9:47 -- Ahhh, yeah...with the cats box checked I also get Dobermans and Bull Terriers along w/ all the Labs...thinking not so accurate...

To the OP: Maybe a Keeshond? or, Golden Retriever?

Anonymous wrote:OP here - We were thinking of starting w/ a puppy rather than an adult, so he/she is socialized w/ the cats growing up.

Also, any general or breed differences between neutered male or spayed females.

Honestly, breed is not the way to go with this, nor sex. You want to search for a dog who has been tested with cats and has done well.

https://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?location=washington%2C+dc&animal=dog&distance=25&household=cats

You can search Petfinder for cat tested dogs - you can narrow by age, too, if you do want a puppy:

https://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?location=washington%2C+dc&animal=dog&breed=&age=baby&age=young&filtersUpdated=true&distance=25&household=cats&name=

Anonymous wrote:Adopt an adult dog that has previously lived with cats or has done well in a foster situation with cats. That is the best bet here since even within a breed dogs vary wildly in their reaction to cats.

+1 to this - you can search on Petfinder for dogs who are good with cats. This means that they've been in foster living with cats and have done well - or that the shelter has cat tested them and they've done well.

https://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?location=washington%2C+dc&animal=dog&distance=25&household=cats

Tons and tons and tons of wonderful options

Anonymous wrote:9:10 -- Soooo very helpful... Question was about breeds, not age.

Just trying to save you from yourself! Hope you get a great puppy! A labradoodle sounds perfect for you.

9:10 -- Soooo very helpful... Question was about breeds, not age.

Cocker spaniel

Any of the poo mixes really. Don't expect the cat to like it.

Of course you want a puppy. Ten people tell you to get an adult that is a known quantity, and one person says their high-prey-drive puppy turned out OK (they were lucky), and you think the puppy is the best solution. why bother asking?

OP here - We were thinking of starting w/ a puppy rather than an adult, so he/she is socialized w/ the cats growing up.

Also, any general or breed differences between neutered male or spayed females.

Get a puppy. Our Eskie gets along with our 17yo cat who is the boss, of course.

Anonymous wrote:Not terriers.

This is generally true -- everyone told us never to leave our JRT alone with a cat. However, he loved cats and would sleep curled up with one in his bed. That cat would nurse the hair behind his ear and he just loved her. I think it really depends on the individual dog which is why having one with cat experience is so important, especially the bigger the dog.

Adopt an adult dog that has previously lived with cats or has done well in a foster situation with cats. That is the best bet here since even within a breed dogs vary wildly in their reaction to cats.

Not terriers.

A submissive one. One from a foster that has been successfully living with cats with no reaction.

We have a 20 lb mutt and our cats rule him with an iron fist. I'd avoid a really big dog myself.

Soooo... The DCs have decided that we need a dog ("not something smaller than our catsI am good w/ dogs as long as we spend the time on training. However, we have Maine Coons and we're trying to figure out the best breed to join the established social structure. Thoughts?