You’ve probably seen those adorable online videos where dogs and cats cuddle together, or a pup gently plays with a guinea pig. It’s heartwarming. We often talk about how dogs bond with humans, but what about their relationships with other furry, feathered, or scaly housemates? The truth is, some dog breeds don’t just tolerate other pets – they genuinely form deep emotional connections with them.
Whether you’re building a multi-pet household or curious about which breeds have that special social gene, understanding these naturally gregarious dogs can make all the difference. Let’s be real, not every dog is cut out for sharing their home with a cat or another pup, but certain breeds seem almost hardwired for companionship beyond the human kind. Ready to discover which ones make the best interspecies friends?
1. Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are famously friendly with other pets and family-oriented, welcoming other dogs, cats, and even small critters with wagging tails and open hearts. Their gentle temperament isn’t just for show. Originally bred to retrieve game without damage, their soft mouth translates to a gentle touch in everyday life, which is great news for smaller pets.
What makes them particularly special is their ability to read social cues from other animals. I think it’s their patience that really stands out. They don’t rush interactions or get overly excited to the point of scaring timid pets. These dogs form deep emotional bonds, often sensing moods and responding with comfort. Whether it’s a grumpy cat or a nervous rabbit, Goldens seem to understand that slow and steady wins the friendship race.
2. Labrador Retriever
Labs are basically the social butterflies of the dog world. Known for their high energy and friendly disposition, Labs quickly bond with other pets and adjust well to different environments, living peacefully with cats and even smaller pets when introduced properly. Their love for play makes them instant hits with other dogs.
This breed is consistently among the most popular in the U.S. for its cheerful personality and eagerness to bond with both humans and other pets, rarely hesitating to greet strangers with a wagging tail. Here’s the thing though – Labs sometimes don’t realize their own size. They might accidentally bowl over a smaller pet in their enthusiasm, so supervision during initial meet-and-greets is essential. Still, their intentions are always pure friendship.
3. Beagle
Beagles embody friendliness with their cheerful personalities and affectionate nature, thriving on companionship with humans or other pets as naturally social pack hunters. That pack mentality is key. They actually prefer having animal buddies around rather than being solo acts.
Their gentle temperament works wonders in multi-pet homes. Beagles are curious, fun-loving, and highly social dogs that enjoy being part of a pack, and their hunting background means they are used to working in groups. However, their strong nose can sometimes distract them – if they catch an interesting scent, they might temporarily forget about their pet friends. But once playtime begins, Beagles are all in with genuine affection for their animal companions.
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
These little royals have hearts bigger than their petite frames. With their gentle temperament, Cavaliers often form strong bonds with their feline friends, enjoying companionship and playtime together. They’re one of those breeds that doesn’t see species as a barrier to friendship.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are affectionate lap dogs that thrive on companionship, rarely show aggression, and have an easy-going temperament, making them one of the best breeds for multi-pet households. What’s fascinating is their adaptability. Whether you have a bossy cat, a timid ferret, or another dog, Cavaliers adjust their energy level and approach. Their smaller size and gentle demeanor ensure they get along well with cats, other small dogs, and even rabbits or guinea pigs when introduced properly.
5. Border Collie
Border Collies bring intelligence and empathy to the table. They’re excellent candidates for multi-pet households, thriving in environments where they have interaction with other animals and can be remarkably respectful of other pets with proper socialization. Their high emotional intelligence means they can sense when another pet needs space or wants to play.
Emotionally attuned, they sense moods, stress, or anxiety and are devoted velcro dogs who follow their owners, with their intelligence thriving on challenges that strengthen bonds. That herding instinct can occasionally kick in, though. You might catch your Border Collie trying to gently herd the family cat or even attempting to organize other dogs during playtime. It’s honestly kind of amusing to watch, but redirection might be needed initially.
6. Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels are those easygoing friends everyone wants around. Cocker Spaniels are loving and loveable dogs who get along with just about everyone, making them great socializers who don’t hesitate to play with other dogs or even cats. Their cheerful disposition is genuinely infectious.
