Hello, I am new here.

I recently filled out an application at the local rescue and was wondering what to look for in a dog.

I have had (3) dogs in my life, and wish I could have kept them after my divorce 4 years ago. They stayed at the house they grew up at, so I was thankful for that.

I am remarried and now have a 4 year old step-daughter. We moved into the house we built about a year ago. We have fish, hermit crabs, and the neighborly cats outside. I am ready for a dog, but wanted to rescue one, and also maybe be lucky enough not to have to house train one!!!

I was wondering, with the outside cats....that we do like to be friends with....and my step daughter, does anyone have any tips for the dog bread???

We also didn't plan on fencing in the yard, it would be very complicated as we are in the woods, with a stream at the end of our property. My dogs before all needed a leash and would run off the minute they got loose. It was very scarey. I don't want to seem picky here, but I just want to make sure that with our life style, we get a dog that would benefit. I don't want to be stressed and I don't want a new dog to be stressed, either!!!

So, a dog that normally likes cats....kids, no fenced in yard...

Is that too much to ask for????? Some people have so much luck with their dogs not needing a leash. I never could do that. I wasn't sure if the dog breeds I had was the problem...or me???

Thanks for any suggestions!!!! I miss having a dog so much!!! They used to all sleep with me at night!!!! They were like my kids, so I miss that alot!!

We had a cat before that goes along very well with our three dogs. He passed away due to old age. I think we you get a young puppy to grow with your cat they wouldn't mind sharing a space. Not fencing your house is possible too, if you intend to keep your dog mostly inside the house. Lap/toy dogs is convenient with this setup.

my mum has a colie who i've always walked off a lead, she was so easy to train she also has 2 cats who we didnt get till the dog was 2 years old they were fine together, the only breed we had who didnt like cats was a greyhoud but she was an ex racing dog so there trained to go after things that move fast, i would also suggest a puppy as you can mould them and they would be getitng used to the cats from a younge age, also rescue dogs you dont know how they've been treated in the past, when me and my brother were around 14 we started taking rescue dogs that were older as she didnt want to when we were little as you never know how they have been treated, i remeber the one my mum rolled up a news paper and as she walked out of the kitchen the dog went for her a drew blood out of her hand.

good luck in your search hope you find the right dog for you x

I know you don't want to house train preferrably, but a puppy would be more ideal as you have it at a younger age. to grow with your step daughter. You can train it to stay near you and off leash. most puppies will not run faster than you and you can keep a lead on them and if they start to run to far just grab the lead. then in time it will be ok to be off lead all time.

you probably will want to stay away from hunting dogs per say( beagles, water dogs- where you have water in your back yard,coon hounds etc). they have a strong nose and will chase anything until trained not to.

a collie sounds like a good one, golden retriever, labs ,( the previous three would be my suggestions to you) and many small toy breeds depending on the age of your step daughter. the smaller the dogs need to be watched as they hide in cushions,pillow cases,etc and often times under your feet and smaller children tend to get rough or not see them as quickly as older children who will watch out for the dog before sitting or walking.

Just my two cents.

Have you looked on the Humane Society web site? There's a lot of good information on there about choosing and caring for pets.

actually your have found your answers to these questions. no questions exist here. nothing could be more comfortable than to be with those cute animals