What dog breed?

[ihugtrees]

We are looking forward to being able to adopt a dog once we get settled in our new home (with a fenced in backyard) in February. We have been wanting to get a dog for a long time but before now have not had a yard.

We are hoping to get a medium to large (or even extra large) sized, full grown dog, as my husband is in the military and is often gone...it will make me feel a lot more secure to have a dog that has a big bark and could warn us of/scare off an intruder. We are able to provide moderate amounts of exercise (we don't mind going for a brisk walk or jog for an hour a day, or 2 half hour walk/jogs) and will live near a great dog park, as well as have the nice big back yard. We would prefer a dog that doesn't shed copious amounts of hair since we already have 2 short hair and 1 long hair cat, but some shedding is expected. We don't want a dog that needs to be professionally groomed, but we don't mind doing brushing ourselves a few times a week. Since the dog won't be outside often (only for short romps, not left outside all day), I don't feel weather tolerance is a big issue, but in case it is, we will be living in Washington state. Our biggest concern is that we need a dog that is good with kids, and with cats, as we have 3 rescues. We were considering a greyhound and they sound PERFECT personality wise, but I am worried about the prey drive. I've heard it's not an issue indoors. Our cats are strictly indoor but at least one of them tries to get outside constantly (and she has actually gotten outside 4 or 5 times in the 4 years I've had her) and I would just be so brokenhearted if the dog hurt her. We both had dogs growing up but don't have experience training a dog, so we need a breed that will go easy on essentially first-time dog owners (we do plan on taking him/her to basic obedience classes.)

Any advice on what dog breed(s) to look for/avoid? We plan on going through a rescue so that we can get as much history as possible on the dog (I would love to help a dog from a shelter but am worried about the lack of information. It seems rescues can tell you a LOT more about a dogs past.)

[velcromom]

I have had a greyhound and while I think most are great personality wise, they aren't allowed to be off leash ever, and it's kind of a pain. My grey was a dominant male and was definitely not kid safe, and he bit our other dog twice. I think a little submissive female grey would be fantastic for an indoor dog with a nice big bark, lol. But they don't really have that strong desire to please you like a lab does, they are much more independent, more like a cat.


I really see a dog more as an alarm than protection, and a dog a bit smaller can do that too. For family dogs, I like mini schnauzers & boston terriers on the small side (if proven child friendly & well socialized), mini aussies (if you can tolerate the activity level & provide enough "intellectual" stimulation) , they are a nice med. size dog & super smart - but you do have to do a bit of grooming for an aussie. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are said to be a lot like Golden Retrievers in temperament, but in a much smaller package & again need to be brushed.

If you don't mind the size & are willing to have a dog that may be a goofy pup/bull in a china shop type til they are about three years, I'd go for a lab or retriever or a cross. There is bound to be a lot of labradoodles in rescue situations, since they have been so popular & "trendy". Speaking of which, larger poodles are pretty nice dogs.

I would avoid chows, dalmations, pits, rotts, chihuahuas. I am not saying they are necessarily "bad breeds" but because there are some genetic lines that are unsuitable for family pets I prefer to simply choose from other breeds. I have known sweet dogs of many of those breeds but when I was working as a vet tech those were some of the breeds that most often were problems for both staff & owners.

To be family friendly a dog has to be socialized well in puppyhood. Question the rescue for everything they know and if the dog's history is unclear, pass it up no matter how cute! I know it sounds harsh but it's better than having problems later.

[Ola_]

I think a greyhound sound like a very good match. That level of exercise would be good for them, and mine does fine in Canadian winters as long as he is moving (standing still he will get cold and shiver though).

I'd go with a greyhound adoption group that cat-tests their dogs. They will also be able to give you tips on how to respond if your grey shows an interest in the cats and you can always call them for help. And the one we used said that if for some reason the dog was not working out, we could return him and they'd help us choose another that would be a better match (since they had 20-30 dogs up for adoption at any given time). Our grey adores children and puts up with so much (he's been dressed up by my little relatives so many times and just goes with it, he deals with many hugs as well which many dogs don't like).

