Dog breeds that DON\u2019T get along with cats<\/h2>\n
Before we look at the best dog for cats, let\u2019s rule out some of the breeds that should never<\/em> be trusted with a cat. Now, there are clearly exceptions to every rule. But for safety\u2019s sake, it\u2019s best not to mix certain breeds of dog with a cat.<\/p>\n Dog breeds of the Terrier Group<\/a> were originally bred to hunt and kill vermin. Cats will instinctively run away from a pursuing dog, and this can trigger a terrier\u2019s instinct to chase. In particular, breeds such as the Jack Russell Terrier can be a problem with cats.<\/p>\n Once at my local livery stables, a visitor\u2019s Jack Russell Terriers were loose in the yard. They chased the stable owner\u2019s cat, which ran for shelter under a pile of wooden pallets. The dogs pursued the cat<\/a>, cornered it, and killed it. In this case, the combination of natural pack hunting behavior and the inbred tendency to catch and dispatch small furry things culminated in a tragic ending.<\/p>\n Dog breeds that are included in the Hound Group<\/a> are bred to chase prey. In particular, sighthounds such as greyhounds and whippets have a very strong instinct to pursue small, furry creatures, namely hares. However, many greyhounds will take off after a cat \u2013 it\u2019s what they\u2019re bred to do! Therefore, although it may seem like a noble cause to adopt a former racing greyhound, these dogs do not mix well with cats!<\/p>\n Dog breeds of the Herding Group are bred to herd anything that moves! That can include livestock, their owner, and their owner\u2019s kids too! Although it\u2019s unlikely that a Border Collie would harm your cat, Kitty would probably very quickly get fed up with this kind of game.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a list (not exhaustive) of dogs that are renowned for having a high prey drive. That means these breeds are not the best dogs for cats.<\/p>\n So, what about dogs that can be best mates with cats?<\/p>\n The following breeds are well-known for having amenable personalities. Generally, they get on very well with their feline friends.<\/p>\n However, there are always exceptions to every rule. For this reason, you must supervise your dog and cat closely for the first week or so that they are introduced. Always err on the side of caution! For the sake of mutual harmony, be sure to provide the cat with a safe place to go where she can\u2019t be pestered by the dog<\/a>, and vice versa!<\/p>\n The Beagle is the exception to the rule when it comes to dog breeds and cats! Beagles are small scenthounds that were originally bred to hunt. However, the breed does get on amazingly well with cats. Beagles tend to recognize their \u201cown\u201d cat. While they\u2019ll chase other cats out of your yard, they won\u2019t bother their familiar friend.<\/p>\n These are very friendly dogs and are great fun to own. However, if you are looking for your first dog, a Beagle might not be the best breed choice for you. Beagles can be difficult to train! These dogs are infamous for ignoring their owner\u2019s calls if they\u2019ve found an interesting scent to follow.<\/p>\n Also, although Beagles don\u2019t bark much, they do tend to howl. That could be a nuisance if you have close neighbors. Another thing to keep in mind is that Beagles are prone to gaining weight if they don\u2019t get enough exercise. So you\u2019ll need to be prepared to walk him at least twice a day.<\/p>\n The Bichon Frise is a jolly, extremely sociable small breed of dog that will probably view your cat as just another friend to play with. This will work out fine if you have a kitten or a young cat with plenty of energy who loves a game. However, if you have a senior cat or one who\u2019s very laid-back, a Bichon Frise might be a little too over the top.<\/p>\n The Bichon Frise has beautiful white fur that barely sheds at all, so he needs very little grooming. However, you\u2019ll need to trim and brush your Bichon Frise and bathe him regularly to keep his pristine white coat in perfect condition.<\/p>\n Bichons are great fun to have around, and they\u2019re really easy to train. Also, they don\u2019t bark much, which is an important consideration if you have to leave your dog home alone when you go to work. If you want a pint-sized companion to keep you and your young cat company, the Bichon might be your perfect pooch!<\/p>\n The Golden Retriever is a wonderful dog to have in a family home with kids and other pets. He is unlikely to chase your cat or get too rough when playing. Ultimately, he will regard your cat as just another member of his family. Golden Retrievers are extremely easy to train and are willing to have a go at just about any game, especially if it involves water! In fact, the breed originates from Scotland where they were trained as gun dogs, retrieving fowl from rough terrain and sometimes from water.<\/p>\n If you want a friendly, family-oriented, trainable canine companion that will get on with your cat, this could be a great choice. However, these are big dogs that won\u2019t be comfortable in a small apartment. You\u2019ll need plenty of space for these guys, including a yard. Also, they do need lots of exercise, so you\u2019ll need to be prepared to walk your retriever at least twice daily.