Possible new dog owner

[Wish]

I will start with me 49 work from home 4 days a week. Wife works 2 mornings for a vet practise.
Grown up son 22.

We have a good size house and large garden, house is opposite wildlife reserve with lots of walk ways and open spaces ideal for a dog.

We have narrowed it down to a Toy Poodle. It seems to fit with us.

However we have 2 Persian cats, do you think this could be a problem?

Anyone with a toy poodle offer any advise, we’ve never owned a dog before.


Many thanks

[rxe]

I know nothing about poodles, but if a puppy grows up with an existing cat, they are generally fine. The cat is big enough to get away, and the puppy learns that the cat is not to be trifled with.

[dundarach]

Dogs are smarter than humans at getting what they want.

They're masters at clever mind games and know exactly where and when to strike.

Never let your guard down!

If you understand this, never change the rules, never break, you'll be fine

[Simpo Two]

I would never introduce a dog to a house with a resident cat. Some friends of mine did this (the dog was a very bouncy cockerpoo puppy). The cat was terrified, ran upstairs and spent the rest of its life in a spare bedroom with cat litter trays. 'It could come down if it wants to' said the owners... The cat would venture halfway down, then the dog would see it and the cat would run back up. I felt so sorry for the cat. I don't think it was ever able to get out again because it would have to cross the room with the dog in it.

OP, I can only say - think of your existing pets, not just what *you* want.

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 20th June 09:06

[Ladders]

Took our young cockapoo round to my brothers who owned a cat. He’d been brought up as a puppy by a breeder who had lots of other types of animals and let them interact.

When he met the cat he was very interested in the cat and wanted to ‘make friends!’ The cat pawed at him a few times, then wandered off bored

I think you should be ok if they are introduced to each other slowly and get used to each other.

[Wish]

Thanks all

I’ve decided against it. I’m not comfortable around dogs and as much as my wife would like a dog I just don’t think it’s for me.

[7mike]

Over the last two months we have lost both of our dogs. We still have three cats though. Maybe we were lucky but they all got on well. We're in no rush but will probably look for a rescue dog in the next few months. Having cats in the house wouldn't put me off one bit, we'll just need a younger dog to make it easier for the cats to train

[oldagepensioner]

Simpo Two said:

I would never introduce a dog to a house with a resident cat. Some friends of mine did this (the dog was a very bouncy cockerpoo puppy). The cat was terrified, ran upstairs and spent the rest of its life in a spare bedroom with cat litter trays. 'It could come down if it wants to' said the owners... The cat would venture halfway down, then the dog would see it and the cat would run back up. I felt so sorry for the cat. I don't think it was ever able to get out again because it would have to cross the room with the dog in it.

OP, I can only say - think of your existing pets, not just what *you* want.

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 20th June 09:06

When i lived with my parents back in the 80s we had the opposite problem.My dad had always wanted a German shepherd.When he finally got one as soon as she stepped into the conservatory our resident cat promptly swiped her across the nose leaving her with a scar for the rest of her life.After that they just avoided each other.However we then took in my sisters cat who was living in a tiny flat in Bromley.This cat and the German shepherd then became the best of friends even to the point of curling up together asleep and to make itself comfortable the cat would do that thing that cats do with their front paws on the dogs stomach to get comfy.

[nordboy]

We've got 3 dogs and two cats. They all get on well, in fact our one cat and the two 'larger, younger' dogs get on really well. The cat comes into the house and immediately goes to look for the dogs to say hello.

They were all introduced at various points over the last 6 yrs or so, the timeline went Cat 1, Dog 1, Cat 2, dog 2, dog 3. Dog 3 was my MIL's older grumpier dog that I promised to look after when the MIL passed away.

They all get on well together in general, either that or when they can't be bothered, they'll make that well known (non aggressively) and they all go their separate ways.