[Lonnajean]

Hello everyone. I just found this site and I have loads of questions to those in the know. I am a new dog owner. I also have owned LOTS of cats but never had a dog this small and a house dog to boot. I rescued Oscar from the shelter two months ago. The people who surrendered him said he was six months old. The vet said maybe a year. He has all his adult teeth and hasn't grown taller in the two months I have had him but he has gotten bigger. He is a mixed breed with what the shelter said was cocker but he doesn't look like a cocker. He looks like a miniature brittany spaniel (he weighs between 15 and 20 pounds). He is such a challenge. He is way more active than I could ever dream that small a dog could be. He gets 2-4 walks a day of about 1/2 hour each. I try to play retrieve but he just wants to play tug of war. He doesn't listen unless I use his treats as a reinforcer. He walks ok but still pulls once in a while. He loves people and he chases one of my cats. That cat is dumb and won't leave but just lays there. The other cats run and hide from him. My question (to begin with) is will he ever calm down and not try to play so rough with the cat? The cat won't change his behaviour. Any suggestions on what to do? Thanks for your help. Lonna

 

[timluc0428]

If he is one he is right in his adolescent stage. So he should definitely calm down in a few months. I have found that running beside your dog will almost always make them want to run with you. (definitely recommend on-leash) and that will tire them out much quicker than just walking.