If you’re building a multi-pet home, Cocker Spaniels deserve a serious look with their gentle demeanor and friendly nature, as they tend to get along effortlessly with other dogs and cats, especially when properly socialized from an early age. They have this knack for reading the room. If the household cat is feeling antisocial, a Cocker will back off. But when playtime is on, they’re ready to romp around with genuine enthusiasm. Their moderate energy level also means they won’t overwhelm more laid-back pets.
7. Bernese Mountain Dog
Don’t let their size fool you. Despite their large size, Bernese Mountain Dogs are gentle, affectionate, and protective without being aggressive, often taking on a nurturing role in multi-pet families and showing patience with smaller animals. They’re basically the gentle giants who become surrogate parents to other pets.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are known for their calm and friendly nature, forming strong bonds with their families and being generally good with other pets. I’ve heard stories of Berners who let kittens climb all over them or who carefully play with toy breeds. Their calm demeanor creates a stable environment where nervous pets can relax. They seem to understand instinctively that their size requires extra gentleness around smaller companions.
8. Maltese
Small but socially mighty, that’s the Maltese. The Maltese dog breed can adapt into nearly any home, even a multi-pet household, and is especially docile and sweet-tempered, making it an ideal addition to your already furry family, not minding playing with larger pets despite their smaller size. They approach friendship with confidence that belies their tiny stature.
What’s interesting is how Maltese dogs form these surprisingly deep attachments to other household pets. They might curl up with the family dog twice their size or supervise the guinea pig’s playtime from a safe distance. Their gentle nature means they rarely provoke conflict, preferring peaceful coexistence. However, early socialization is important because their small size makes them vulnerable if a larger pet gets too rough during play.
9. Pug
Pugs have personalities that overflow with warmth and silliness. Despite their small size, Pugs have big personalities and are social by nature, often bonding with everyone in the home, including other animals, and with proper socialization, Pugs typically get along well with both humans and animals alike. They’re those natural comedians who break the ice in any social situation.
Their clownish behavior often draws other pets into play. A Pug’s snorting and zooming around can entice even the most aloof cat to engage. They don’t take rejection personally either – if one pet isn’t interested, they’ll happily move on to the next potential friend. That laid-back attitude combined with genuine affection makes them excellent additions to homes with multiple animals.
10. Vizsla
Known as the ultimate Velcro dog, this Hungarian breed is literally attached to their owner and is happiest when right by your side, bred for falconry with tons of energy, making this pup best for people who enjoy active lifestyles as your wingman for hiking, swimming and hunting. But here’s what many don’t realize – that velcro tendency extends to other pets too.
Vizslas crave companionship intensely, which means they often form tight bonds with other household animals. Nicknamed velcro dogs for a reason, they thrive on closeness and connection, picking up on your energy with eerie accuracy, being playful when you’re laughing, gentle when you’re quiet. They need both physical contact and emotional connection throughout the day, and when they live with other pets, those animals often become part of their essential pack. A Vizsla living with a cat might follow that feline around just as devotedly as they follow their human.
Conclusion
The capacity for dogs to form emotional attachments with other pets really highlights their social intelligence and adaptability. It’s not just about tolerating other animals in their space – these ten breeds genuinely seek out and cherish those interspecies friendships. From the gentle giant Bernese to the pocket-sized Maltese, each brings unique qualities that make multi-pet households thrive.
If you’re considering adding a dog to a home with existing pets or thinking about expanding your animal family, these breeds offer excellent starting points. Remember though, individual personality matters just as much as breed tendencies. Proper introductions, patience, and ongoing supervision create the foundation for those heartwarming moments when species barriers disappear and genuine friendship blooms. What’s been your experience with dogs and other pets? Have you witnessed those special cross-species bonds in your own home?
Alex is a born and raised Capetonian with a strong love for animals and the outdoors. She is a Third-year veterinary student at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She also completed a BSc in Animal Science at Stellenbosch University, where her passion for working with animals only strengthened. She has always surrounded herself with animals and has been fortunate enough to work closely with them.
