any suggestions on getting new dog to love cats?
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
United States
June 3, 2010 9:37am CST
i adopted a pitbull/boxer mix that had to find a new home a few weeks ago.. he and my other dog get along great but he scares the hell out of my cats! the dog i already had gets along great with the cats and is bigger than the new dog but this dog likes to lunge and bark at them. we have been keeping them apart but its been annoying to segregate my pets! now he accidently got to both of my cats and chased them into the corner but he never bit them or anything and one cat had a wet shoulder so im thinking he did lick him or grab him but didnt hurt him.. he has a habit of liking to grab your hand and hold it in his mouth but he never clamps down or anything..
i really think if he was going to hurt them he would have the 3 times they accidently were in the same room and he cornered them and he tries to get my other dog to play by play lunging at her but doesnt bark..
we have tried having them see each other through a gate or cage and he will still charge and bark at them so just scares them more.. i cant think of anything to do! the past owner had to get rid of him because his daughter was deathly allergic to him and he said the dog did interact with cats in the neighborhood and one he liked and the other one he didnt because it would taunt him on the fence so its not like he hasnt seen a cat before!!
any advice? he is the sweetest dog there is but he has to stop the lunging and barking around them or else i wont let him near them.. and if he was going to hurt them wouldnt he have already? should i take him to a class or something?? i cant get rid of him because i do like him and my dog is already attached to him and it killed her when we tried with another dog and got rid of him.. HELP!
8 responses
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
3 Jun 10
A dog whistle or one of those sonic sound things might help. You'd have to combine that with a verbal command like "No!" or "Bad!" They usually do help to alter a dog's behavior. They don't like the high-pitched noise because it hurts their ears. When they learn that the bad behavior results in that sound, they usually get the message. Then, you wouldn't have to use the whistle, just a verbal command. Eventually, you won't have to do a thing.
If it doesn't work, maybe signing up for dog behavior classes might help. There ARE ways to get a dog to change his behavior. If all else fails, talk to the vet. They almost always have suggestions that should work.
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
8 Jun 10
i bought the dog whistle and plan on starting to use it and test him with the cats fibro willing lol.. i always thought they were silent but this one isnt..
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
8 Jun 10
I had one that wasn't silent, either. But, it did get a reaction from my dog. Apparently, it's pitched high enough to make them stop what they're doing and pay attention. Let me know how it goes.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
4 Jan 11
didnt work that well.. i mean it would work for anything till he saw the cats lol.. we are leaving the door to the room he is crated in at night for the cats to go in so he can at least get used to seeing them because its too hard on everyone keeping them seperated
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
8 Jun 10
i already tried that but the cats see him and get spooked with his past behavior and run the opposite way
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
4 Jan 11
i decided to use your advice in a different matter and when the dog is crated (he's crate trained for now) and let the cats in the room since they eat and hang out in the room he is in.. some times he gets mad and barks at them but now its far between and i think the next step of getting them together will be a lot easier
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
7 Jun 10
he seems like a sweet dog. he just wants to play, maybe even with the cats. keep him busy with his dog toys, rawhide, and the other dog. and spend quality family time together, where ur family, the dogs and cats, hang out together as a family so that the new dog will get used to the cats as just other family members.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
8 Jun 10
thats a good idea.. i think i will try that when i have a third person though so the dog and the two cats each have a person holding them
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
4 Jun 10
Hey moonlit! Wow! That is a dilema! I don't think that he wants
to hurt the cats, because as you said he would have done that
by now! I really think he wants to play, but doesn't know how
to go about it with them! He gets along with your dog, but
probably doesn't realize he is scaring the cats? Maybe he is
thinking of the cat that bothered him! I would just keep trying
and hopefully the all will get used to each other! But, if
he is going to upset the cats then you will have to keep them
separate because they were there first and it isn't right for
them to be scared all the time!
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
8 Jun 10
yeah i know i feel bad cuz they hide out under my bed afraid he will get them even when the door is shut but i havent had the energy to try some new techniques yet and i priced lessons and omg they are expensive but may be the way i have to go
@sakerxfalcon (109)
• United States
4 Jun 10
I'd be careful with the dog and the cat. Until you know they either like each other, or just won't hurt each other, I wouldn't let the dog be anywhere near the cat if you or someone else isn't watching him; just in case he hurts the cat. Somehow you'll have to teach the dog that a cat is much more fragile and small than a dog, and obviously can't hold up to the dog's idea of playing.
I am not good with dogs because I haven't owned one in years; but it is absolutely necessary that the dog becomes more gentle to the cat. Good luck.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
8 Jun 10
thanks.. yeah i plan on never letting them be alone and it was a fluke the three times he did corner them since i thought all the cats were put away then we had a baby gate and the cats didnt try to jump it because they knew he was out there but then got brave and did so ive been trying to keep them apart but unfortunately keeping up with who is where sometimes doesnt go perfectly
@shadowluigi89 (173)
• Philippines
4 Jun 10
Are you really that desperate in making you dog love to be with your cat? if you really do, it actually simple. While your dog is still a puppy, it is better to allow him/her to be close to your cat at home. So that once your dog recognizes your cat, it won't go nuts... :)
As we all know, old dogs are not that good in learning new tricks... as simple as that...
Making dogs and cats good friends are pretty neat... no more annoying midnight barks and noisy ceilings... If your a pet lover, this is one situation in which you can consider harmony is really present...
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
8 Jun 10
the previous owner tried for a year to get him a home but no one wants him and i have taken in pets before and tried to find them a home and there just arent any no kill shelters that have room anymore especially now that we had the flood here.. his age might still be in puppy stage depending on the breeds.. i think boxers are puppies till they are 3 and my other dog which was a lab boxer stayed in puppy stage till 5 so i think there is hope in getting him straight before its too late
@ktroth (378)
• United States
3 Jun 10
When I was a kid we got a beautiful full-grown German Shepherd. We had a cat who was used to having a dog around, as our other Shepherd passed shortly before we got the new one. Well, although the dog was fairly well trained and was great with people, she went after other animals like crazy. So we had to be very careful. Initially we kept them apart, but it seemed cruel to lock up the cat. It wasn't her fault. So we began putting them together for just a few minutes at a time. Eventually it got to the point where we could leave them both out without a problem. The dog definitely played rougher than the other dog did, but she didn't hurt her and they became friends. They weren't the best of friends, but they were friends. It will just take time and patience. The dog needs to be scolded for going after the cat. And remember, cats are fast and clever. As long as there is a place for the cat to hide that the dog can't get to, it will be ok.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
8 Jun 10
im glad yours got better.. that gives me a lot of hope!!
@sleepylittlerose (1648)
• United States
3 Jun 10
His beavior is completely natural for a puppy. He is trying to determing the social order of your home. And once one of the cats reach out and smack him across the nose once or twice he will know exactly where he belongs in this order. His behavior of barking and lunging is also natural. It is his way of trying to initiate play.
Some training certainly will not hurt anything. It will teach him to know when it is appropriate to play and also that when you call him the play should cease. He is more than likely just a big goof ball and would not hurt anything but basic training commands will make it easier for you to control the situation.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
8 Jun 10
i looked into some classes and omg they are expensive but i may end up doing that though.. but yeah i think he is goofing around but the cats arent amused
