Advice Please On Cat Introductions For A Wgsd Rescue

[~Shepherd~]

We have a lovely 8 month old WGSD going on trial possibly Friday with a family. He will be an inside dog and is fully crate trained. He is in foster care atm with a family who has a ferret and a medium bitch and all is going very smoothly.

Is restricting cat access initially going to cause more curiosity, or should the dog have fully supervised interaction from the start.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. It is the perfect home for this dog and we really want it to go as smoothly as possible.

Thanks.

[Golden Rules]

One thing I will always say Chewy is the cat has to be at the top of the pecking order and the new owners have to always let the dog know this.

If it were me, I would have the dog on lead inside until you knew it was going to be OK (or not) with the cat. Click and treat when the dog relaxed around the cat etc ..

Hope this is a new forever home for the boy!

[~Shepherd~]

One thing I will always say Chewy is the cat has to be at the top of the pecking order and the new owners have to always let the dog know this.

If it were me, I would have the dog on lead inside until you knew it was going to be OK (or not) with the cat. Click and treat when the dog relaxed around the cat etc ..

Hope this is a new forever home for the boy!

so click as in a clicker device?

Thanks Farts

2 stray dogs ripped their 15 year old cat to pieces so I am really wanting to get things right from the start with them.

So with the cat being boss, how do you show the dog this besides not allowing him on furniture, food and all that?

[Rebanne]

muzzle and lead, lead alone won't save the cat if the dog lunges, you have no idea how quick things can happen until it happens to you. Since one of their cats has already been killed by dogs shouldn't you at least cat test this one? It's a positive it doesn't react to the ferret but..... I had a foster here who was bound and determined to kill the cats yet went on to live very happily with free range chooks. So you can't always tell how they will react to different species. I would never expose my cats to an unknown dog in the house without a muzzle and lead on the dog. Plus lots of bolt holes for the cat.

[Golden Rules]

so click as in a clicker device?

Thanks Farts

2 stray dogs ripped their 15 year old cat to pieces so I am really wanting to get things right from the start with them.

So with the cat being boss, how do you show the dog this besides not allowing him on furniture, food and all that?

OMG, you really know how to tell something like it is don't you?!

Sorry, clicker or no clicker, just treat the good behaviour. (I am in clicker mode in prep for new dog )

Dog is corrected anytime he goes after the cat, or tries to eat the cat, or the cat food, or anytime he feels he is in competition with the cat and no barking at the cat.

The dog has to always be calm around the cat until you know he can be trusted.

My cats chase each other at 90 mile an hour and fly over the dog lying in the doorway. A lot of dogs would want to join the chase but my boy just lies there and doesn't so much as lift his head (unless they do it too many times in a row then he gets p*ssed but will bark at them, never chase them )

[~Shepherd~]

when we had cats at the farm, our dogs were the same as that, with chickens goats and all. Its conditioning though isnt it, careful intros and full supervision. God I hope it works.

My cat attack description, straight from the owners mouth it happened in front of him

[Rebanne]

when we had cats at the farm, our dogs were the same as that, with chickens goats and all. Its conditioning though isnt it, careful intros and full supervision. God I hope it works.

My cat attack description, straight from the owners mouth it happened in front of him

all the more reason to get this dog fostered with some one with cats first IMO. So you have an idea of how he'll react. Are these new people experienced with dogs, have the cats lived with dogs before?

[~Shepherd~]

when we had cats at the farm, our dogs were the same as that, with chickens goats and all. Its conditioning though isnt it, careful intros and full supervision. God I hope it works.

My cat attack description, straight from the owners mouth it happened in front of him

all the more reason to get this dog fostered with some one with cats first IMO. So you have an idea of how he'll react. Are these new people experienced with dogs, have the cats lived with dogs before?

we dont have a large foster network as our dogs come in irregularly and people move on. We have 2 excellent carers at the moment with our dogs. We dont have cat access so what do we do? Their cat is used to dogs and our dog is used to a ferret and wild bunnies bounding through his acre yard.

Perhaps we should look at a muzzle. I am going to be there at the time to get an indication, but I cant move in and he cant live in a muzzle. We are trying to cover everything hence my post. We are supplying a crate. Surely not every rescue is cat tested? If I sense killer instinct we will remove the dog completely.

