Help please, I Don't want to loose our pup

I would look for an adult shelter dog that's been tested with other dogs, cats, and kids.

A smaller breed probably, low energy, low grooming, etc.

I really wouldn't recommend a Poodle with a young child, and cats. I also would suggest an ADULT dog because a puppy sounds like it would be too much for you at this point.

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

And, next time, whether you get a pup or an adult dog, please go to class and learn how to train the dog.  This pup should not have been given freedom in the home without first learning basic commands and manners.

 
Sigh,  Again someone doesn't read what I post.  The dog was in training since we got him. There were boundries placed on the dog. I did not "dump" the dog and it's cruel of you to say that I did. He was placed with someone with the experience to help him with his condition. 
 
If you aren't going to bother to read the post without some high and mighty attitude then don't bother to reply.  I may not be a breeder or some other professional dog handler but I'm not some flake who gets a pet for kicks then dumps the dog when the dog pees on the floor or digs up a prize rose. I posted here because I was looking for additional ideas to help with the dog. If I was some irresponsible flake I wouldn't have taken the time to post.  In fact, I was 2 years into vet school and working with a highly regarded Dr in his clinic before a horrible car accident forced a career change so I am not a newbie with handling dogs, cats, birds, horses, cows, sheep, ect... heck I even assisted with a tarantula surgury.
 
I don't think anyone can claim expertise with animal behavior just because they might have experience in one area.  Which is why I posted here to get additional information. I already had a vet, trainer and breeder available but actual dog owners have a different out look and some times think of things the "experts" don't think of.  No one thought he had brain damage, not even the vet, until the cat incident caused the vet to look deeper than an obedience problem. 
 
Enough said.
 
 
 
 

ORIGINAL: Dulce Pit Bull

I really wouldn't recommend a Poodle with a young child, and cats. I also would suggest an ADULT dog because a puppy sounds like it would be too much for you at this point.

I've heard mixed things about poodles with other pets and with children. Most seem to indicate that they'd be a good match. Why were you recommending against it?  My grandmother always had kids around her poodles and I think there was only 1 bitting incident and it was provoked.  A bratty neighbor kid tried to stab one with a pencil in the eye and got a nipped finger for his troubles and then my grandma threatened to string him up by his ears if he ever came close to her babies again.

I agree with your assessment of a small breed, low energy though the grooming is ok either way with me. The dog would spend most of his time with me and I love grooming as well as I have multiple good groomers in the area. A weekly trip to the groomer for pampering wouldn't be out of the question if needed.  My lasa enjoyed weekly trips to the groomer (in fact they went a few times a week).

ORIGINAL: Chuffy

.  Lots of dogs are surrendered to shelters or returned to their breeders through no fault of their own, are past the pesky puppy/adolescent stages and already have some basic training.

OTOH, I can appreciate why familes with young children hesitate to rescue.  Some have little or no history and not all owners are honest about their reasons for sureendering the dog.  There are pros and cons to both puppies and rescues I think.  Ultimately you have to go with what you feel comfortable with. 

 
I actually love those "pesky" puppy stages. I have hard wood floors so the housebreaking isn't much of a pain and the basic obedience normally comes very easily with lots of love and patience.   I adopted a beautiful black lab, springer mix once. The dog was the most wiggling critter I've ever seen. When he was happy his whole body wagged instead of his tail which stayed as straight as a rod.  He'd even make a funny wiggly growl to show how happy he was. The paperwork said he was to large, nothing more. But it turns out he had epilepsy and most likely that's why they gave him up. Medication kept it in check until he died of heart failure after about 5 years with me.

Just wanted to clear up some misconceptions I have seen on this thread regarding greyhounds and cats….
 
MOST greyhounds are cat tolerant and quite a number of them will actually learn to LOVE their cat. A cat OUTSIDE is different, but inside a home, all but those with the highest prey drive are usually just fine and need little to no reminder that the cat is OFF limits. I volunteer with greyhound rescue and have used my cats to “cat test” greys that come off the track and there are certain behaviors we look for in order to decide if the dog is cat tolerant or not.  I also am on my 4th greyhound that has been able to coexist peacefully in my home with 2 cats.   []

Thanks jjsmom, I was going to say the same thing.  I have two highly prey driven dogs that co-exist pretty well with a cat.  There are some chase moments but I manage the environment in such a way that both dogs are never left alone with the cat (just in case.)  So far the only injuries inflicted were to my dogs' collective pride.
 
Catka, I hope that you can find the companion your family deserves.  I really hope you consider greyhounds, even a retired racer is still young (usually 3 or 4 years old) with alot of life and love yet to live and give.  The greys that have been in foster are your best bet, as you can find out from the foster parents all things pertaining to that particular dog...cat friendly, child friendly-so on and so forth.
 
Good Luck!

Yes, and please also do take note of jjsmom's about cats outside. If you have an inside/outside cat who encounters your dog in your yard, that's really not so great of a scene with a dog that has any kind of prey drive at all. But if the cats are indoors and the dog is indoors, many dogs, even sight and scent hounds, can get along quite well.

