Some dogs live well with cats; Others simply cannot live safely with felines. Sometimes a dog can live with some cats (depending on their age, temperament and activity level), but not others. Even if your dog has managed to live with cats in the past, it is important to remember that each dog and each cat is an individual and, therefore, each introduction is different.
When you introduce your dog to a cat, pay attention to the body language of the two animals. If the cat ears are pinned or the tail is trying to switch, it's a good indicator that he is unhappy. You especially want to be aware of body language of the dog which could be potential warning signs. If your dog has a strong prey (the inclination to seek, Hunt and capture animals considered prey - usually smaller animals like kittens or rabbits), it could become very concentrated on the cat. She stiffened, staring, and can start barking or whining. If you see these signs, don't let her near the cat. Ideally, his body language will be loose and relaxed around the cat. It's okay if it pays attention to the cat, but you don't want to see it fixed on him.
In addition, the interaction of a dog with a cat can change depending on the environment. Just because your dog is fine with the cat inside the House does not mean that it will expose this same behavior on the outside. She could set on the cat and start to betray him when they are outdoors together. So, be aware of body language around the cat in each new situation, until you know how it will respond to him.
There are many different ways to introduce a dog to a cat. If the first method of introduction that you try does not work, or if you do not feel comfortable, try a different option. Even if the dog has had experience with cats and the cat has lived with a dog before, proceed cautiously during the introduction. It is best to have two people, one to intervene with each animal, if necessary. If you have more than one dog, introducing each dog separately to the cat.
Option 1:desensitization, slow and steady :
If your dog is too fixed on the cat, you can try the desensitization, whose purpose is to reduce the reaction of your dog to cat gradually increasing its exposure. Put the cat in a room (for example, a bedroom, a bathroom or a spare room) with a large door to baby through the door. The room that you choose should be the one that the dog cannot access and does not need access. For example, if the dog sleeps the night in the room with you, do not choose this room for the cat. The idea is to separate them and allow them to see each other for specific times.
In his room, give the cat all supplies needed: box litter, toys, food and water. Keep in mind that cats are good to tighten small gaps and are also good climbers and riders. So, make sure that your cat may not exceed the door that you show. The door should be a barrier that allows cats and dogs to see, but does not allow them to access each other.
To start desensitization, let the dog see the cat briefly in the door, and then make sure the dog focuses on something else, like playing with a toy or make the practical indicia. Sometimes, it helps to keep the dog on a leash so that you can push out it of the chat when you try to refocus his attention. Praise and reward the dog to be able to concentrate elsewhere. Continue to give the dog to the short views of the cat throughout the day.
Sometimes, even see the chat at the beginning is too exciting for the dog. If this is the case, close the door and start to feed each animal on its side of the door: the cat eats his food in his room, just next to the door, and the dog eats his meal across the door. This allows each animal to associate the smell of the other with something good: the food. You can also exchange the blankets and bedding of each animal, by giving to the other. In this way, the dog can get used to the smell of the cat and the cat can get used to the smell of the dog, without too much exciting one of them.
Hopefully, through this process of slowly let the dog see the cat and get used to the presence of the cat, the dog eventually become desensitized and loses his interest in the cat. In some cases, the dog will lose its interest for the cat in a few hours, but it can take days, weeks or even months. Each dog (and each cat) is an individual and will learn at their own pace.
That said, however, it is possible that your dog is never able to share space with a cat safely. If you do not have to be able to trust your dog around your cat, you should distinguish them. Many dogs can injure or kill a cat very quickly, and your dog may also be hurt by the cat. Your first priority should be to ensure that everyone remains safe.
Option 2: introduction face-to-face
It is a faster introduction. A person should keep the dog on a loose lead and watch the body language of the dog. Someone else should look at the body language of the chat. If the cat does not throw back or whistling around the dog, he can afford to move freely. A cat is rarely a threat for a dog, but some cats will be the offensive meetings with dogs.
If the dog is calm around the cat, you can ask the dog to sit, lie down and stay, if she learned these indices, while the cat moves freely, sniffed the dog if he wishes. The dog should be praised and rewarded if it ignores the cat. If the dog is too fixed on the cat (e.g., looking at the cat, has a rigid body language, won't listen to you when you call him) or if she fights and tries to chase the cat, you should try a different strategy to make them share the space, like option 1 or option 3.
Option 3: look at this
If the quick introduction has not worked and that your dog does not become desensitized to the cat, you may need to try a more structured training. Playing Look at That (LAT) with your dog, you can help him learn to not focus on the cat. You will teach him to watch the cat and look you for a treat. Basically, she'll learn that it is more rewarding to not pay attention to the cat.
To start working on LAT, you find the threshold of the dog on a leash: how she noticed the cat, but you still responds when you say his name? It is his threshold. Each dog has a different threshold. For a dog, five feet of cat might be break-even; For another dog, it might be 25 feet. You will know that you have exceeded the threshold when it starts to bark or to embark on the cat. Another sign that the closer get you too much of the cat is if she starts to move more slowly, looking at and tensing his body. If you call his name and it does not, move a few meters from the cat.
Once you understand the threshold of the dog, take a clicker and really delicious treats. If you don't have a clicker, a verbal marker (a word like "Yes" or "good") will work fine. Put 10 treats in your hand and keep the bag close to the later.
When you see the dog that look at the cat, click on the button or use your marker verbal and he give a treat. The first few times, you may need to put right in front of his nose, but early treatment, it should begin to look forward to as soon as she hears the marker. This is because the marker (either a clicker or a word like 'yes') always means that a treatment is to come. Use 10 treats, clicking as soon as she looks at the cat.
The 11th time, before using the marker, wait and see if it will look the cat and will look at you right now. If it does, click or use the verbal marker when she looks at you and give him a treat. If this does not occur, go back. Mark it again 10 times to watch the cat and try again. Once she looks reliably the cat and you look back, you can slowly start to get closer to the cat. If the dog is fixed on the chat when you get closer, you have exceeded the threshold and must go back.
As you train, its threshold decreases, which means you must close and bring closer you to the cat. Keep practicing LAT with your dog until she can be right next to the cat without problem. At what speed the threshold of your dog depends on you (how you practice and the types of candies you use), your dog (since each dog learns at a different pace) and the comfort level of your cat.
Presentation of kittens and puppies
If you introduce a kitten to a dog, keep in mind that the kittens may not be afraid of the dogs, then you have to look at the dog. Because the kittens are small and want to run and play, dogs with a strong prey can be excited by the movements of a kitten. Even if your dog is fine with your adult cats, it is important to look closely at her when she's with a kitten. If your dog is young and high energy, it could hurt or kill the kitten just trying to play. Therefore, for security reasons, avoid kittens and dogs at anytime that you are not looking.
The introduction of adult cats to puppies can sometimes be easy, because a well socialized adult cat could be good with a puppy acting as a puppy. However, if your puppy crawling cost your shy cat, it is up to you to intervene. Up to