I have to say that within each breed there are good and bad representatives. Our grey is a love and everyone adores him. Although he's not pushy about asking for attention like our other dog is, he loves people and to be pet. He gets along well with dogs also, though small fuzzy ones in an open area look like bunnies to him (i.e. in dog park).

He is not a barker (many greys are not, in case that's something you're looking for) but he is tall and dark coloured and many people seem to find him intimidating. My other dog will bark at people coming in, but for this reason I usually put her in our bedroom when we have workers or delivery people. With the greyhound I keep him beside me since he's so mellow and just watches the person coming in. That seems to unnerve some people though, lol. I'd suggest to find an adoption group and meet a few dogs, then see what you think.

[Oubliette8]

I agree a Greyhound sounds like a good match. Most greyhound rescues cat-test their dogs and will be able to tell you which dogs would do best in a home with cats and other small pets. The one down side is that they can not be let off leash.

My other immediate thought is perhaps a Great Dane. They are supposed to be wonderful with children, don't require much exercise, and are large enough that their size alone would be a natural deterrent, and they should have a big bark to match, although they'd probably escort a robber right to your safe and give him the combo for a biscuit The down side is that they do not live very long.

[ihugtrees]

My worry with greyhounds is that I joined the national greyhound list, and someone was posting that there is no such thing as a 'cat safe' greyhound...that if a cat gets out in the yard and is running, the greyhounds prey drive will kick in. One lady posted about her grey killing an inside cat that got outside, then his instincts were kicked into over drive and he killed the other cat that was indoors. Another lady posted about another breed of sighthound (cant remember which) whom lived peacefully with cats for 8 years and one day the cat got outside and her dog killed him. Have you known greyhounds who lived with cats for a long time and never did them any harm? I'd love to hear anecdotes on the more positive side! The greyhound rescue I was looking at has an entire page on their website with greyhounds and kitties cuddling, so it seems they feel that some of their greyhounds are cat safe.

I love great danes! We will be renting, though, and my landlord is pet friendly, but not sure if he's THAT pet friendly. I have also heard about all of those health problems though, and also that they slobber/drool a lot?

[Ola_]

A friend of mine that lives nearby has two greyhounds and two cats (one of her kitties passed away in the meantime so there were 3 different cats over the period she had greyhounds). Now she got the first one before we got Mayhem, and we've had him for a little over 5 years now, so I'd guess she's had the one dog for about 6 years and the other for about 5. No incidents with the cats so far.

I think that when they're outside and running, the dog may not recognize the cat (i.e. is it "my" cat or some strange animal). But there are greys that flunk out of the racing program because they don't have enough prey drive, so it totally depends on the individual.

You can't let them offleash in an unfenced area, that is definitely true. But I think that is a good guideline for any dog - safety first (IMO). And the vast majority of greyhounds come trained with such great leash manners that it's really not an issue to walk them.

[nd_deadhead]

I was thinking Corgi (since that's what I have!) until you mentioned hair. Our Corgi sheds a lot more than our Lab ever did (and they are notorious shedders). But the Corgi sheds a lot less when he gets brushed regularly.

They have short legs, so they get a lot of exercise from a walk, or playing in the yard. But they are a larger-bodied dog - mine has a HUGE bark!

They also love to play in the snow.

There are lots of Corgi rescue places, or breeders who have adult dogs available.

[mata]

We got a female Bouvier puppy this summer for the same reason (large dog deterrent.) I had them growing up and know the breed well. Here are some pluses and minuses if you're interested:

Pluses

very devoted to family
not aggressive or hyper
smart
calm
likes to be around their people, but not in their laps
great watchdogs
great with kids
not big shedders, per se, but see below

Minuses

Smelly, lol
Their coat requires considerable grooming-monthly trims around their eyes, brushing, clipping, etc.
can be headstrong-need to establish authority when they're a pup
lots and lots of poop

A small Bouv can be around 60 lbs, and they can get as large as 100. We love them because they're unusual looking, people don't know them and they look imposing, but they're very gentle with their own family.