I have two indoors cats and a high prey drive hound, and they get along just dandy. One of the cats has chosen to not really spend much time around the dogs, but not because she's afraid of them (she will march right up to them and give them a box on the nose), she just doesn't like them. My other cat rubs all over the dogs any chance he gets. The room his bed is in is the same room my coonhound spends the days in. But the cat has an exit route that the dog can't follow him through, to keep them safe just in case. Just a wise management strategy any time you have cats and dogs all living together, no matter what the breed of dog.

Yes, and please also do take note of jjsmom's about cats outside. If you have an inside/outside cat who encounters your dog in your yard, that's really not so great of a scene with a dog that has any kind of prey drive at all.

 
TOO TRUE Houndlove... dogs can act different even with their OWN cat if the cat is outside versus inside.
 

  But the cat has an exit route that the dog can't follow him through, to keep them safe just in case. Just a wise management strategy any time you have cats and dogs all living together, no matter what the breed of dog.

 
Excellent advice for any dogs and cats living together! 
 
We do the same thing... there is always a "cat only" area the cats can retreat in or sleep in while we are away. Also, every time I come home from work I take note of where the cats are and how they are acting. If they are calm and sleeping in the same area as the dogs then then I know that things were very calm...

We also have a "cat only" area and I think its a must, not matter what breed you get really.  We have one, even though the cat totally loves the dogs and would generally rather be with them than not.  Sometimes I do wonder if she thinks she is a dog, she joins in with whatever they do (even when they are being fed) and they have no problem with it.  The cat has a roomed which is gated, she can get through te bars or jump it but the dogs cant.  She knows she is safe there, I can leave her food down all day so she can eat when she likes without the dogs getting into it (cat food is just tooooo tempting for dogs) and her litter tray is there too (the youngest likes eating cat poo - yuk[:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(])

Myself, I wouldn't let having a cat deter me from rescuing a greyhound, particularly not a foster from a reputable organisation.  My personal experience is that they are no worse with cats than other breeds and actually better than some, but I've heard the horror stories and I'm no grey expert and the last thing I'd want to do is assure the OP that a grey would be fine with the cat if that wasn't the case.  So I'm glad some hound-y people have stepped in and corrected me and I hope the OP will include a greyhound on their shortlist of suitable breeds to at least look into. IME, they are wonderfully endearing, playful and laid back dogs, and although they are affectionate they are not so demonstrative about is as some other breeds.  Their only drawbacks that I can think of are their complete unsuitability to being left outside, a notorious recall, somewhat thin skin that is more prone to injury and the necessity to let them share your sofa (although that isn't a drawback for most people [])

Cat only areas are a requirement of the cats. []  Ours picked their spots before we even had furniture in the house.  One picked the ledge above the stairs (it's a large area meant for decor and the cat decided he was good decor).  The other picked a nook meant for pictures in the back room.  Both have the full run of the upstairs where other pets aren't allowed.
 
Greys are on my list for a future pet but right now I am really leaning towards a small dog such as a poodle. I don't want a tiny teacup or such but more of a lasa sized dog (lasa is not on my list, love them but I would always want one like my prior one and that's not fair to the new dog).
 
Loki did not like to swim which is a shame as we have a huge pool. I've been told poodle's like to swim and that would be a nice treat as I swim daily during the good weather.  I've also been told they are barkers which I don't want. 
 

ORIGINAL: Catka

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

And, next time, whether you get a pup or an adult dog, please go to class and learn how to train the dog.  This pup should not have been given freedom in the home without first learning basic commands and manners.

Sigh,  Again someone doesn't read what I post.  The dog was in training since we got him. There were boundries placed on the dog. I did not "dump" the dog and it's cruel of you to say that I did. He was placed with someone with the experience to help him with his condition. 

If you aren't going to bother to read the post without some high and mighty attitude then don't bother to reply.  I may not be a breeder or some other professional dog handler but I'm not some flake who gets a pet for kicks then dumps the dog when the dog pees on the floor or digs up a prize rose. I posted here because I was looking for additional ideas to help with the dog. If I was some irresponsible flake I wouldn't have taken the time to post.  In fact, I was 2 years into vet school and working with a highly regarded Dr in his clinic before a horrible car accident forced a career change so I am not a newbie with handling dogs, cats, birds, horses, cows, sheep, ect... heck I even assisted with a tarantula surgury.

I don't think anyone can claim expertise with animal behavior just because they might have experience in one area.  Which is why I posted here to get additional information. I already had a vet, trainer and breeder available but actual dog owners have a different out look and some times think of things the "experts" don't think of.  No one thought he had brain damage, not even the vet, until the cat incident caused the vet to look deeper than an obedience problem. 

Enough said.

So, did your puppy go back to its reputable breeder, who then rehomed it for you?

Theres no guarantee any poodle will love to swim but as they were originall a retrieve-from-water breed I imagine they are more predisposed to it than other breeds.  Good luck in your search anyway.
 
Spiritdogs makes a good point about breeders - the sign of a reputable one is that they are always insistent on taking the dog back if it doesn't work out for you.  Was the breeder helpful in trying to help you resolve the problems you were having?  Did they insist on taking him back and then found him the best home?  If the answer to either of these is "No" its a red flag that the breeder wasn't as ethical as you thought - keep that in mind when looking for your next breeder.  A breeder who is involved in rescue is usually a good one.