Best dog with v nervous older cats and small children, also puppy or rescue??

[ExpatAgain]

I've been reading up and asking around about dogs but have never owned one. DS1 wants a puppy, ideally lab and we have 2 extremely nervous cats (quite elderly) to factor in also.

What breeds are good with cats and small kids? We don't want TOO small as want it partly as a guard dog (don't live in the UK and it helps where we are), very partly but we want a dog which looks the part and will bark when needed as well as being an all-round family pet. Asking too much??

Most people I've asked recommend getting a pup from a good breeder as being a safer bet in terms of health/personality than getting a rescue. Not entirely convinced about this, especially as we have rescue cats but don't want to take too many chances.

Any help appreciated! thanks.

anyone?

Big no to puppies with nervous cats from me. How old are your children? Toddlers + puppy = living hell, ime.

How about a cat tested Staffordshire Bull Terrier from a rescue? If you tell them your cats are nervous they will make sure to match with one who will ignore your cats.

What DMC said.

Lots of dogs in Rescue have already lived with cats and are cat savvy. You need fairly confident cats to cope with a puppy. The last thing you want is for a boisterous pup to give your poor old chaps the heebie jeebies so much that they leave home.

we have young feisty cats and one of those left home for quite a while when we got the puppy, he is back now but at a year old the pup stills tries to play with him constantly. I think puppies are a bit much for cats, very full on.

What dooin said.

A puppy will make a nervous cat's life hell. Also there are far more guarantees with an adult dog who has been assessed by an experienced rescue, particularly if he has come from a home environment as is often the case, than there are in buying a puppy - with a pup you have no idea how he is going to grow up, whereas an older dog's personality is already formed.

A dog from a reputable and responsible rescue will be assessed, neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, matched to the new owner and vice versa, bringing with him a lifetime's support and an agreement that the rescue will take the dog back should the owner not be ablt to keep him, even if that's in 10 years time. A responsible rescue will also home check which is as much for YOUR benefit as the dog's, so they can identify and iron out any potential problems before they start and assess whether the dog you have chosen is right for your family and environment.

We got our dog when she was 6 months old from a rescue.

She had been handed in by a family so totally used to kids and so fine with DS who was 3 at the time.

She is also scared of our elderly timid cat

She is a retriever but would be hopeless as any kind of guard dog as she loves everyone.

Rescues do have a lot of dogs who are simply handed in by families who split up or can't afford the dog anymore or just realise it too much work so definitely worth speaking to them.

thanks, that's very helpful Our kids are 5 & 10 so not toddlers which should help.

I'm confused though - a friend swears by puppies for cats and training them up, checking their character via breeder etc. Just called local rescue place, not super helpful and said they can't guarantee that the info they have on a dog is correct, fair enough i guess, but not good enough for dh!

we live in a developing country so some of the stray dogs have been exposed to all sorts, poor things, but dh only wants to get a dog which has been in a proper home as less risk to kids/cats.

Ah I had presumed you were in the uk. I don't know how rescues in other countries asses their dogs.

The thing is puppies want to play, no matter what their character is or how much training you give them a young puppy will want to play. Cats generally do not like to play with young puppies.

They are also going to be more curious about this strange new creature than an older dog who has lived with cats before.

I have the sweetest, quietest puppy in the world (and the most beautiful too ), she has never had the nightmare period of jumping, mouthing, chewing and general hyperactivity that most puppies go through. The cat is her best mate, infact I believe she thinks she is a cat half the time. She still has her daft half an hour. The cat still will not stay on the floor when this is going on.