Dog Community

Adult cats and new dog

Mike

Posted : 4/17/2006 1:53:40 PM

We've added a 14-week-old golden retriever puppy to our family of two humans and two cats. As might be expected Milo is just fascinated by the cats, and while he doesn't seem to be aggressive towards them, he desperately wants to chase them and regardless finds them endlessly fascinating.

In the week we've had him, we've been allowing the cats to come as close as they dare while we keep the puppy on a leash or hold him by the collar, but we haven't allowed him to run free in the same space with the cats.

I'm unsure how to proceed from here. Should we let him off the leash and let the cats do what they need to do while Milo's still got his puppy teeth and bite, or should we work on diligently training him to ignore the cats along with all the other stuff he needs not to do?

While I'd love for Milo and the cats to become friends, and would like to encourage that outcome as much as possible, I'd at least like to ensure he finds them uninteresting enough that we could eventually allow him and the cats to have the run of the house (with some space restricted just for the cats, of course) without running the risk that we'll come home to a dead cat in the foyer.

I'd really appreciate experiences and suggestions.

Thanks!

tiffy

Posted : 4/17/2006 3:23:42 PM

You don't know if the pup wants to kill the cat. Let them work it out. If nothing terrible happens, then you know its okay. Cats have claws for a reason. Usually it only takes one swat and the dog knows the limit.

Mike

Posted : 4/18/2006 9:03:40 AM

Oh, I don't think he wants to kill the cats at all. Best I can tell from his expressions and posture he wants them to play. But he's demonstrated a fairly high prey drive with a great deal of motion awareness and shaking behavior, for instance, as I think one would expect of a golden, and I want to subdue that instinct vis-a-vis cats as successfully as possible as early as possible so that he views felines as small pack members, or at the very least something we want him to ignore, as opposed to something that ingites his ancient instinct to chase after small, meal-sized things.

We actually had an unintended lesson last night. We took him up to his crate and after we'd gotten him in, our 2-year-old still very kittenish cat Tex came sauntering into the room. Milo observed with interest but only a few subdued whimpers, no barking, no lunging, no trying to get out, at least until he remembered he had a peanut-butter filled kong toy at his feet. Tex crept right up to the crate as Milo worked on the Kong ... and just kept on working the kong. I'm hoping he knew Tex was there, but was more interested in his treat ... a very good thing indeed.

Christi

Posted : 4/18/2006 4:45:02 PM

Are your cats declawed?

Xerxes

Posted : 5/11/2006 12:55:19 PM

The cats will adjust to the dog and the dog to the cats. It may take some time though, and be prepared to referee if your puppy just "doesn't get it" when the cats tell him to back off. If your cats have claws they will certainly establish limits.

As they grow up together you'll see alot of hijinks and fun. My cat (almost 9yrs old) has recently started attacking my PHs tail. He usually just watches with an expression that says "um...I think that's MY tail" but he never retaliates. He will occasionally get a bit riled up and she will let him have it.

They have a way of settling things themselves and at least learning to tolerate each other.

Patt

Posted : 5/12/2006 1:11:37 PM

How are the pup and cats doing? I think you are doing the right thing, keeping him on a leash. It will take lots of time and patience but I think it will work out. They may not be the best of buddies but will learn to tolerate each other. Just make sure the cats have a safe area to escape to.