[kirst_goldens]

i would do an intro through a door or even better glass or flywire first so they can smell eachother and see eachother without being able to get to eachother and like golden said treat for nice happy calm behaviour and correct for any staring, stiff, aggressive behaviour. I would do this a few times BEFORE the dog moves in just to be safe and i would think from these interactions u would be able to gauge if a muzzle is needed on not but always on a short lead and dont trust the dog for a long time, he may be calm and friendly but the dog is not only meeting the cat for the first time but he is moving in with new humans and and smells and routines so he will be all over the shop for quite some time

[~Shepherd~]

i would do an intro through a door or even better glass or flywire first so they can smell eachother and see eachother without being able to get to eachother and like golden said treat for nice happy calm behaviour and correct for any staring, stiff, aggressive behaviour. I would do this a few times BEFORE the dog moves in just to be safe and i would think from these interactions u would be able to gauge if a muzzle is needed on not but always on a short lead and dont trust the dog for a long time, he may be calm and friendly but the dog is not only meeting the cat for the first time but he is moving in with new humans and and smells and routines so he will be all over the shop for quite some time

great thanks, good idea. They do have a strong screen door off the main room. It will be tough on him, he is such a lovely boy but you never know. The family asks millions of questions and are desperate to make it work as they love him to bits and he just adored their kids. Mum has had a Shep Rottie mix before but they will have ongoing support for as long as they need it. 2 of us a very local to his new home.

[Rebanne]

Perhaps we should look at a muzzle. I am going to be there at the time to get an indication, but I cant move in and he cant live in a muzzle. We are trying to cover everything hence my post. We are supplying a crate. Surely not every rescue is cat tested? If I sense killer instinct we will remove the dog completely.

no lots of dogs aren't cat tested but this family has had huge tramua happen to it. You only need to muzzle the dog and have it on lead while around the cat. It is usually only for a few days to make sure the dog won't kill the cat. The dog still might show interest, that's when bolt holes and crates and vigilant supervision become the main defence. And when I say show interest, I mean wants to play roughly etc.

[Trisven13]

muzzle and lead, lead alone won't save the cat if the dog lunges, you have no idea how quick things can happen until it happens to you. Since one of their cats has already been killed by dogs shouldn't you at least cat test this one? It's a positive it doesn't react to the ferret but..... I had a foster here who was bound and determined to kill the cats yet went on to live very happily with free range chooks. So you can't always tell how they will react to different species. I would never expose my cats to an unknown dog in the house without a muzzle and lead on the dog. Plus lots of bolt holes for the cat.

when we had cats at the farm, our dogs were the same as that, with chickens goats and all. Its conditioning though isnt it, careful intros and full supervision. God I hope it works.

My cat attack description, straight from the owners mouth it happened in front of him

all the more reason to get this dog fostered with some one with cats first IMO. So you have an idea of how he'll react. Are these new people experienced with dogs, have the cats lived with dogs before?

Sorry Chewy - I agree with Rebanne. I would find someone who has a tough cat and invest in a muzzle - if the dog is close to me I'm happy to offer up either Emo or Pierre as both are brilliant around dogs. The other interesting thing about testing dogs with cats is that some will have an instant prey drive the minute they see the cat whereas others are only interested if they run. Others still will be fine with "their" cats (as Bart is) but want to kill any other cat the minute they see it, or even their cats when they're not in the "right" spot (as Bart will).

I think it is a good idea for someone in your organisation to have a cat that you can use for testing. Bilbo Baggins was talking about getting one the other day when we'd had a few wines . If she was serious I'd strongly recommend it. If you have someone who can own a cat contact me as I know a great dog-testing cat.

ETA - in my opinion every dog that is put into a home where you know the new owner has cats should be cat-tested just like you would test with kids or other dogs if the new owner had kids or other dogs. It takes longer to assess the dog properly, yes, but you will have far less issues of very upset owners with very dead cats.

Edited August 31, 2010 by Trisven13

[Burkes]

I'm with Trisven, see if you can find another rescuer round your area with a cat and test the dog with them. You should get a good indication from that whether the dog will be able to live with cats.

Dogs defiantely react differently to different cats so a lead and muzzle will be a good idea for the intro.

I have two cats who I have had no problems introducing to my fosters so far. I have found it is also very important to remain calm and ensure the dogs are exhibiting a low energy before meeting the cat. Same for the cat, if the cat is acting crazy, don't bring in the dog.

[~Shepherd~]

hmm, thanks guys. Will follow up on this tomorrow. Our boy has been in care for 3 weeks with the ferret and shown no interest so his drive was noted over this period. I know cats are different. Wouldn't it be best to test with their cat if her is muzzled? He is having a trial obviously.

[Trisven13]

I think it is best to have an idea how the dog goes with a cat FIRST though of course the dog will need to be tested again with their cat but if the dog hates cats with a passion then you're not putting them through the stress. Adopting a rescue dog is a huge emotional investment for people so it is really important to do what you can to make sure that it is a good match from the very beginning. Things can go wrong even when you do that but your odds are reduced. Having a family whose previous cat has been killed by dogs in front of them makes it even more important that you know that the dog doesn't hate cats. Have you got plans for the meet and greet with the family? Having lost a cat so traumatically I would work very, very hard to make things work OR to know that they won't. Ring me for some tips if you want - Bilbo Baggins has my new number.

[Bilbo Baggins]

I spoke to the foster carer today and she told me that her son and let some the guinea pigs out and Frankee had only just mouthed them. The FC siad that unlike her blue healer who she would not trust around the pinny gigs.

So sounds like Frankee will be okay.