when I got my last dog (he was my one and only puppy love so far), I called around local shelters (this was before petfinder.com!) asking if they had any older dogs that were good with cats.

One shelter immediately said "Chevy!!" I wasn't looking for any particular dog, and I will admit when I first met this 90lb rottweiler, I had to think twice if I really wanted such a big dog. But he was so lovely I fell in love with him.

I took him home, and he just ignored my hissing cat and the other one that dove under the bed. He loved to chase squirrels, and strangely he chased my parents' cat, but he never bothered my cats. And I have one in-your-face aggressive cat who bossed him around (I used to tell my cat if I ever came home and found him dead, I wouldn't blame Chevy at all).

As for size, I like to generalize and say that the bigger the dog, the less active they are in the home. The little ones I fostered were so busy in the house it tired me out just watching them. Granted Chevy was older so never had much energy, but he was a very calming presence, and the last thing I need is a small, yappy dog (again, generalizing).

Pit bulls have all the quality that I'm looking for. Most of them are couch potatoes and have a definite "off" switch indoors that make them ideal for apartments. They're not too big, and they certainly aren't small. They can be very active outdoors, and I wish to go trail running and hiking and it would be nice to have a canine companion who can accompany me. They're usually friendly and love people. Their shedding is minimal, and they are big enough to hold their pee until I get home.