December Dog Part II

Technically, the final decision hasn't been made, but we basically have a puppy.

Our friends kept him while we were on vacation and we've have had him about a week now. They took him for an initial vet visit and he got a preliminary clean bill of health. The vet guessed he has a little pit bull mixed in with the Labrador. So far he has been fairly calm for a puppy, I think. And he is certainly proven himself to be very smart. And what can you say, he is awfully cute.

Our issues in keeping him permanently come down to two: We have four cats and we have a fairly active social life.
The latter is an issue only in that I want to make sure he adjusts well to an occasional night alone. One of the reasons we’ve never seriously entertained having a dog has been that we didn’t want to leave a dog alone too often.
The first issue could be a bit tougher. I have had cats and dogs, but never a mixed home. I absolutely don’t want to create an environment where our cats are uncomfortable. But from what I’ve been able to read on the Web, it can be done. One site even mentioned Labradors as being one of the best breeds to integrate into household with cats, especially if it’s a puppy. And I must admit, so far so good.
Crate training will probably be the next step; it sounds like that’s the safest long term solution for a cat and dog household for when they’re left alone.

I would like to hear from anyone who has brought a puppy into a home with cats. Positive or negative, any anecdotes or advice will be appreciated.

Wish us luck!