Can dogs learn to be nice to cats?
By shiningstar1
@shiningstar1 (94)
October 29, 2012 3:44pm CST
My sister has a dog, it's a cross breed of Pomeranian and German Spitz. He is young, 2 years.
She got him but we already had cats. He has not been trained from the people she got him from. He doesn't like cats and barks at them. They are scared to be in house because of him. Is there anyway a dog can be trained to be nice to cats and not bark so much.
He still barks at people when he goes for walks sometimes and he hates foxes and barks at them too. He is also a bit scared of other dogs. Some he is ok with, others he is nervous. What do you think causes this type of behaviour?
Can cats ever learn to be braver?
3 people like this
16 responses
@shiningstar1 (94)
•
8 Dec 12
Thanks for all your responses. My sister has asked a vet for advice and has suggested what the best thing is to get them used to each other. As cat is really scared of the dog and dog seems to not like the cat and wants to chase her the suggestion was to put the dog on a lead otherwise he would chase the cat which would terrorise the cat and make her worse.
Dog has to be on the lead in the room so that way they slowly get used to each other.
My sister tried it once and the dog was on the lead panting loud because he just wanted to chase her. The cat is just scared. She gets scared stasrts miaowing which turns into hissing.
Before asking the vet I bought her in a while ago, I think last month I picked her up and held her in my arms, the dog saw her came downstairs and started jumping up me trying to get her, she was really scared. She wanted to run, I told the dog off and repeatedly said no to him. He understood and ran off I put her down and she ran outside.
I think the dog can be together with the cat in a room loose if the cat isn't so scared of the dog herself. She has always been scared of dogs because I remember a neighbour's dog came into our garden years ago before this dog came to our house and she ran and hid from it. She was scared.
She used to chase foxes in our garden and not be that scared of them but she has been scared after a while and ran off from them as she has been chased by foxes and I have even seen one bite her.
I think to get a cat and dog to have them as babies together is probably the best way. I have no idea what my sister was thinking when she got this dog.
@41CombedaleRoad (5954)
• Greece
30 Oct 12
It sounds as though the dog is afraid of things and that is why he barks at everything including the cats. Although the cats may appear to be afraid of the dog the reverse might be true.
I have dogs and cats. At first I noticed that if the cats did not run then the dogs were confused. This gave the cats an advantage and within a short space of time the cats were the 'top dogs' if you get my drift. Cats strike fast and sharp and aim at the nose, dogs do not like to risk having their noses scratched. One of the newer dogs is a licking kind and she licks the cats as they pass by. Usually they just get a quick lick around the ears. They tolerate it and treat the dog with a little disdain.
One of my cats seems to prefer the company of the dogs than of the other cat. So cats vary, yours may also come around but you cannot train them, you must let them sort out their relationships by themselves.
@shiningstar1 (94)
•
31 Oct 12
Thank you everyone for all of your responses. You have all given me something to think about.
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
4 Nov 12
Hi shining star: Though I am not a professional on the subject, I've always been told that is easier when they are puupies. However try to ask a professional trainer on the things you can do to h elp a good relationship start and how the dog could feel calmed about the presence of yopur cats.
ALVARO
@spazz435 (322)
• United States
5 Nov 12
It is one thing for a dog to learn to leave the cats alone; but, it's another thing to get cats to learn to leave the dog alone. Dogs are one of the easiest animals to train. Cats, not so much. Cats can be trained but only if they feel like they want to be. Dogs will do anything to make humans happy, and can be trained to do almost anything. If you want to train anyone, train the dog. Cats will always be protective over their safety and their territory. There's nothing you can do about that.
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
8 Nov 12
What causes this type of behavior?
I think his behavior is because he hasn't been properly socialized as a puppy.
I suggest your sister to talk to a professional trainer to guide her what to do to change the bad behavior of her dog. He is still young and can be rehabilitated.