We absolutely love ours. She's starting to become very protective-I turn her out in the yard and she patrols the perimeter and is starting to warn us when someone comes up the hill. Oh, they have a VERY impressive bark )deep) but aren't yappy."

[carrotstick]

We have a Weimaraner, 2 cats and 2 kids and it is perfect. They have short hair, only need bathed once a month (or less unless they get stinky!), no brushing etc. She sheds in the summer, but it is nothing like the cats! The rescue I volunteer for knows whether the Weim is good with kids/cats and general temperment. I have fostered a few of them and they've all been great. It's been hard to see them move along to new homes. Also, I feel like she is a good guard dog. She really doesn't like door to door salesmen and has the strongest bark to tell them so (but really she's a big softy!)

I adore Greyhounds as well. I have an Italian Greyhound (which is not the same thing) and they are beautiful and hilarious... I thought about a full size one, but the prey drive thing kind of scared me off, too. There is no way my little old lady can do any damage to the cats, she's smaller than they are.

[Tav Mom]

I do have to say, a mutt from the pound. Those dogs are just aching for a family. When we get another dog after ours go, that will be the first place we look. I'm prone to pitbulls, so I will probably look amongst them. We have 2 pitbulls now. They are the sweetest. They are just one of the kids. They love to be with us and snuggle. They are medium to large in size. They don't have issues with lots of hair. They do need exercise and need to be social.

I do have 4 young boys ranging in ages 7-17mos. And the baby crawls and climbs and pulls on and plays in their food and no issue. I can't say enough of this breed. They do need an upper hand. We don't allow them on the furniture and the kids go through doors first.

Good luck in your search and have fun finding the right one that fits in with your family!!

[CoconutCutie]

We have a whippet. She just turned 1yr. Weve had her since 8wks. Greyhounds and Whippets are form the same family. My girl is very near to us and always wishes to please but knows when shes done wrong. We have 2 cats but she grew up with them. She chases them but has never harmed them. She just likes the fact that they run and she can chase but not catch them-lol. She is never in a room by herself. By her choice. Shes very bonded to us.

If youd like more info on Whippets you can google WRAP (whippet rescuse and placement) they will have a list of fosters for you. I htink the best way to go is to meet several different types of dogs and get a back ground on them. Know what you want.

My DH is in the military as well. Im never lonley when hes gone because shes always there to keep his spot warm when hes gone.

[mamallama]

Positive greyhound anecdotes: I had a greyhound. I adopted him fresh off the track (as in, I picked him up at the kennel) as a two year old. He passed away several years ago at the ripe old age of 14.

I had indoor/outdoor cats with him (big fenced yard) without any problems. Once his prey drive led him to corner a raccoon in a trashcan. It turned out ugly--he lost an eye--but that was his one and only prey related incident. In 12 years, he never showed any inclination to chase my cats (caveat: my cats were dog savvy. They never ran--they always put up claws when they met new dogs.)

My dear friend has had three greyhounds (two have passed of age-related causes) with an indoor/outdoor cat (she also has a big fenced yard) with no issues at all.

I mention the fenced yard b/c that is where dog/cat problems typically crop up--dog has space to run, cat freaks, cat runs, dog nabs cat. A fenced yard is not a requirement for a greyhound, per se, but I do want to reiterate that a greyhound cannot be off lead otherwise.

It sounds like a greyhound could be a good choice for you. I disagree with those who say no greyhound is cat-safe. I certainly don't claim to know all there is to know about rescue greyhounds, but I have personally known four, and all of them were cat-safe.

[youngwife]

What about a Vizsla? (Info here)

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

We have a Weim, and 2 cats, and 5 kids, and she fits into our family perfectly. She is high energy, and loves walks. She has a big bark, which helps me feel safe(r) while my dh is away (also military) yet will roll over to let people rub her belly! She is low maintenance with grooming.

There are tons of Weims in rescue, since they are a dog with a strong personality that needs a special kind of family. They are great dogs, though!!

[greenmagick]

Originally Posted by ihugtrees

My worry with greyhounds is that I joined the national greyhound list, and someone was posting that there is no such thing as a 'cat safe' greyhound...that if a cat gets out in the yard and is running, the greyhounds prey drive will kick in.