<\/p>\n There are a few health problems to be aware of before you settle on a Golden Retriever as a pet. As with many large breed pedigree dogs, Goldens can suffer from elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia<\/a>, and PRA blindness<\/a>. Ask to see your pup\u2019s parents\u2019 hip score certificates. The closer to zero the score is, the better. Ideally, you want the score to be even. Also, some forms of cancer are thought to affect the Golden Retriever more than any other breed.<\/p>\n The Maltese is the smallest of the dog breeds that\u2019s known to get on with cats. Maltese are friendly and laid-back little dogs whose history is thought to go back hundreds of years. Maltese have always been bred to be companions and lap dogs, rather than working for a living! In fact, 17th century art often depicts these little dogs reclining on cushions or relaxing on their owner\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n Their habit of hanging out with their family (including the cat!) make them a great choice for the first-time dog owner. These dogs tend not to bother with cats at all, making them the perfect choice for a home where a senior cat is already a resident.<\/p>\n Just like the Golden Retriever, the Labrador is a laid-back kind of dude that loves to be part of the family. Labs are typically gentle, intelligent, and keen to please. They\u2019re also extremely easy to train. The Labrador is one of the gundog breeds. These dogs have been selectively bred as hunting companions since the early 1900s. They were used to retrieve shot game birds and return them to their handler without damage, so that the bird was fit for the table.<\/p>\n The Labrador has developed a soft mouth, natural retrieval instincts, and a wonderfully trainable and co-operative attitude. Labradors are great with cats, regarding them as just one of the family.<\/p>\n When I was a child, we had a black Labrador called Toby. Toby loved to play with our two cats! The cats would stalk the dog from under the sofa, rushing out and pouncing on him when he was fast asleep! Gentle old Toby simply woke up and joined in the game without complaint.<\/p>\n Like many large breeds, Labradors can be prone to a few health conditions, including elbow and hip dysplasia. For that reason, always ask to see your puppy\u2019s parents\u2019 hip score certificate to make sure he won\u2019t inherit this problem. Labs are notoriously greedy! Be sure to give your Lab the right amount of food and plenty of exercise so that he doesn\u2019t become overweight.<\/p>\n The best time to introduce your cat and dog is when both are babies. That way, the kitten and puppy grow up together, becoming best friends from the first day. Problems usually occur when introducing a dog to a household where a cat has been the only pet.<\/p>\n Cats can be quite territorial, and many new pooches have received a swipe across the nose for being too curious. In particular, a bouncy new puppy might not get a warm welcome from a senior cat who just wants a quiet life! It\u2019s a good idea to place the cat in a cage when the new dog is brought in. Put the cage with its back to a wall, and cover the top, back, and sides of the cage with a cloth so that your cat can only be approached from the front. Your new dog and cat can then meet through the barrier of the cage. This will ensure that the dog can\u2019t chase the cat, and the cat can\u2019t attack the dog!<\/p>\n I found this method worked well when I brought my rescue cat home to meet his new housemate, my dog Jess. After some initial sniffing, Jess became bored with the newcomer and wandered off. The cat realized that the dog wouldn\u2019t hurt him and soon settled down to sleep. When the cage was opened and the cat released, he and Jess got on just fine.<\/p>\n If you already have a cat living in your home and you\u2019re planning on adding a dog to the mix, be sure to choose a breed that won\u2019t clash with your feline family member! Avoid breeds that are bred to hunt and chase. The ideal method of introduction is for both animals to be babies. If that\u2019s not possible, make sure that your cat has a quiet place to go if she wants to get away from the new doggy arrival.<\/p>\n Tell us your story about how they were introduced and how they get on in the comments section below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What\u2019s the best dog for cats? This is something you must know if you are thinking of having a multi-pet household that includes both cats and dogs. You\u2019ve probably heard the phrase, \u201cfighting like cats and dogs.\u201d But that doesn\u2019t have to be the case if you make the right choice of canine companion for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":23491,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faq"],"yoast_head":"\nTerriers<\/h2>\n
Sighthounds<\/h2>\n
Herding dogs<\/h2>\n
Dogs with a high prey drive<\/h2>\n
\n
Best dogs for cats<\/h2>\n
![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/best-dog-for-cats-tall.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Beagle<\/h2>\n
Bichon Frise<\/h2>\n
Golden Retriever<\/h2>\n
The Maltese<\/h2>\n
Labrador Retriever<\/h2>\n
Mixing cats and dogs<\/h2>\n
Best dog for cats \u2013 summary<\/h2>\n
Do you have a cat and a dog?<\/h2>\n