Me again! Just finished my exams so I can indulge my mind in dogs again!

Anyway just wondered if there are any breeds that shouldn't live in the same house as one another? I used to have a cavalier king charles when I was little- I can't remember much about her except that she was completely bonkers and lots of fun. So obviously I have a love for cavaliers... I also like japanese spitzs too. However, I generally prefer large dogs though especially sighthounds so I kind of get the impression that it wouldn't be a good idea to have a small dog and sighthound together. Are there other combinations that might be a bad idea?

It's absolutely fine to have a small dog and a sighthound living together, especially if they are raised together.  

I've even asked Greyhound rescue if an x-racer could live with a small dog (I have cairns) and they said they are fine with small dogs and even cats.  I'm sure there are exceptions, but by and large there isn't a problem.  It may also be something like dogs and cats - dogs will accept cats living in the same household.  However, oftentimes that same dog seeing a strange cat will go absolutely ballistic. 

I've owned Yorkies and GSDs at the same time with no problems.  I think the only concern is that a boisterous large dog can unintentionally injure a smaller and more fragile breed. 

Stacey

I have big dogs and little dogs and I don't let them mix. When the size difference is HUGE, it's just too dangerous. There was a girl on here a few months ago who had a Golden Retriever and a Chihuahua, and the Chi got killed when the Golden fell on it -awful. My papillon puppy would love to play with my Malinois puppy, there is just 3 weeks in between their ages, but last time they met it just proved impossible.The Mal weighs abou 8 times as much already at 4 months.  I think in most cases most breeds can mix, but when the dfference in size is so extreme, there will be dangers -even if it isn't intentional on the dogs' part at all.

Marianne

An adult 'small dog' with a puppy sighthound would be the best choice. That way the sighthound grows up knowing the small dog is in charge (especially if you got a small bitch and a sighthound male).

That said, some sighthounds are more predatory than others, and if your small dog was a very feisty snappy bossy dog, its highly possible (and has happend to working lurcher owners i know) that the sighthound will one day get fed up.

Exercise caution, dont leave them together (as i never EVER leave my cat alone in the same room as my saluki x) and it can work.

Let your little dog grow up to be a pain, and your sighthound have very little discipline, leave them alone together and you could come home to a bloodbath.

Em

wow I think I'm remembered unless someone else lost  a chi pup in an accident. With Nemo it was a flat coat retriever not a goldie tho, I do have another chi pup now (btw I'd like to add Nemo was exceptionally small) called Stitch he is not allowed to mix with our 2 flat coats unless he's being held and is never ever put on the ground with them. He does love seeing them but I'd never ever want to risk it and he's a slightly larger chihuahua.

Sarah

Sorry I got the breed wrong Sarah. :) Yes it made a big impact on me and I have always been extra careful myself with my Papillon puppy (who a the moment at 5 months is only Chihuahua sized) and my big dogs because of your story, so your Nemo left a legacy, at least one person decided to be extra extra careful. :)

I know the little guy did a lot of good for the chihuahua community as a whole his story really got around :) and everyone I know now is extra carefull with their chi's cos of what happened. It's a shame it happened to me but I think losing him saved a lot of lives so I'm happy for that and it never made me give up on chihuahua's I love my current little boy to bits :D