Ok, after my dog died a few years ago (i left her with my mom instead of unsettling her) my mom is thinking of getting another dog. She works in the morning but is back by lunch time and then works again for a couple of hours in the evening. My little brother is 10 years old so it would have to be a dog good with children and my two aged 9 and 5 go up there too. She has a garden which is always a plus. She also has a cat which would prefer not to be hunted :hihi: She rarely goes away, once a year at most. I am trying to talk her into taking a rescue instead of going for a pup, something young but already house trained.

Any suggestions?

Lots of staffys on here looking for a new home that are young, and good with other animals, they are also renowned for being good with children :)

a dog who has come from a home where divorce or 'domestic arrangements' as it's reason for rehoming, having come from a family with kids and cats...

Have a look at www.rainrescue.co.uk , and check back regularly - it's updated almost daily :thumbsup:

I aggree totally with a staffy Or to use their nick name a nanny dog.

She won't have a staffy :rolleyes: doesn't trust them. Thanks will check out the websites for her as she doesn't have the internet. I just wondered if there would be any breeds best around children.

I just wondered if there would be any breeds best around children.

Yup - Staffies ! Hence the nickname carpetviper refered to 'Nanny Dogs'

Failing that, anything other than a Terrier !! Can be little monkeys around children

Have you thought of getting a whippet or retired greyhound? Contrary to popular belief they don't need much exercise. As long as they're fed, watered and get about 30 mins run a day they're happy.

Have you thought of getting a whippet or retired greyhound? Contrary to popular belief they don't need much exercise. As long as they're fed, watered and get about 30 mins run a day they're happy.

I thought retired greyhounds weren't recommended for homes with cats :confused:

I thought retired greyhounds weren't recommended for homes with cats :confused:

Not always the case - the big issue for racing greyhounds is that they will pursue anything they see at a distance and give chase- so no off-lead exercise in the park ...or wide open spaces where they can chase smaller 'prey' - cats and smaller dog breeds need somewhere they can retreat to in safety.

If properly introduced and supervised, cats and greyhounds can get along fine. Obviously, you cannot just assume a greyhound will immediately be OK with smaller family pets and it does involve a little work but this is all part and parcel of socialising and getting your new dog used to its new surroundings - most racing greyhounds have been brought up in kennels and have simply been trained to run like the wind...

I think the recommendation is to have a dog gate or some other means of separating the 2 species in the event that the greyhound becomes too interested in the furry feline, but usually, the rescue societies have a good idea whether or not a specific retired greyhound will be OK with cats and will only home with cats where they feel there is no threat.

If it wasn't for the dobermutt being such a drama-queen and jealous git, I would seriously consider rehoming a greyhound - it pains me to know so many are destroyed un-necessarily once their short racing careers are over - and this is someone who was traumatised as a child having watched a greyhound rip my beloved cat to pieces... (outdoors mind, the greyhound was stupidly let off leash by the girl who was walking it and she did not realise my cat was close by on the ground).

Not so convinced a house rabbit would be safe though.

Here's some info about cats and greyhounds

http://www.greyhoundsinneed.f9.co.uk/bulletinboard/BulletinGreyhoundCatintros.htm

http://www.greyhounds4u.co.uk/catdetraining.html

http://www.gurk.demon.co.uk/oxfordgreyhoundtrust/cats.htm

Try a retriever, or hound type ... they have gentle a nature

I'd recommend a cavalier, good with children, not that fussed whether they go for walks, and not too highly strung to be left for short periods.

I agree with scoop we have a cavalier they are wonderful with kids and lovely companions.