Considering getting a dog in the next year or so and starting my research, please help lol

We want to get a dog in the future. Possibly within the next year or so after we adjust to having a new baby and after we figure out what is going on with our female cat and her urinary problems...there is only so much I can handle at a time lol.

We want to start our research now. We live on the water and have a boat and DH really wants a dog that likes the water and will do good on boat rides. He had a black lab growing up who loved the water, his cousins are on their second yellow lab, and his other cousin and her boyfriend have a black lab. We are all boaters and they bring the dogs on the boat to the beach and they do great with the ride, the water and the kids and just generally behaving themselves on the docks and the beach.

We would love a lab, we have a 16 month old and a baby due in March. I know they are great family dogs and good with the water.

We also have 2 cats. Dh had 2 cats growing up with his black lab and all got along.

We were considering getting a pit because everyone that we have known with one has had kids and they have been great, GREAT with the kids, they were all very will trained and behaved without ever having been to a trainer, and they are just beautiful, mushy lovey dogs and a lot of people don't adopt them so I know the shelters are full of them so if we could give one a great home, that would make me feel better, I know labs are very popular so they may get scooped up fast leaving everyone else to rot in the shelter which breaks my heart.

BUT I heard that pits don't generally like the water and that a lot aren't good around cats.

Re: Considering getting a dog in the next year or so and starting my research, please help lol

i know very little about pitbulls, other than they are the least adopted in the shelters and the most euthanized

Through all my kitty rescue pursuits I know I have come across more than one picture of a pit and cat living in harmony. I came accross this article. I only skimmed it but it might be a good starting point for you.

Bully for You

Re: Considering getting a dog in the next year or so and starting my research, please help lol

I guess it depends on the cat and I guess it depend on the pittie

Pitt v Kitty!

Re: Considering getting a dog in the next year or so and starting my research, please help lol

Not labs, but we have a Chatham Hill Retriever (part flat coat/part spaniel) and LOVE him!! He's so good with kids and other animals, very sweet personality and just a loveable dog.

Re: Considering getting a dog in the next year or so and starting my research, please help lol

I have a pit and it's true, she's not great with cats and she hates water. But that doesn't necessarily mean ALL pits are like that. I think it depends on how young you are going to get your dog, too. My collie mix was NOT good with cats either, until we trained him. It was a process and EVERYONE told me it could never be done, but he became best friends with my BIL's cat (who lived downstairs from us for a little over a year).

I truly think it has a lot to do with the way you introduce things to your pet, too. For instance, our collie mix. His first vet visit, I stayed in the room with him and pet him the whole time. He got shots, his nails clipped, and blood taken and he did not bat an eyelash. The next time, same thing, stayed the whole time and he was calm and collected. The vet asked that I go to the front and pay while she cleaned his ears. I asked to stay but she insisted and to this day, Irwin is TERRIFIED to have his ears cleaned. He needs to be muzzled. I fully blame the vet because he was introduced to something new in a scary way.

But I'll admit, as soon as you mentioned water I thought "She should get a lab!" But I'm all for another pit to be adopted so I'm torn! lol!

Re: Considering getting a dog in the next year or so and starting my research, please help lol

I have a lab pit mix. It is the best of both worlds. DH wanted a pit and I wanted a Lab. Our puppy is great with the new baby. He is very protective and runs to get one of us when the baby cries.

We take him on the boat all summer. He loves the ride and LOVES the water. He has webbed paws like a lab so he will swim all day long. He also has been great with other dogs.

We got him at North Shore.