Best Way To Introduce Dog To Cats...

[ShellyBeggs]

Ok I have my boys....Anzac (11mo) and Ranger (17mo)......both herding breeds and very exciteable.

I now also have 2 x 10wo kittens....

The kittens are in the bathroom so there is much sniffing under the door.......and sometimes the kittens are in the hallway and the dogs can see them through glass. (the kittens try and attack them through the glass).

What is the best way to introduce the kittens to the dogs without any excitement and fuss.

I realise the kittens need to be a fair bit older and bigger ......but if I can start the process now and work slowly that may stop the dogs excitement and obsession with the kittens.

my idea so far....crate kittens and let dogs be around them until they are 'boring'...but when they get out and start running around they will be all interesting again so my plan is flawed.

Thanks for the help!

[petsearch]

There are so many different scenarios to try:

1. Try one cat loose and your dogs crated. Reward dogs when they are quiet

2. Try two cat's loose and dogs crated (as cats playing together is a big temptation for some dogs)

3. Try cat's crated and one dog loose

4. Try cat's crated and two dogs loose (they can sometimes feed off each others energy and get into chasing mode)

Some people will tell you that their dogs are fine with cats in the house, but will chase them if they are outdoors or in the yard

We have one dog which is completely non cat friendly, regardless of what we do. We have gotten her to the point where she no longer drools on the doorstep looking at the cats, but she still sits there and watches them. She goes crazy when the cats are playing with each other and making cat noises.

[greychicken]

I would do it slowly, one kitten out with both dogs on lead.

Have a spray bottle on hand, try first to use your voice to distract the dogs from the kitten.

When they respond you reward them. This takes time, use the water spray if they do not respond to your voice command IMMEDIATLEY.

This will teach them that the cats mean rewards when left alone and water spray when approached.

I have 2 greyhounds and adopted a zero tolerance policy from day one, yes, I would LOVE to see them all curled up and happy, I just chose to be on the safe side, my dogs know that they are never to initiate contact with the cats.

They basically ignore them, actually, Rocky runs and hides if they approach him

You can still use distraction until the dogs are calm and ignoring the kittens and gradually allow more contact if it seems like it would be ok, totally up to you. Initially keeping them on leash helps, it means less corrections and more rewards because they are right there, take the lead off when you are confident they respond to your voice and see how you go.

Good luck with them all!

[koolietas]

I went through this myself recently...with a 5mo birman kitten and a 2yo sheltie...sheltie was not impressed with new addition at all! He was brought up with cats (we had 4 before this one - which we had before we got the dog) so I didn't think it would be a problem (how wrong was I!) The sheltie is outdoors in an undercover courtyard area most of the time (which is right next to our living area with glass sliding doors - so can see us all the time). We kept them separated for the first couple of weeks - just allowing the sheltie to see the kitten playing inside, but through the glass/screen door.

After the first couple of weeks, I started taking the kitten outside into the courtyard area with the dog on lead and began clicking/treating for sits/stays/tricks etc. whilst the kitten was walking around. That way he got to know that kitten = treats. It took about a month before he stopped lunging/chasing the kitten - but now they spend most of the day together without a care in the world...much to my relief!