- Introduction
- Top breeds that get along best with cats
- Tips on how to train your dog and cat to be friends
- Conclusion
“Living like a cat and a dog.” This is a saying that almost everyone knows. It is often said about people who are constantly fighting and can never come to a common point of view. Why exactly a cat and a dog? Always people have noticed that cats with dogs do not get along, that’s why this turn of phrase appeared. The fact is that the psychology of cats and dogs is significantly different. We all know the fact that dogs are mostly very friendly animals, able to obey, sympathize and have fun. As for cats, here the situation is somewhat different. Cats are usually very free-spirited and reserved in expressing their feelings, they like to decide with whom to play and whether to play at all, what and when to eat, where, with whom and how to walk, when they can be stroked and when not, in other words, cats are very independent and tend to show their character.
Not so long ago, such a contrast in the characters of a dog and a cat made it impossible for them to coexist under one roof, so people avoided trying to get both a cat and a dog, and tried to choose between one or the other option. But is it really as impossible as it seems?
Top breeds that get along best with cats
As it turns out, it’s not that difficult. There are dog breeds that are actually so friendly that they get along even with honorable cats. Next, let’s take a look at 10 dog breeds that can get along well with a cat.
Beagle
Opening our top are the kind and loyal dogs of the Beagle breed. They are prone to friendly relations with others. It is extremely difficult to bring them to a state of aggression. These dogs will get along well with cats, as they have a malleable character. Beagles are natural bird hunters, so throughout history, hunters have constantly used them for hunting. However, this hunting excitement does not extend to cats, except under game conditions. Beagles have always hunted in packs, so cohesive and friendly relations were established between its members for successful hunting, this taught them to be easy friends with other animals.
Golden Retriever
The retriever is also a hunting breed of dog. They are friendly, sweet and affectionate animals. The characteristic feature of these animals is high sensitivity, so they are easy to offend, but they forgive quickly too. Despite their large and slightly intimidating size, they get along well with anyone. They love attention, socialization and appreciate spending time with their owner. They are also great with small children. These dogs are not only the best friends for everyone in the family, but also for other pets, and cats are no exception. So if you want to find a friend for your cat, retrievers are a great option.
Spitz
They are wonderfully funny and lovable creatures. The Spitz is a very kind and playful dog who never mind playing with you or other pets. These fluffy lumps can hardly be dangerous to anyone as they are very friendly. But it should be noted that these dogs are very energetic and sometimes noisy, so your kitty will definitely not be bored with such a companion.
Basset Hound
At first glance they give the impression of a lazy, tired and stern dog. However, despite this gloomy expression of the face, they are very kind and sociable dogs. They have a strong enough physique, but small in size. These dogs do not like to be alone, so they never need a companion. Cats get along well with Basset Hounds, as they are quite calm and unobtrusive dogs. They are usually calm, but will defend their mate if there is danger.
Poodle
In the distant past, poodles were not really poodles, but water retrievers, and that’s where their name “pudel” came from, which is German for splashing in water. This doggie can become a true friend for any person. The poodle will not leave indifferent to any household, so if you have a kitty at home, they will definitely not be bored. This breed of dog combines liveliness and at the same time nobility and affection, which they inherited from their great ancestors – retrievers.
Bichon Frise
Also were favorites of royal families. They are small but sturdy and active dogs. They like to play and spend active vacations and it does not matter with whom. A cat would be a good option for shared leisure time. Bichons easily enough survive and short loneliness, so if the cat does not want to play, the dog will easily find another occupation, or just lie down to rest near his companion.
Pug
The appearance of pugs may make you think that they are aggressive and cruel dogs, but in fact this is not the case at all. This breed appeared more than 2 thousand years ago in China, and even there they became favorites among the nobility. They have a calm and friendly character, but are capable of mischief and under certain circumstances are very playful and active. These traits make them somewhat similar to cats, which is probably why they often get along with each other.
Maltese Bologna
Maltese, as they are also called, have a royal past. They have always been great friends of people. They have a calm character and love to lie down, which to some extent relates them to cats. These dogs have combined not only a soft character, but also guarding qualities, so if a cat becomes the best friend of a representative of this breed, he will definitely be safe. Despite their small size, bolognese are quite bold and self-confident.
Collie
Among the dogs are medium to large in size, so they are considerably larger than cats. However, this does not prevent them from being warmly friendly with each other. Collies are positive, active and friendly dogs. They are not the type that will get bored, so if they feel that a companion is not burning with the desire to continue having fun, they will quietly switch to another activity.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
These dogs are small in size, which helps the cat feel relaxed and safe among such companions. The peculiarity of their character is their tendency to adapt easily. This is the main reason why they quickly get used to cats. They are moderately active and will give you and other pets a rest. However, of them are such guards, as they too warmly greet new people and animals.
Each of these breeds has many characteristics that set them apart from each other, which is where their originality and uniqueness lies. However, all these traits help them to have a lot of friends and find an approach even to introverted animals, which to some extent can include cats.
An interesting fact is that too active breeds of dogs, which can sometimes annoy and irritate a calm cat, usually very easily forgive a sharp reaction on his part, which helps them to remain friends forever. And if we talk about breeds that are calm in themselves, then the cat does not have to be nervous about them. Nature itself has adjusted their characters to each other.
Tips on how to train a dog and a cat to be friends
If you have worries about how the animals will interact when they meet, we have some tips to help you avoid trouble.
– The first thing we would like to advise is that you should accustom your dog to contact with cats from childhood. If the animals get used to each other at the early stages of psychological development, it will avoid unwanted conflicts in the future and help their friendship to be stronger.
– Do not try to force the animals to be friends when they first meet. Give them time to get used to each other and adapt. This process may be easier and faster for the dog, but the cat may need more time, especially if the dog is very active and spoiled.
– It is best to avoid trying to pair an aggressive and large breed of dog with a cat or cats. Such breeds include Rottweilers, Dobermans, pit bull terriers and others. Although these breeds are often trained, cats can be disliked, especially if they have not had contact with them from birth.
– The first attempts of contact between dog and cat can be done in the presence of a movie therapist if you are unsure or worried. After all, these people know exactly how to do it correctly, will give you important advice and help you in case of aggression from either side.
– If the animals behave calmly, do not arrest relative to each other, it will not be superfluous to give them a treat.
Conclusion
Each animal is special and requires an individual approach, they need understanding, comfort and protection, so observe the process of acquaintance of your favorites, take into account their needs and signals, do not be too insistent, so that Tails feel relaxed and calm. We advise you to consult a professional to minimize the occurrence of negative experiences.
