Young dog and new kittens

[kateknights]

Hi, I have a 15 month old dobie, he is as soft as you know what, he loves our cat (4yrs) to bits, but if we aren't watching him he gets a bit bolshy with him. But any other cat he chases!
Now today we are getting two twelve week old kittens as we lost a cat about two months ago and i miss her like crazy she was such a sweetie.
I am planning on putting kitties in a big cage so that they can get used to the sounds of my noisy children, the dog, and the other cat. The cage will have their litter tray, bed toys water etc in it, and it is the biggest cage you can get for dogs.
Do you think i am doing the right thing?
thanks
Kate x

 

[kibob]

The cage is certainly a good idea, however at some point they will have to come out of the cage in order to be socialised into your home. Personally, I wouldn't risk having tiny kittens around such a young dog accidents can so easily happen

. I think you may need to have eyes in the back of your head

Good luck, hope it all goes well.

 

[Maesfen]

Just be very careful that you are extra firm with the dog; it's too late when he's got one in his mouth to play with!
If it was us introducing a new dog to our hens, we'd probably ignore while keeping an eye on things and then tell off if he started taking an interest so they very quickly learn that to take an interest means they will get told off in no uncertain terms so far better to ignore the hens completely which can be very funny to watch cos they look in any direction other than the hens and keep close to you as much as to say ' I'm here, Mum, aren't I good?'!! Very difficult to explain, you want them to accept each other, but at that age for both of them, 'play' could get out of hand so you need to be very strict that dog knows he's not to touch, at least until they are old enough to give him as good back if he gets rough! Oh and please don't forget to take as much notice in a nice way of the dog else he will feel jealous and left out because then, he would have a reason to get narky with them!

Hope you all have lots of fun together!

 

[CAYLA]

Agree with both posts.....u have to be confident that u an be firm and he will take notice of that....the crate is a good idea...as kibob suggests they will have to come out at some stage, if u are confident u can reprimand him in regard to getting over keen and poss hurting them, and u are aware and vigilant of the signs......and never leave them unspervised(which I sure u wouldnt anyway) as even a nip from such a big powerfull overzellous breed could prove fatal......I wouldnt have been to worried, but as u mention the bolchyness wih the older cat...the kittens are going to be more exciting in his eyes.....which will cause a little over excitement on his behalf.
If u go ahead just be very vigilant at all times

and as suggested when he pays any unwanted/over the top attention to the kittens be sure to step and tell him in no uncertain terms.

 

[kateknights]

Thanks guys, yes you are all right in what you say, he will be watched like a hawk, when they come out, I think it will take time, but he will come around in the end.
Thanks again
PS, I will post some piccies in PG tomorrow, so will let you know...
Kate x