Contrary
to the adage, “fighting like cats and
dogs,” most dogs and cats can get along
nicely together. Perhaps you’d like to
add another pet to your family or maybe
you will be caring for a friend’s pet
while they’re away.
The first thing is to understand what
the “problem” is with dogs and cats. The
problem is, cats run so dogs chase them.
Or, dogs chase them so cats run. (Which
came first, the chicken or the egg?)
Therefore, the best way to introduce
dogs and cats is to have the dog on a
leash and collar so you can prevent fast
movement. Do your best to give the dog
some exercise and practice a few
obedience commands before entering the
cat’s home (or bringing the cat in).
This may help to burn off some of the
physical and mental energy most dogs
have.
Next is to act relaxed. If you act tense
and worried, the animals will sense it
and may have a more difficult time
behaving calmly themselves. Remember,
most dogs are not interested in biting
cats at all. They’re usually just
curious and want to meet the cat, the
same way they’re interested in meeting
people and other dogs.
Use the dog’s obedience commands to
prevent him from running or jumping
around. The “sit/stay” command is very
helpful in this scenario. Allow the
animals to sniff one another, but keep
the dog on a short leash so that if an
altercation were to arise, you could
prevent problems.
If the cat keeps running off and hiding,
it can be helpful to have a second human
who can hold the cat so they can
coexist. Be sure not to hold the cat up
high, otherwise the dog may jump because
he can’t reach to sniff him.
Once the dog and cat have met, resume
normal casual activity with the dog on
leash by your side. By having the
animals simply coexist without focusing
on one another, you send the message…
that they can simply coexist and not
focus on one another!
The worst thing to do when having dogs
and cats in the same household is to
keep them separated. If they never see
each other they’ll definitely never
learn to get along, and if they only see
each other rarely, each time will be as
exciting as the first.
If you already have a dog and cat living
in the same household who have not yet
learned to coexist, you can use these
techniques to help them live in harmony.
If you are nervous, or if there have
been problems in the past, the services
of a knowledgeable, educated trainer can
help.
With some patience and consistency, soon
the dog and cat may even be “snuggling
like cats and dogs!”
Article written by Lori Verni
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