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Thinking of getting a dog, wanted some breed suggestions..
I live in a townhome and have three cats, I would like to get a dog and need to do some research into what breeds would be good for me. I've owned a dog before, it was a high energy Hungarian Puli with a high herding instinct. I had him for six years, but when I moved out of state my dad begged to keep him and I let him (my dad is retired and the dog stayed with him during the day while I was working). I handled all the training for the Puli but I think I am looking for a lower energy dog this time around. I want something on the smaller side, thirty pounds or less, without a high prey instinct so it is not chasing the cats around all the time. I think I want to go with an older dog, at least two so I don't have to worry about training a puppy. The main form of exercise would be a long walk in the morning and a long walk at night and going on the occasional run with me if the dog was physically able to handle it, (it doesn't necessarily have to be a running partner). Also trips to the dog park on the weekends and probably an occasional training class.
With my cats I just went to the shelter and adopted them because the temperament wasn't as important, but I have had several friends who adopted shelter dogs and didn't get the kind of dog they thought they were getting. I wouldn't care if I didn't have the cats, but its important to me that the dog has been around cats and truly gets along with them.
I know a lot of this will depend not just on the breed but on the specific dog, but I was wondering if you guys could give me any good starting places to look for a breed, or suggestions on how to make sure I am getting what they say I'm getting if I adopt a dog from the shelter. I don't care if its a pure breed a pound mutt is fine with me. Because of my HOA there are breed restrictions, can't have a pit bull, rottweiler, or german shepard (though they would be too big anyway).
Re: Thinking of getting a dog, wanted some breed suggestions..
If I were in your position, I don't think I'd try to narrow down by breed at all. Especially if you go with a shelter mutt, the breed labels may be entirely wrong. I'd just make a list of "must-have" traits (size, cat-friendliness), and maybe "preferred traits," and head to a local shelter and ask to meet the dogs that meet what you're looking for.
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TBH, I think you could go with something like a dachshund or a beagle. Smaller hounds are *usually* not super high energy. That way you can also have a starting point and look at breed-specific rescues, tell them what you are looking for in a dog, and let them help you narrow it down.
Shelters will have some idea of a dog's personality. Rescues often have people foster their pets, so the foster parents will know more about a particular animal's disposition - including if he or she is friendly with other animals, children, is high energy, needs long walks, etc.
You could also just ask around to find rescues in your area which friends have used, and ask what dogs they have available. Many rescues are not breed-specific, but rescue all types of pets (...or at least dogs and cats). Good luck!
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We've always had beagles, and always had cats... but like the pp said, you would absolutely need to have a fenced yard. I wouldn't call it hunting they try to do, but more "seeking" as they sniff around, and if you don't have a fence they will just trot down the street following a scent and eventually get lost.
But for us, beagles have always been great with our cats. They take no interest in them really, and our current dog will only run at the cats in 2 instances (1) if one is about to escape from our yard (he thinks it's his job to herd it back) and (2) if the cats are fighting and hissing, he runs over to break it up. The thing that I like about beagles is that they are really tolerant, and not at all aggressive. I never have to worry about him getting angry and hurting the cats or my young son
Our beagle was adopted from the breeder when he was already just over 1. He had never been around cats, but he adjusted to a house with them seamlessly... like I said before, he pays no attention to them, and the beagle we had before him was even less interested. But that may just be my experience.
That said though, I would lean towards a rescue over a purebred as well, because they have a loyalty that money can't buy.
I wouldn't worry about the breed, per say. I'd put all of my effort into narrowing down the temperament that you want.
Every dog is going to have something- no dog comes perfect. Whether it's leash walking or chewing or housebreaking.
I have a shelter dog who is a pit bull. I know your HOA doesn't allow them (mine is a little iffy on them too but no one seems to think that is what she is).
I have had a few fosters- and some really did come from the shelter perfect. Others needed some TLC and work.
I would hook up with the adoption center at your USHS or with an all breed rescue and talk about what you are looking for. Go to adoption events, spend time with volunteers and dogs and see if you connect with a dog.
Most dogs are cat tested in the shelters, but a foster home with cats will likely be more ideal just to be safe. My most recent foster was tested as "cat safe" in the shelter but most definitely has a prey drive. I think he was too sick to care about the cat during his test and when he got healthy, he turned into a beast around cats!
I guess we've been lucky - we've never had a high energy beagle! (Out of 4.) Nor have we had a fenced yard. With the lower energy beagles, walking 1-3 miles a day, depending on the day, was enough exercise.
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