "leave it" command, so when ever she gets in the 'mode' to give the cats a little chase, all it takes is a simple leave it, and she stops dead in her tracks, and comes back to me.

I have only ever had herding and sporting dogs, and these when given a chance, or improper training can learn quickly that small animals are fun to chase. But every single one of them has been fantastic with all of my animals; cats, goats, sheep, horses...all of them, and it's been, I think, only because of solid training. Sometimes you get lucky, but with most dogs, you have to teach them to leave certain things alone.

Italian greyhounds would be a good one too, but with them it would probably be better to get a puppy or an adult that was fostered with kitties, because they are sighthounds.

Originally Posted by sharky

most any dog if a puppy cant be taught protper kitty to doggy edicate

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I agree 100% with sharky!

I have a little long haired chihuahua. I've never known chihuahuas to be very good until I had one of my own! He's the perfect little dog and one thing that comforts me is that the cats could kill him before he ever did anything to them. Of course the kitties would never kill him so there's nothing to worry about

Originally Posted by faith's_mom

Any dog can be taught to live with cats,

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I beg to differ here. Some dogs just have too high a prey drive to be taught to live with cats. Trust me....I've seen people adopt dogs from the HS where I volunteer with the knowledge they have the desire to chase cats....only to return the dog after it killed cat(s).

My husky and my lab/chow mix get along just fine with the cats... The husky just ignores them, but the lab/chow mix actually likes the cats. Kittens are his favorite... he loves to snuggle with the babies and clean them. He whines like mad if he hears a kitten cry and can't get to it...

See...

I dont think its a breed thing... I think it more of a individual thing...

I have a Jack Russell and a Jack Russell mix. I have heard so many times that Jack Russells should not live with cats. But my two are WONDERFUL with the kitties, even the tiny kittens. It definitely has more to do with the individual dogs personality than with the breed itself.

Originally Posted by bnwalker2

I have a Jack Russell and a Jack Russell mix. I have heard so many times that Jack Russells should not live with cats. But my two are WONDERFUL with the kitties, even the tiny kittens. It definitely has more to do with the individual dogs personality than with the breed itself.

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I fostered a JRT who did great with kitties. I've fostered the following breeds who did well with kitties:
JRT
Rat Terrier
Chihuahua
lab x
corgi/heeler x
coonhound x
dane/boxer/lab/...?? x
husky/am staff x
kerry blue terrier/pooodle x
poodle x
rott/mastiff x
There's more I'm sure of it!

I've also fostered the following breeds who did NOT do well with the kitties:
Pit
Am Staff x
German Shorthaired Pointer
Spring Spaniel x
Husky x
Weim x
beagle x
lab x
Chihuahua

It's all going to depend on the dog. For some dogs, they've been bred for their prey drive & as hunting dogs for so many years you can never over-ride that instinct.

That said, I've got a purebred Lab & a lab/gsp mix who both do well with the kitties.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

I fostered a JRT who did great with kitties. I've fostered the following breeds who did well with kitties:
JRT
Rat Terrier
Chihuahua
lab x
corgi/heeler x
coonhound x
dane/boxer/lab/...?? x
husky/am staff x
kerry blue terrier/pooodle x
poodle x
rott/mastiff x
There's more I'm sure of it!

I've also fostered the following breeds who did NOT do well with the kitties:
Pit
Am Staff x
German Shorthaired Pointer
Spring Spaniel x
Husky x
Weim x
beagle x
lab x
Chihuahua

It's all going to depend on the dog. For some dogs, they've been bred for their prey drive & as hunting dogs for so many years you can never over-ride that instinct.

That said, I've got a purebred Lab & a lab/gsp mix who both do well with the kitties.

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I have rehabbed dogs who were known cat chasers...one even truly made killing cats his favorite hobby...he took a bit longer than some of the 'chasers' or ones who had only killed once or twice, but eventually he knew my voice and hand cues so well that even he could be in mid chase, and would stop dead in his tracks, and come back to me...I will state it once more, it really does not matter the breed...honest...otherwise NONE of us should have half the breeds of dogs we have, because they were all originally bred to hunt, or herd, which means to 'chase' to a dog who is not trained; I won't name breeds here, because I have worked with so many, and so many mixes it's beside the point that I am trying to make. With PROPER training, even with a behaviorist if necessary, a dog can be taught to leave something alone; because he respects you as his master, over his instinct to chase.

That said, it is also up to the owner to choose the dog that fits the owner's level...if you are new to dogs...definitely don't get one that needs serious rehabilitation due to behavioral issues!!! The people who get known cat killers\\chasers, probably don't really know how to deal with them, and that is why the dogs wind up back in the shelter...I have never had to return a chaser to the shelter. But if you have the experience, and the knowledge to deal with these kind of dogs...and know the time it can take then go for it! My two dogs are both rescues, and one is part Pit...he has not hurt a single one of our cats; My Border mix needed training to not chase, but incidentally, NOW the cats ADORE HER!!!!

Training is HUGE!!! period...no matter what the breed...

I know of several dogs taken in by trainers that have never been able to be trained out of the "kill kitties" instinct. I'm willing to give you that some dogs can be trained out of it, but not all of them can.

That said, a lot of people won't bother to train them. I give you lots of credit for taking in doggies who are known cat chasers, I refuse to foster them if I have an inkling they'll try to harm the kitties. Mostly cuz I can't always keep 15 kitties away from a dog.....they seem to know when the doggie hates them & antagonize the dog.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

I know of several dogs taken in by trainers that have never been able to be trained out of the "kill kitties" instinct. I'm willing to give you that some dogs can be trained out of it, but not all of them can.

That said, a lot of people won't bother to train them.

I give you lots of credit for taking in doggies who are known cat chasers, I refuse to foster them if I have an inkling they'll try to harm the kitties. Mostly cuz I can't always keep 15 kitties away from a dog.....they seem to know when the doggie hates them & antagonize the dog.

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It's kind of in my 'nature' to love on the 'unwanted' or "troubled" animals...just like the nature of my work as a Youth Pastor...can you geuss what kind of kids I work with there???

Yep...at risk youth...the ones everyone else would rather not bother with!!!