@passion4fassion (996)
• Philippines
8 Nov 12
yes specially when they grow old together i have a cat and a dog and they get along they look sweet all the time
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
29 Oct 12
I think that your sister's little dog is just scared of the cats, just like he is of some of the other dogs, of the foxes and of other people. As time goes and he gets used to it, he may not bark so much. I am not sure what to tell you, I know that cats and dogs get along but the easier way is when they grow up together. Maybe you can go to petcentric.com? It's a website that covers a lot to do with animals, and they may have good tips on how to introduce them to each other.
@codris (781)
• Italy
30 Oct 12
i don't know if you can teach a dog to be nice with cats, but i've a dog, he's 15 years old! and i've also a cat she is about 8 years old, when i took it my dog just started to look at her, and just sit down and started to sleep. i think that this depends from dog to dog.
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
1 Nov 12
I've always rescued Animals so I've been with Cats and Dogs because people keep buying but the adult ones will go to euthanasia so you imagine how difficult that is to put adult different species animals together. They all learned how to live with each other. Even the Cats here were all adults and they had some ugly fights when a new kid was on the block but they love each other now and I have THREE custom made homes for them, but they sleep ALL SMASHED TOGETHER in only one, lololol!!!!! 
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
30 Oct 12
I think it depends on the personality of the dog more than teaching and educating of the dog. If he hates cats, he hates cats... you may try to get him accustomed to the cats, but you can't do anything more. And you can't tell a cat to be braver or educate them on that (especially as you think even humans fear to stand up against the people tormenting and scaring them, even when they have the brains to know that they can do that). Maybe talk to an expert in the3se fields, but I can't believe it can be done...
@watchamacallitz (1171)
• Philippines
29 Oct 12
We have a dog and a cat at home and they seem to get along with each other just fine :) I think they just have to get used to the fact that they will be together and they're stuck with each other!
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
29 Oct 12
I thinks dogs are like people. Some people in this world cant get alone with anyone. Also some dogs cant get along with any cat. My little dog is one of them. She hates cats.
@Sukeena1961 (343)
• United States
29 Oct 12
Dogs can learn to like cats. I used to raise American Pitbull Terriers and three abandoned kittens I had sought refuge in one of my pitbulls doghouse one night during an ice storm. When I came home from work (at 2a.m.)I couldn't find them. I searched all over and called for them for about an hour and couldn't find them. It was already sleeting and starting to ice up so I was worried about them. The next morning I went out early to find them. I called to them and called to them. I went out to where the dogs were to see if one of the dogs may have hurt them. While back there calling for the kitties, Gripper came out of his house. I petted him and called the kitties. He looked in his house then back at me. I looked in the dog house and there they were nice and cozy. On another note I had a cat named Toby Cat, that would sit up on the bannister or somewhere and wait for a dog to walk by then she'd jump on the dogs back clawing and biting til she run him out of the yard. I had a rat terrier that was afraid of her. I think a German Spitz was bred as a hunting dog, that could explain his aggression toward the cat. The hunting instinct. Just every time you see him after the cat or barking at the cat, correct him and say no. Repetition usually works.
@Sindelle (824)
• United States
29 Oct 12
I've known a few friends who had a similar problem. They had to gradually introduce the animals. For example they'd separate them with a gate and supervise them together. At first they'd even hold the cat and have the dog on a leash. So yes it is possible but depending on the dogs personality sometimes its easier then others.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
29 Oct 12
We currently have 5 dogs (2 small, 3 big) and 3 cats living under the same roof. And all of the dogs are actually scared of 1 of the cats...
So as you can see, yes, dogs can be taught to be nice to cats. Whenever the dog barks at the cats, scold him. How you scold him is up to your sister; spray their face with a spray bottle, gently slap his bottom (more for getting his attention then hurting), or put him outside. No matter what 'method' you choose, ALWAYS tell the dog sternly, "NO!"
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
29 Oct 12
My dog and my daughter's cat are friends.
I don't know how to train your dog to become friendly but all our dogs and cats are always going well.
My daughter's cat is older than our dog for 4 months.
Since our cat is small one and our dog is just a puppy before- they get along well.
They played and sometimes eat together (thu many times we always try to shoo away the cat for eating dog food- but sometimes we let them eat together)
Since then, they become more closer to each other- they sleep together as well.
