Animal Boards Animal Index Animal Concerns The Canine Club The Cat Box The Bird's Nest Wildlife The Grotto Animal Rescue Animal Adopt

SEARCH VEGSOURCE:

Enter your search terms Submit search form

Reply To This Post         Return to Posts Index           VegSource Home

From:	Carlos (72.88.233.65)
Subject:	Re: Older cats & new puppy---HELP ME!!!
Date:	February 10, 2009 at 7:12 am PST

In Reply to: Older cats & new puppy---HELP ME!!! posted by Shanna on December 10, 2007 at 6:39 pm:

when introducing different breeds of animals and species in your case cats and a dog. you must be very carefull in choosing the right dog for this paticular arrangement. when choosing a new puppy choose a type of dog that is freindly toward other animals Example: English Bulldogs; which are known to be very good with other animals. Since you have already chosen your paticular breed; you must understand that being a puppy is just like an infant, in which exploration of new surroundings is what puppies like to do most; besides biting.this is causing your cats to fear the new member of the house. For your situation i suggest getting a crate if you dont have one already and setting up an X-Pen also. An X-Pen is a place were your puppy is enclosed in an area where he/she has a small bed and food and water, also a pee pee pad to releive himself when your not around. now that you have this set up this is what you must do. place your puppy in this area and allow him to play with his toys and just be a puppy. while he is in his play pen allow the cats out of their hiding places and allow them to see that the puppy is enclosed. Put the puppy in the pen every time you are feeding your cats and let them see that he is in his pen while they are being fed. this is not cruel to your puppy because he is beggining to learn limitations towards those animals in the house. while in his pen give hime treats also feed him in there when it is time to be fed. as for the cat that attacks, you must let her see that a new member is not there to harm her.by allowing her to see the puppy in the pen and letting her explore the pen and the puppy without you being there to watch then he will know that it is okay. you must be calm and not frightful or even tense when your puppy is around your cats. this energy your animals will feel. be calm and wanting of this situation.
the crate is only used to sleep in, read up on crate training. the crate is for your puppy and for you too. your puppy sees the crate as a haven or den place a blaket over the crate if it is a wire crate so that light is not shining through while they are sleeping. this will also allow you to sleep better knowing that your puppy is confined and not going to be hurt by the cats. also the cats will know that he is confined will be able to roam free. once the process is complete and your puppy knows the limitations of your home he will be a happy dog and also your cats. finally it is very important to walk your puppy for a period of time where he gets tired and hungry this will minimize the biting and playfullness if your dog while in the house with the cats.

Reply To This Post         Return to Posts Index           VegSource Home