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A friend had an offer of a lost large dog pup needing a home and being the pushover I am, I was wondering if this was the time when the Angels have decided I am to have dog.
I guess not, though, for he was snapped up by other people.
But how does one determine whether or not a dog will be okay in a cathouse?
Cats in general are quite able to make sure a dog knows to leave them alone, if they want to be left alone. But, do some research on the breed. There are some breeds that have a more innate instinct to go after small game. In that case, the cat could be in trouble.
We have 3 cats. We are taking care of 2 of our sons dogs and have 3 of our own. 2 of the cats don't really like dogs so they stay upstairs. Dogs aren't allowed upstairs. 1 cat doesn't mind dogs, but a friendly Great Dane is still overwhelming so we make sure the dog leaves him alone.
As far as whether to get a dog or not. Dogs are a lot more work than cats. So just be aware of that. Are you prepared for the extra work that a dog requires?
Cats in general are quite able to make sure a dog knows to leave them alone, if they want to be left alone. But, do some research on the breed. There are some breeds that have a more innate instinct to go after small game. In that case, the cat could be in trouble.
We have 3 cats. We are taking care of 2 of our sons dogs and have 3 of our own. 2 of the cats don't really like dogs so they stay upstairs. Dogs aren't allowed upstairs. 1 cat doesn't mind dogs, but a friendly Great Dane is still overwhelming so we make sure the dog leaves him alone.
As far as whether to get a dog or not. Dogs are a lot more work than cats. So just be aware of that. Are you prepared for the extra work that a dog requires?
cd :O)
Sort of. I inherited Mom's Min. Rat Terrier and had her for few years when I was in the apartments. So I have been there with having a dog, taking them out on walks, taking them to the dentist to have their teeth straighten (actually, it was driving her an hour north to see the eye specialist). She lived with one of the cats who laid down the law, but Gizzy, the cat, is gone as well as that dog, never given a code name, so we shall call her ...... Lambchop!
The difference of then and now would be having the mud room, now, where the dog could be while I am away and separate from the cats. That, and if this situation had materialized, it would have been, eventually, a much bigger dog.
As far as pets go, the house is theirs as well. They, right now being the cats, are allowed to go where they want, on what they want.
As said, I am a pushover. The way I see it, when the Angels decide it is time for me to have a dog, they will send me one. A lost dog will find the 10 acre ranch, hope he has the smarts to avoid snakes!, and when no one claims him, he will be home.
Sort of. I inherited Mom's Min. Rat Terrier and had her for few years when I was in the apartments. So I have been there with having a dog, taking them out on walks, taking them to the dentist to have their teeth straighten (actually, it was driving her an hour north to see the eye specialist). She lived with one of the cats who laid down the law, but Gizzy, the cat, is gone as well as that dog, never given a code name, so we shall call her ...... Lambchop!
The difference of then and now would be having the mud room, now, where the dog could be while I am away and separate from the cats. That, and if this situation had materialized, it would have been, eventually, a much bigger dog.
As far as pets go, the house is theirs as well. They, right now being the cats, are allowed to go where they want, on what they want.
As said, I am a pushover. The way I see it, when the Angels decide it is time for me to have a dog, they will send me one. A lost dog will find the 10 acre ranch, hope he has the smarts to avoid snakes!, and when no one claims him, he will be home.
Unless you have the entire 10 acres fenced I wouldn't plan on just leaving the dog outside to roam and explore at will. Snakes aren't the only hazard s/he will likely encounter. I would bet strongly that you also have coyotes in the area, and even a large dog can be attacked by a pack. Your neighbors also might not like your dog visiting their properties unaccompanied.
Unless you have the entire 10 acres fenced I wouldn't plan on just leaving the dog outside to roam and explore at will. Snakes aren't the only hazard s/he will likely encounter. I would bet strongly that you also have coyotes in the area, and even a large dog can be attacked by a pack. Your neighbors also might not like your dog visiting their properties unaccompanied.
Good point and I was not intending to. Other people let their dogs roam free but that does not thrill me since I fear for them.
