I have had two cats, who are 3 and 2 years. We just got a dog, Bear, who is a year and a half. The cat's stay confined to one room, when the dog gets in he'll bark and wants to "play" with the cat's. How can they learn to live with each other, while not confining the cats to one room?
2006-08-17 13:50:39 · 10 answers · asked by peachandp 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Let them spend time together and fight it out... Be their little mentor. I have had cats and dogs that didnt get along well at first, but got used to each other, and ended up taking naps together and playing, lol.
Give the cats a kitty door, or something, or install a doggie door, so that both species of animal can get out of an annoying situation. Most animals prefer to get away, or avoid those types of situations, if they can. All of your animals need to be petted and played with by you, in front of each other. It might help to introduce the cats one at a time, holding the cat, petting it, while you pet the dog, with the other hand. They are usually pretty jealous animals, cats and dogs, so treat them more like "triplets" and make sure everything is "fair".
I had a bullmastiff and a jack russel/lab mix. I had 2 cats, one of which ended up having kittens later on.
Well, I got the bullmastiff as a puppy, so that was the easy one. The other dog, PJ, already had hangups about cats. He hated them both.
Well the dogs would fight a little with the cats, but they also knew that the cats were members of the family, just like they were. There was NEVER a scratch on the cats, although the dogs would get scratches on their snouts sometimes, and really pout over it.
(those times, the dogs got more cuddling and attention than the cats, and it was a short lived phase, for them, as a result- because all the animals respected me, so they wanted to please me, and so I guess they knew that hurting each other wasnt going to get them any cuddling.. lol)
They still had their moments, of course, not unlike any married couple or long term relationship has. The big cat, Fred, would lay in the middle of the doorway, and the bullmastiff (huckleberry) would be charging through the house.. and have to STOP, because of the pain in the butt cat. Well, one day, the cat was STANDING there, getting ready to lay down, as usual, and Huckleberry came charging through, and put his nose under the cat, as he came through, and FLIPPED FRED INTO THE AIR!!! Huckleberry just kept running through, while the cat landed on its feet, and stopped sleeping in the doorways as much, lol....
Anyways.. its possible. Just be loving and patient.
2006-08-17 13:56:47 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ Krista ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a dog training question. The dog should completely submit to your rules, one of which is "do not bark at or chase the cats".
As your dog's leader, it us up to you to set boundaries and limits for a dog and those can include other house pets. Seek the advice of a professional dog trainer in your area that uses methods that stress self restraint and a psychologically well balanced state of mind.
I am a professional dog trainer that takes in dogs for 2-4 weeks of training. Every dog that leaves here is completely reliable around cats, and we keep about a dozen of them around just for the dog's training. There should be a zero tolerance policy regarding chasing or abusing other animals. Once the rules are established using methods that are natural and understandable for the dog, there is usually no reason your dog and cats cannot live together peacefully for the rest of their lives.
You can read some of my training philosophy article at my website www.darnfar.com
2006-08-17 14:02:05 · answer #2 · answered by Tammie R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OH.. believe me they will eventually get along.. it takes a few days or perhaps two week but probably less than that and then they will be getting along fine... ALWAYS when a dog is introduced into the household with cats or the other way around, it is the same minor problem... have patience.. soon, the cats will be sleeping with the dog.
2006-08-17 13:58:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they're ever going to live together, you have to let them get used to one another. (Slowly and safely.) Dogs are going to want to play with cats, but once they test the waters they usually learn their boundaries. Most of the time dogs don't want to get scratched (or yelled at), and cats are pretty good about warning dogs when they are crossing the line. When my kitten met my dog, she put her little paw up by his face as if to say, "I WILL pop you!" He got the hint. Just don't leave the animals unattended, because things can go awry in your absence. Other than that, time will heal their relationship. We have many animals living together in harmony and nature has always taken care of the introduction with just a little guidance from us.
2006-08-17 14:00:57 · answer #4 · answered by Jenny Alice 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just let them hang together in the same room, after a while(a few days or so) they will get to know each other and start to explore each other and start playing. don't worry, especially if your dog hasn't tried to harm them yet, sounds like he just wants to play. the cats just have to get use to him being there. I've got cats and dogs and everybody gets along great. don't' worry,just give it time. good luck. ; )
2006-08-17 14:03:38 · answer #5 · answered by MeLissa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very tough. My dogs kills any cat that might come into our yard.
2006-08-17 13:55:08 · answer #6 · answered by Pappa Poopy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on the animals some get along others just dont like if one is really agressive then it will never work
2006-08-17 13:55:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to give them a treat every time they go near each other.
2006-08-17 13:57:33 · answer #8 · answered by shannon m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uuuuuuh...Peace treaty???
2006-08-17 13:56:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
stop believing they cant
2006-08-17 13:55:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