How to Introduce a New Puppy to Your Cats
Dogs and cats are both hunters and social animals, but the two species interact in very different ways. Cats maintain social order by dividing up space and are far more solitary than dogs. Dogs have a strong pack identity and do not understand the need cats have for personal space. If you carefully supervise their early meetings, your puppy and cats will likely get on quite well. If you don't, however, you may end up with injured and unhappy pets.
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Instructions
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Clip that cat's claws short before making the introduction. An angry cat can really injure a puppy's nose before the dog can react.
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Establish separate areas for each animal. Give the dog a comfortable crate, water and his food bowl in one area. Put a litter box, cat food and water in a room the puppy can't get to. You can keep the room separated by a baby gate with a hole just big enough for the cat, or else wedge the door so it is open only wide enough for the cat to get through.
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Place a see-through or sniff-through barrier, such as a baby gate, between areas where you plan to have the two animals meet. Put dog treats and toys near the dog side and cat treats and toys near the cat side. If you want to be extra cautious, you can have them meet by sniffing each other under a door.
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Relax and watch your cats and dog mingle. Don't react even if they growl or hiss. If they try to attack each other through the gate, however, shout at them to stop and shoo them both away from the gate.
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Once the puppy and cats have become comfortable with each other, put the dog on a leash and remove the gate. Let the animals play together, but watch carefully.
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If the dog starts chasing one of the cats, say "stop," "heel" or some similar command, and push the dog away from the cat firmly, but not violently. Use the same verbal command every time this happens.
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Praise the dog when he follows your order and leaves the cats alone. Praise and pet all the animals when they play nicely together.
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Play chase games with your dog to help him get rid of some of his energy and to show him that playing with you is OK. That way, he will learn to chase you instead of the cats.
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Confine the cats and the puppy in separate areas whenever you leave the house or are unable to supervise them.
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