Introducing adult dog to adult cat.

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Laura2408

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Question in title really but what's the best way to do this.

I'm moving in with OH who has two adult cats. Both cats have lived with small dogs before but my dog Is pretty big and boisterous compared to dogs they know. One cat is outgoing, the other shy and quiet.

My dog (collie) becomes obessed with things easily. I'm worried he will become obsessed with the cats as he did the rabbit!

He will chase cats on a walk if one jumps out and runs infront of him but has not ever hurt anything. He has met cats in houses before and just stared at them but I don't want him to chase if they move.

How do I teach him that cats are to be left alone and not bothered?

Thanks
 
Crate train your dog, so that he is happy in a crate (his den), feed him in here etc and don't shut it until he is happy and relaxed and then only for a short while, building to longer (sorry if it is grandmother and eggs, some dogs have been ruined for crates by forcing and rushing the process).
Then have him in the crate while the cats are in the room. he will learn to cope with the presence of cats and the cats will learn not to run - it's the running and the chase instinct that is usually the problem.
 
Thanks Jill for your advice much appreciated!
He is already crate trained as I crate him at work. We thought about the crate idea however we can't actually fit a crate in the living room (dog is very large and living room very small!) so not sure if this would work but we could try. The new house is a very small cottage, literally a small living room then small kitchen so we can't find a space big enough for the crate to sit without shutting the dog out of the main living areas which would be a shame as he hates being alone!

It's certainly worth trying to figure out though thanks!
 
Safe places for cats such as high up perches that they get used to using before the dog arrives, or a baby gate that cats fit through but dog doesn't ( unless dog will jump it)

Get the cats settled in a safe place and bring in dog on lead. Have lots of treats ready to distract the dog.

Hope this helps
 
We put the cat in her travel basket so dog could have a good sniff safely.
Always fed cat first whilst stopping dog go near her, basically treated cat as the boss.
Worked s treat, except cat became boss over humans too!
Still beat the dog up at age 20. :-)
 
I feed mine together - use a gate so they are separate but still close and feed at the same time. Once they get used to eating in the same space they usually get on.

Most dogs can learn that 'their' house cat mustn't be chased even if outsiders are fair game but do make sure the cat has pelnty of escape routes and don't leave them shut in together if you are not around.
 
We used a stair gate too, so the cat could get upstairs but the dog couldn't. The cat used to stay upstairs horrified at first, then took to sitting on the stairs observing, then came downstairs, and gradually into the room. It took a few months.

I like the ideas of feeding the cat first etc.
 
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