What sort of dog is sensible?

[Feckitall]

DH and I are seriously insane considering getting a dog. We lost our lovely old boy 2 years ago. Neither of us could face the thought until recently I said never again ... We thought once the twats have had their xmas puppies and dumped them we might get something from shelter. So, we are only at thinking stage.

Both our previous Ddogs were from shelters but we were just lucky and they had pups when we visited and we were only half looking ...So actively looking for a dog is new to us. What should we look for?
so...
Pro:
DH is home all day (retired)
I work F/T so we can afford it
Large secure garden well it will be secure when I fix the hole
We live on the edge of town so plenty of rural areas nearby, plus parks etc
Had dogs before (Springer x collie and GSD x collie ) and both were child/cat friendly.
I am fit/healthy
No DC (grown up & DGC only visit 2-3 times a year)
I can walk before/after work/days off and DH while I'm at work.

Con:
2 x cats
DH disabled, although he has scooter to take Ddog out. last dog thought he was a husky Not overly mobile and prone to falls if something gets under foot cats are on a murder mission

So happy to have an fairly active Ddog, needs to be cat friendly .


So what do you reckon? Breeds to look out for? Best age to look for? Another collie x?

[WhoKnewBeefStew]

Most shelters will know if their dogs are cat friendly or not

[madvixen]

I might get flamed for this but have you considered a Rottweiler?

They are quite lazy dogs so don't need a huge amount of exercise but they're super intelligent. I have a disability and can have mobility issues and my big lad is trained to help me get up if I have a fall and stand at the side of the bath to help me get out of I need it. They're often a breed that gets overlooked due to reputation but they may be worth considering. Oh and my last one was terrified of cats so they bullied him relentlessly 😂

[Feckitall]

madvixon Admittedly the only Rottie I know was an utter wimp!

[Shadow1234]

I think 'Westies' are lovely dogs, and generally have nice temperaments.

[Doggydoggydoggy]

I have a border collie.

I absolutely love her and for me, it’s only collies and GSDs.
I don’t think I would really consider anything else.

That said, generally speaking I would not advise a collie or collie mix for a home with cats.

I do also have a cat but the introduction of her as a kitten was terrifying and truth be told I thought I would have rehome kitten.

She wanted to munch her so bad she would actually drool and shake!
She would stalk her and nipped the end of her tail once.
She understood fairly quickly kitten was not for eating so resigned herself to grabbing a toy when kitten jumped at her and shaking and biting the shit out of it.
I am quite sure that really, she actually wanted to badly do that to the kitten but knew she would be in big trouble if she dared....

They get on fine now but never in a million years would I ever label her ‘cat friendly’ despite liking our cat.

[Doggydoggydoggy]

And I wouldn’t say she is an unusual example either.
Most of the collies I have met I have been highly prey driven.
Which isn’t at all surprising of course when you consider that herding is really hunting without the ripping..

[Beerincomechampagnetastes]

I think a dog that wears glasses is probably sensible

[snowone]

I would NOT recommend a cocker spaniel....as much as we love our bundle of joy he is very energetic and daft. He also chases our cats - not to eat them, just for fun!!

[Jazzhan]

I would say you would need a relatively sedentary dog, so I'd go for a lap dog. You're working, your dh is disabled, I wouldn't be getting a labrador for e.g.

[Jazzhan]

snowone, my cocker used to chase birds. An utterly pointless exercise. He was supposed to be a gun dog. On his first gun exercise, he came squealing back home after the first shot. Big baby. He hadn't been reared long enough with the mother I think. Me also being a big baby, minded him like a baby as he had been 'traumatised'

[Jazzhan]

My personal favourites are chihuahuas. They're little arseholes who think they're big DAWGS. Apart from their attitudes, they're not terribly high maintenance and can give the interaction you might want. They are very vocal about their needs and wants and just being arseholes in general. Think small man syndrome. They are expensive however and you would definitely need insurance, chipping, collar and anything else you could possibly think of as they are often stolen.
But to keep you company, their shit assed attitude is like having a teenager in the house. I would really recommend them.

