Some dog breeds are better in households with felines, so if you have cats and are planning to get a puppy, you need to consider a few aspects first. Even if there are a few dog breeds that will be more problematic to have in a house full of cats, a proper training and early socialization can solve a few issues and help the dog integrate in the household, making sure your cats are safe.
Dog Breeds that Are Good with Cats
If a puppy is introduced gradually and from an early age to a household with cats, he is very likely to get along with them. However, there are some dog breeds that are said to be better with cats. These breeds include:
- Beagles
- Cocker Spaniels
- Golden Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
- Newfoundland
- Old English Sheepdog
- Samoyed
These dogs are considered cat friendly and are famous for their gentle temperament and are also intelligent, being able to adapt to new situations easily. However, there may be a few exceptions, depending on the personality of each individual dog and the cats that you have.
Dog Breeds Not Recommended for Houses with Cats
Many vets will advise against getting certain dog breeds if you have cats. The list includes:
- Pit bulls
- Greyhounds
- Parson Russell Terriers or Jack Russell Terriers, being considered the least cat friendly dog breed
- Border Collie, which is surprising, as these dogs are very friendly, but due to the fact that this is a herding breed, the dog may be tempted to chase the cats. However, the conflicts are typically benign.
- Weimaraners, which tend to be extremely aggressive with cats
- Cairn Terrier
- German Pinscher
- Irish Terrier
- Rottweiler
- Welsh Terrier
These dogs may be more aggressive towards cats and conflicts may arise. However, there may be exceptions to this rule. For instance, there have been reported cases of Pit Bulls that live with cats and are very friendly around them. You should also remember that the number of reported cats killed by Pit Bulls is also high. The upbringing of the dog is essential and typically, dogs that are raised to be aggressive will present a threat to cats.
The Bottom Line of Cats and Dogs
Whether the dog you get will get along with your cats, depends on a series of factors including the dog breed, his personality, his age and whether the personality of the dog is compatible with the personality of the felines.
Even if there are certain dog breeds that will adapt better and get along with felines, all dogs can be trained to accept felines and live in a household of cats without harming them. The problem occurs more often when training the cats to accept the dog, as cats seem to be more temperamental. Positive and early socialization is essential to make sure your new puppy will not be threat for the cats.