I won't pretend like I know a whole lot about collies. :X I guess it would depend on what breed of collie you got. <br /> <br /> They are herding dogs so... worst thing might be that it would try to herd your cats or any small children haha.

yeah , getting the old cat to the vets before we get the puppy as my younger one seems ok with dogs. I got him a foot away from my freinds dog who is just larger than a springer with out any treats so he is alot easier to work with. Also we might be getting a collie, what do you think? We want an active dog that is easy to train, partly to do with the cats, and loves people.

When you get your dog, whether it be an adult or puppy, make sure you've picked something that you are 100% sure that you can handle for at least the next 15 years (remember, smaller dogs have longer average lifespans than larger dogs!). Talk to the veterinarian where you take your cat (heck, even just a technician will be able to give you solid advice). His/her advice will be especially helpful because they'll be familiar with your cat from both a personality and medical perspective.<br /> <br /> Puppy proofing and introduction to other animals is really going to depend on what breed you get. Not all breeds think/react the same. It's also going to depend on the temperament of your dog. Bolder dogs can take in a bit more than ones that are more timid or reserved. However, bold dogs can also be pretty headstrong and may take a more firm hand when it comes to training/socialization.<br /> <br /> Make sure you consider factors like what would happen to the dog if your family had to move. How would your dog react to the addition of other pets to your household in the future? Some dogs go insane when they see small critters like mice or rabbits. Is your family prepared to give the dog the attention and exercise it needs (those needs will vary from dog to dog too!) regardless of their schedule?<br /> <br /> If you decide to adopt from a shelter, I'd like to say that you should pick a shelter that screens animals for temperament and can give you solid background info on the animal. My family adopted a dog in 2005 from a high kill county shelter and the people there knew nothing about him except for his gender and that he was a pitbull mix. They even got his color wrong in his information! Needless to say, we had *a lot* of surprises -- even though he was an adult dog. It has taken lots of time and energy in helping him come along to where he is now. It turns out he also has a prey-drive that is through the roof... which I did not fully realize until I brought a kitten home in 2007. I still have both animals but it has really taken some ingenuity in keeping them separated but still happy (I'm kind of caught in a love triangle with my pets... they both adore me but hate each other lol). <br /> <br /> So even if you get an adult dog, be prepared to have to do some work. Hopefully your entire family will be on board with helping your new family member be the best he or she can be (unlike my family...).

I don't think you should be concerned with the cat not liking the dog, I think you should be concerned with the dog taking a liking to your cat and thinking it's a tug rope toy to whip around.<br /> <br /> Not to mention, if the breed has a high prey-drive or isn't trained not to go after the cats AT ALL, you're gonna have a dog that chases and torments the cats whenever he sees them and cats who hide under beds 24/7. I've seen it before.<br /> <br /> EDIT: and I don't care what anybody else here has to say about this.. but if you have a dog that has a high-prey drive, you aint gonna be able to train it completely out of the dog. You will be able to manage it with a ton of work, but you will never have a dog that don't flinch at the sight of a small animal.<br /> You can't take the terrier out of the Jack Russel, yknow?

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my cat is not likely to accept an adult dog as he does not like anything bigger than him. He is good with getting used to something smaller than him and once he is used to it he will be ok if it changes but he is terrified of anything bigger than him. we would love to adopt from a shelter but we also love the sanity of the oldest cat.

Seconding what Nitrous said. House-training a puppy takes a LOT of work and time. <br /> Training a puppy takes a LOT of work and time and both require everybody in the house to put in equal effort.<br /> If you can get an adult from a shelter that is house-trained and good with cats, you're set. Although you're still going to have to get everybody in the house to pull their own weight to keep the dog trained and in control of it.

The best advice comes from people who are qualified to speak as experts in dog behavior and care. A veterinarian, trainer, or something along those lines.<br /> <br /> A shockingly large percentage of owners are idiots. I don't think that there are many here, but be careful when considering advice from just anyone who has had a dog.<br /> <br /> My advice, as someone who has raised three puppies into adulthood - don't get a puppy. Adopt an adult from a shelter. They'll certainly appreciate it and you won't be lining the pockets of irresponsible backyard breeders.

I have, and we are getting it around october time... I know the best info comes from people who have had puppies before.

Shouldn't you have researched this stuff before you're about to buy the actual puppy?