[FabulouslyGlamorousFerret]

A Great Dane .. t sounds like you have the space and time, an adult one would be perfect and won't 'get under' your disabled DH's feet. They are a fabulous dog.

[FabulouslyGlamorousFerret]

www.greatdaneangels.org/needs-a-home/

Gino is beautiful 💙

[Hoppinggreen]

I wants him!
(DH and Ddog woud not be happy though)
Used to have to have a Great Dane and they are pretty chilled and you can’t really trip over then

[CMOTDibbler]

I think that with your dhs reduced mobility, you'd be better looking for an older dog - all puppies are gits, and toilet training (and the necessary cleaning up) plus nice walking next to the scooter etc would be hard going.
How about a lurcher? They are a size that doesn't get underfoot, are happy hanging around the house with someone but equally love getting out and about - and loads in rescue of all ages. Many are cat friendly (we have two lurchers and three cats)

[Whoseranium]

If your DH is going to the be the one at home with the dog most of the time then it would probably be easier to go for an adult dog that's well past the the puppy and adolescent stages. Larger might be better than smaller in terms of not getting under foot.

If you're planning on going to a general (i.e. not breed specific) shelter then I'd just go with an open mind and see which dogs there are available that would suit your circumstances.

There are also loads of smaller, foster based rescues which are well worth looking at as well. Most these days use FB to list the dogs they have available. Again, I'd just look and judge the dogs on their own merits rather than their breed.

[Jazzhan]

A great dane for a disabled man? Seriously?

[GertrudeCB]

A Lab or lab cross? Ours is as daft as a brush, really enjoyed his walks but also loves an afternoon snooze and has self trained to brace himself so I can lean on him when going up the stairs ( I'm also mildly disabled)

[bridgetosomewhere]

How about a lurcher / cross?
We have one of those although I am unsure of the crosses - he's all sorts in one. Half an hour running around then he sleeps all day and is fab with kids. He's also the cutest most cuddly dog ever.

Shelter dogs should have been cat tested.

I always think a mongrel makes a good pet having had two border collies who were hyper and prone to jumping and pulling really hard on their leads! This dog walks beside me and I keep thinking I've lost him because he is behind me at heel!

[Floralnomad]

You need something medium to large as that seems to be easier to walk from a scooter . I know two scooter using dog owners and they both have collie x , one is x springer and the other x Gsd .

[Feckitall]

Thanks folks...it's giving me some direction..
Our previous dogs were crosses with collie and fine with cats so as with most dogs it does depend on the actual animal..

[FabulouslyGlamorousFerret]

@Jazzhan

A great dane for a disabled man? Seriously

Yep, seriously. My uncle had a neurological disease and they purposefully got a GD as it walked beautifully next to his electric wheelchair without getting under the wheels, he also was probes to falling and tripping a) he didn't trip over the dog as it was so big and 'obvious' and b) he used to steady himself on his dog when he did walk. They had an amazing bond and understanding.

Op has said she will to the majority of the walks

[Icklepup]

A greyhound! They wouldn't pull or not much.. they like their strolls

[fartwhenyoustandup]

A greyhound. Lazy, low maintenance and desperately overlooked when it comes to rehoming. Also apparently very loving family dogs, great with cats and children.

We just got a Lhasa Apso pup after much research. She's a little bundle of energy at the moment, but will grow in to a lovely little family dog. Apparently, again.
She's great with our 3 children, needs little exercise, but is high maintenance in the grooming side and quite vocal at times too.

[wheelwarrior]

Also consider what type of mobility scooter your DH has .I have all terrain one and my lab boy walks well next to me .Just use longer lead

But am in wheelchair indoors to so no issues tripping by getting under feet as puppy but he was a real land shark

I find it harder seeing small dogs if the come up side of scooter to try play with my boy and am paranoid about accidently hitting one