I have been thinking what area I could fence off that would be big enough for a dog to bound and roam.......and isn't upsetting to my forest view that I use for relaxation. The front part of the house footprint is one possibility as that the grass grows wild out there, beyond that in front of the house that I have to mowers keep down and those windows I do not use for meditation view.
As with anything, though, there are problems and I can think of at least two. First of all, wild boar have used their snouts out there and hence, an area for fencing to be broken down. Secondly, a 4-6 foot rattler was reported retreating into that region.....and I'm sure he's not the only one.
Ah, problems, problems but right, this is just a thinking exercise in case my magic moment, of the pitter patter of 4 feet, ever arrives at my place.
Interesting situation. Personally, I wouldn't want to live on 10 acres without a dog, more likely 2. Good dogs are more likely to keep those coyotes away than they are to be coyote prey. It does happen, tho. Usually to small dogs or out-of-shape and/or stupid dogs. The javalinas - I don't know.
I've got a few thoughts. You tended a miniature rat terrier for a spell. That should have been a dog with a high prey drive. They aren't always, but if it did, you know something about managing that with cats around. Some dogs, even more true with rescues, will have their prey drive "woken up" before they've met you. If the prey drive has been woken up, there is no going back. However, some smart and biddable dogs can be trained to deal with it. Some breeds don't have a bite-stop, or off-switch in their prey drive sequence. Example, any farm collie type should have, by instinct, a solid bite stop, which means they might use their teeth to nip or grip, but not to bite. Varies quite a bit by individual, and some by breed. OTOH, any rat terrier should NOT have ANY bite stop - meaning once an accident happens, the likelihood of a negative outcome is that much greater. Pit bull types also fit in this category. Retriever types should fit in the "bite-stop" category.
Knowledge of those potentials would help you be forewarned, and thus forearmed. Your mudroom separation thinking is right in line there.
Another thing about a minitiature rat terrier. They're small. Rat terriers are already small dogs. Miniatures are, well, miniature, right? So, less need for exercise. Not the same for a big dog. The increase in exercise requirements from 15 to 50 lbs is phenomenal. It isn't simple multiplication, like "oh, my 25 lb dog runs a mile, so my 50 lb dog should run 2". And when you get to bigger dog sizes - 70 lb and up - the exercise intensity can actually go back down, as overheating is easier in large dogs - but the exercise need is still there.
Fencing a yard. To keep my dogs safe, our fenced portion of my property is not more than a small house lot size. Maybe a 1/4 acre. Just enough for a potty area and some grass. I would love to have my whole 1.5 acres fenced, but can't afford it. It still would not be enough space for my dogs to "exercise" themselves. Your 10 acres would be - if they had the run of it. Nope, I take my 50 lb farmcollies for a 3 mile run, daily. And sometimes they get some work to do, as well.
A rat terrier tho, should be just fine on a couple of acres, assuming they have the run of it. Especially if that area contains some good critter hunt opportunities: squirrel, rat, woodchuck, what have you. Farmcollies will tend to be territorially centered, minding their territory, and returning to watch over it. Hound types will take a scent or a whim, go for a run, and not bother checking in for a few days. But these are broad generalizations. Everything varies by individual animals.
All that said, I would not count on the dog exercising itself - unless you have work for the dog to do - such as putting the cows out in the morning and bringing them back in evenings.
I know people that do exactly that (let their dogs exercise themselves), tho. Some neighbors about a 1/4 mile away let their large Lab roam free for years. However, he was large and muscular (90 lbs), especially fit for a Lab, and he was smart. He didn't bother people in their yards, stayed out of trouble, and always went home. Now, a few years back they bought a German Short-Haired Pointer pup - and there is no way they could ever allow that dog to do the same thing. That GSP girl just doesn't have that kind of smarts in her make-up. Another example is a hobby-farmer couple in town, with 8 acres, and a 70 lb Australian Shepherd. He's smart enough, and inclined enough, to know which property is his to watch over. And that is what he does - so he gets plenty of exercise on his own. So it can work.
