Dogs & cats: adding to the household

Cassie Abbott · 02-07-2007, 06:16 PM

I'm in the process of adopting a 2 year old ACD and I'm kind of nervous. She's the first dog that I'll be adopting, previously I've always had the dog from 8 weeks on. It's kind of scary (to me at least) to adopt a grown dog with no known background. I do have experience with other dominant and stubborn breeds (Cane Corso, Pyrenees), so that's not a biggie for me. This dog in particular is very submissive, not your typical ACD.

My biggest concern is how she'll be with my cats. ACDs have a high prey drive, and many chase and/or harass cats. I have two indoor cats that are currently very content in a dogless household. In order for this dog to work out she must get along with my cats. This dog seems to have been trained (possibly through physical punishment) to leave cats alone. She acts almost afraid of them and avoids them, backing away. How can I manage the introduction to keep it positive all around? I don't have a crate, but could confine the dog to the kitchen. I also have a spare room that could be used to confine the cats. How do I manage them all for the first month or so in order to keep the cats safe and the dog on the right track? What about sleeping arrangements? Right now the cats sleep in the living room with the bedroom door closed. Continue this with the dog in the bedroom? Dog in the kitchen with cats in the bedroom? Help!

DOBERMAN_07 · 02-07-2007, 06:34 PM

Introduce them in a calm quiet room and dont let the dog chase after the cat when they first see each other. The cat is going to be more scared than the dog and will try to run away. Its going to take a while for them to get a long, mostly because cats are paranoid.

It took my Dobie and cat about 5 months to get along but that was because my dog was a puppy and would always scare the cat away by trying to play with it.

But as you can tell, now they are cool:

Keno's Mom · 02-07-2007, 07:22 PM

First NEVER leave the cats alone with the dog till you are sure - all it takes is a few mins.

Second, can you find out more background on the dog regarding cats? I would keep the dog confined to see the reactions first. What happens to the dog if the dog and cats are not compatable?

You might want to crate the dog and let the cats decide on when to approach.

Cassie Abbott · 02-07-2007, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keno's Mom

Second, can you find out more background on the dog regarding cats? I would keep the dog confined to see the reactions first. What happens to the dog if the dog and cats are not compatable?

Unfortunately she came in as a stray, so they have absolutely no background info on her. When introduced to cats at the shelter she seemed almost afraid of them, and wanted nothing to do with them. It looked like somebody had trained her to leave cats alone. Course, this was in a shelter situation. With a little more confidence she could be an entirely different dog. In the end it's the cat thing that's going to make or break this adoption, so I'm trying to make sure it's a success. I don't expect them to be buddies, but at the very least I expect her to leave them alone.

Keno's Mom · 02-08-2007, 01:24 PM

Then watch her like a hawk when she has contact with the cats - and make sure the cats have a safety place where the dog can't get to them (room, top of treehouse, etc.)

Hope things work out for everyone.

skunkstripe · 02-08-2007, 01:44 PM

When you make the introductions, make sure that the cats feel safe and that you have control over the dog. Usually it is better to keep them separated in such a way that they can smell each other but not see each other. The dog will possibly want to chase the cat or be curious and want to approach, and the cats will want no part of the dog.
You may want to have the first meeting be with the dog in a crate and the cats in their usual environment, ie running free. That way they will not fee threatened by the dog and can get used to her smell.
Another thing that helps is to get a rag or towel and wipe the dog with it, leave this towel near the cats' food bowl. That way they associate the dog's smell with something they like.

Cat people swear by something they call the "vanilla trick" which is to pout a drop of vanilla on the forehead of both cat and dog so they smell similar to each other. This supposedly helps them to "bond".

Good luck!

Cassie Abbott · 02-08-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skunkstripe

Cat people swear by something they call the "vanilla trick" which is to put a drop of vanilla on the forehead of both cat and dog so they smell similar to each other. This supposedly helps them to "bond".

Hmmm, never heard of that vanilla trick! I might try that, it can't hurt anyways.

babydolwv · 02-08-2007, 11:35 PM

i agree with what the others have said.. it will take some time for them to adjust, but like they said you will have to keep your eyes on the dog... i have a terrier/lab... and she loves to play with our 1 yr old cat... she does hurt the cat and isnt being agressive with her at all.. but i let her play until i think i am going to see trouble....which hasnt happened yet... Sweetie (the cat) either bats her paw at saddie or runs away... and no sweetie isnt declawed and yes i know that she could draw blood and thats y i make sure to keep a good eye on them... she has swatted at saddie many times... never drawing blood, but saddie will give out a short yelp and then (time for the funny part) turn around and back her but up to her and it almost looks like she is sitting on the cat but she is not totally sitting... I think since saddie is a pup its sorta good for her if you know what i mean... IMO it teaches her to be a bit easier when she wants to play... but in your case i will prob be a bit different at the dog is already 2 yrs old...