I love great danes! We will be renting, though, and my landlord is pet friendly, but not sure if he's THAT pet friendly. I have also heard about all of those health problems though, and also that they slobber/drool a lot?

I know of several different breeds and crosses of dogs where a cat who is normally not in the yard was killed or hurt by the family dog...its a thing that sometimes happens regardless of breed, though it is more prevalent in sighthounds.

If you landlord is pet friendly I dont know why he wouldnt allow great danes? Yes, they are big, but usually they are lazy and just want to sleep when indoors. There are some hyper ones, but definitely not the norm. There are health problems that are very prevalent in BYB. A good reputable breeder will lower your chances.of having these pop up...or a rescue dog that is in a reputable rescue will usually be thoroughly checked. My moms dane lived to be almost 15! Personally, I think many of the problems associated with danes are caused by the owner and danes just seem to be more affected. They are more affected in general by poor diet, vaccinations, medications, etc....but as long as you do a bit of research, these things are fairly easy to avoid. Obviously there are no guarantees. I dont think they slobber much....to some extent it will depend on the line and how jowly they are. It is definitely less than a mastiff or saint bernard IME. My 11 month old only gets slobbery after hard play and taking a big drink...it is not a constant drool by any means.

[PlayaMama]

my mom's husband had three danes and i'd recommend against one.

they were decent with the kids (and all pound rescues so not the best start in life so a little bit of resource guarding was not really an issue) but the hair and the drool were a LOT to take.

also, as they are aging it's really REALLY hard to deal with, they have back problems and each one has had incontinence so there is constantly HUGE dane sized poos squished into the blankets and they are really too big to help move effectively.

the largest with back problems is probably over 150 pounds and there is just no way to help move him when he gets stuck and can't move, it's really sad and sometimes he just cries when you try to move him whereas with a smaller more manageable dog you could easily help them if they can't get up the steps or something.

i'd suggest a pound/rescue dog too. we have a lab x rott and she is AMAZING with the kids, weighs about 70 pound so we can still lift her moderately easy, has beautiful conformation and has no medical issues, and has a really scary bark

especially if you go the rescue route they will know the dogs personality before you get the dog and be able to see if it's a match for your house. you could try a purebreed rescue too (maybe a lab or a rott rescue?).

[ollyoxenfree]

Boxer. Fantastic family dogs, very tolerant of children. I cringe now when I think what my siblings and I put our boxer through, but she never complained. They are also very protective of family members. They don't require huge amounts of exercise. The only issue is that they must be well trained or they are a handful to manage.

[greenmagick]

I Boxers.....they are just too high energy for me Great family dogs though if you are willing to work off the energy physically and mentally

[Pepper44]

We have a treeing coonhound and he is wonderful. Coonhounds would meet a lot of your expectations, and you can find lots of them in shelters (at least in the south where I live). There are also Coonhound rescues.

He doesn't bark, but he howls. He has several different howls that he sounds, like an alarm.

He's great with kids, with his floppy ears and lazy hound ways. He does love to run, the dog park is his favorite place. He can't be off leash outside of a fence because he wants to chase and tree things...real or imaginary.

He wasn't too hard to train, hound dogs are very food motivated and they are people pleasers. He is trained not to chase our four cats or harm our flock of chickens. (I live in a suburb and he does well in our backyard, though he can climb our chain link fence.) We didn't even do any training classes with him, we just repeated commands and followed through with treats. He will roll over on to his back instead of jumping for attention!

Hound dogs don't shed that much because they have very short fur and mostly bald bellies. They love to exercise and play for hours, but they also love to snooze and snuggle. If you get a coonhound you so will not regret it!

We also have a black lab mix and she's a great dog, but she sheds sooooo badly. Our floors are coated in her black fur.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by greenmagick

I Boxers.....they are just too high energy for me Great family dogs though if you are willing to work off the energy physically and mentally

Lol, I guess it's all relative. Our next dog after the boxer was a husky mix. Now there's a dog that was high energy and needed exercise. If you don't run a husky for an hour or two a day, that's real trouble. She made the boxer look like a possum.