As for the rattlers, I wouldn't be too concerned. They don't like being disturbed, and will attempt to get out of the way first. I suppose if you had the kind of dog who wasn't smart enough to avoid skunks and porcupines, you should also worry about rattlers - or other venomous snakes. My dogs have never been half the problem with snakes that my cats were. My cats have always seemed to regard any snake on the property as prey. Fortunately, I currently live in an area where poisonous snakes are quite rare. That wasn't always true. I've seen, living in other places, my share of water moccasins and copperheads on my property or where I hiked. Not many rattlers, except for a very few, very young ones. Not that the rattlers weren't there - they were very much there, and common in some areas, but, like I said, they don't like to be seen.
You know what? Thinking about this - if I had 10 acres and was considering letting my dog have the run of it - I would think the wisest thing would be to find and talk to some working-dog breeders and/or owners in my area. They would be familiar with the landscape and the critters on it, and would have practical experience in managing dogs on such property.
I appreciate the input and data BUT there is already a Project: DOG thread and I will put a lot of those questions there, such as if throwing ball works as well since I can't run anymore.
Since I believe that the animals and I live in the same space, my primary concern in this thread is about my cats in the house. They do get away with murder. They can go anywhere they please, they sharpen their claws where they want, there are some terrific cat screaming fights, 8 water dishes, 5 food dishes, 4 cans of wet food served a day, 5 kitty litters, etc, etc, etc..
To me, a "puppy", the one yesterday was about 6 months, would be better so the cats could lay down the law to him....but what do I know.
What's it like for a dog to move into a cathouse? What's it like for the slave girl?
I appreciate the input and data BUT there is already a Project: DOG thread and I will put a lot of those questions there, such as if throwing ball works as well since I can't run anymore.
Since I believe that the animals and I live in the same space, my primary concern in this thread is about my cats in the house. They do get away with murder. They can go anywhere they please, they sharpen their claws where they want, there are some terrific cat screaming fights, 8 water dishes, 5 food dishes, 4 cans of wet food served a day, 5 kitty litters, etc, etc, etc..
To me, a "puppy", the one yesterday was about 6 months, would be better so the cats could lay down the law to him....but what do I know.
What's it like for a dog to move into a cathouse? What's it like for the slave girl?
When my husband was alive we had three dogs and eight cats. The first dog was a Cardigan Welsh Corgi with a bit of hound thrown in. She adored the cats and they loved her right back - no tensions ever. The second dog was a combo of retriever mixes. She also loved the cats, and they loved her. The last dog was a combo Jack Russell terrier and Beagle but had absolutely no prey drive toward the cats, who just ignored her. All three came from local pounds and we just lucked out with their temperaments, I guess. The cats also got along very well and were pretty well-behaved, so that helped a lot. One cat did move out and went two houses down the street to a neighbors' house (she was a stray I had brought in from a rental I had) and the last cat was a stray that my husband picked up at the satellite uplink station where he worked. That cat never mingled much with the rest and was rather grumpy, but not aggressive.
. . . my primary concern in this thread is about my cats in the house. . . .
Sorry I didn't do a better job of addressing the basic question! I would be skeptical of any breed or breed mix that included terrier in it's name somewhere. High small animal prey drive.
OTOH, it REALLY all gets down to the individual dog's personality. You can check a dog's reaction to cats before you get serious about it and let them settle in. Any prey reaction should be a no-go. You might get away with some prey reaction in a farm-collie type - but why bother if you have a choice?
The dog is only going to "care" if they have a prey reaction or aggression towards cats. Otherwise, they're as likely to be buddies as not. We've had both cats and dogs in our house for the past few decades. One of the current dogs, a farmcollie, is the biggest problem we've ever had with the cats, as she has a strong herding drive - and she is willing to use her teeth to enforce her desires. She'd be good with cattle, I think. But for cats I've had to work hard with her to make sure she knows what I expect of her on this subject. Her brother, OTOH, is totally cool about the cats, and exhibits a more mothering/nurturing attitude.
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