The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: plumseverywhere on December 06, 2012, 04:31:51 pm
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Realistically how hard is it? I've fallen in love with a pup. Have been researching dogs for a while and waited till my youngest is nearly 6. Don't want to put the cat's nose out of joint and would be devastated if she ran off or got hurt on the road as so many of my others did ...but I equally would like to have a dog around again for lots of good reasons.
Has anyone had any total failures at bringing a new pup in with an established cat? (she is 3 the cat) I'm expecting some scratched noses and pecking order type scraps but just wanted some opinions from you please.
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Never had a problem with a new pup as out cats have been used to dogs. I have strict rules that I never feed both in the same room, pup is never aloud to chase the cats or any other of our animals and so far all goes well.
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If the pup tries to chase cats, how do you deal with that behaviour? is it a case of keeping them on a lead to start with or does that just encourage them to chase soon as they are off again? Thanks Sabrina :)
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Just got a new pup, had her 2 and a half weeks, I've also got an 18 try old cat.
We made sure cat was in the house when the pup came home, and that the cat got to see the pup in the crate first and then , to be honest, after half an hour it was sort it out between yourselves
The pup chases the cat, the cat batters the dog, the dog backs off
If the dogs getting too boisterous for her, the cat just goes vertically upwards, shelves, furniture etc
Non of established dogs, 3 of them, chase the cat, they're too scared of her, any other cat though is fair game as far as they're concerned
To be honest you'll be watching every minute at first for nothing other than toilet training reason, so you can modify behaviour between them if its getting out if hand, we always worked on the principle that the cat had. Safe area and the pup gets put in its crate or its puppy pen if its getting too excited
Just go for it, there's nothing nicer than seeing a cat and a lurcher curled up in front of the fire
I'd second the food thing though, we feed the cat on the work top in the utility room well out of the way of the dogs, and she has a separate water dish and a bed up there too
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Our cats have the "Cats' Cupboard", under the eaves, where the litter tray is, food and water. There's a cat flap in so the cats can get food at any time.
I've never done it your way round but have brought cats, big and small, into he house. Our dogs were about nine months old when we got our first cat. We used a puppy cage so that they could see each other but Cass terrified the dogs, so it wasn't an issue. By the time we got kittens, the dogs were "cat - tame".
What kind of dog are you planning to get?
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Agree with all Alistair says. Introduce them in the house, let them sort it out. My cat, Rio, is the boss over my three dogs, but never once has he touched any of them.
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So it is perfectly workable and won't neccessarily end in disaster? good good!
Its a friend, she has a litter of a rather bizarre parentage mix but the pups are lovely looking and I know they've been looked after well. They are also used to living on a small holding. When I tell you they are Samoyed/Terrier cross you will giggle ;)
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::) :o :o
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Wow Sammi x terrier! NEED PIC!!! :)
Beware of high pray drive on both sides.. But I have 3 dogs- lurcher x, collie x and terrier all have strong hunt instincts, but the cats rule the house!
Allow the cat to have space away from pup, if pup chases cat then few secs (20-30 seconds) timeout in another room behind closed door. Just to say, if you want to spend time with us, and the cat is in the room then its not polite to chase it. Yes you may need pup to trail a lead so u can grab it, stand on it (if small pup put lead on a harness so you don't jar neck) etc.
If you work on rewarding focus on you and coming away from stuff is fun, then you will be able to recall away from cat even mid chase. See Susan Garrets website- Say Yes. Her recallers webinare is great. She is an amazing agility/flyball etc handler- world champ- because her dogs have great focus and work ethic.
I played her crate games and did other focus work with my JRT pup- he has amazing recall away from squirrels etc. At 2 he has the usual teenage issues, and he has started chasing one of the cats, but I can recall him and am going back to square one with focus and manors.
Really need pics!!!!!!
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My cat was 10 when I bought the new pup home. Pup wanted to play cat just ran for her life. We lived for a few months trying to keep them seperate but now just let them get on with it.
The cat is fed out of reach of the dog but other than that we don't do anything special other than the cat flap. The cat had always been used to going in and out of the cat flap but unfortunately I can't leave the flap open because the dog can get out. We had several accidents at first and I also bought back a litter tray for a while but now the cat 'asks' to go out and lets herself back in through the flap which is set to work one way only.
The cat is wary of the dog, now 14 months old, but actually the cat rules. If the dog comes near she just spits at him and he backs off. I would love to see them curled up together one day but somehow I can't see it happening.
Sally
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Never had a problem introducing dogs to cats, so long as the cats have an escape route! But if you are training as you should be, you should be able to stop your pup from chasing. I have to know where he is and what my pup is doing at all times! He has understood the word 'No!' from the start, it's the one I most commonly use ;D
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(http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af154/itsbaaathtime/puppylove.jpg)
here's a pic taken by the lady who owns the mum and dad. Been to meet him today with hubby and 2 kids - all of us are very taken. He has a very calm and sweet nature and it was nice to meet the mum and dad too. He will be coming home to us tomorrow!
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That's fantastic, he looks amazing
Can I have him?
"He has a very calm and sweet nature "
Haaaa - he's a puppy, do not be deceived, I'm playing off ground tick in my house, as is everyone else, toes and puppies is a recipe for much amusement
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noooooo - don't burst my bubble that all will be 100% calm and very easy (only kidding, I know we have a few changes and challenges ahead!)
he's cute isn't he? big paws!
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He's gorgeous :love: , rest assured he won't be anywhere near as naughty as my Australian Cattle Dog pup who's sole purpose in life at the mo is to seek out naughtiness ;D he even has a naughty face :stir:
Yours on the other hand looks so innocent :eyelashes:
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He looks gorgeous but don't be fooled by the innocent face. Their sole purpose in life is to chew as many objects as they can find and leave the house looking like a tip ;D
Sally
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just been to a pet shop (looked in disgust at 8 huge bunnies tightly packed into a small space :rant: and then onto the doggy area)
we now have bowls, lead, a toy pheasant that parps rather than makes a shrill squeak (!) a kong, treats, food, a stocking from santa, poo bags, one of those balls in a sling shot type things, a teething ring toy and...a leaflet on caring for your pup which my 2 eldest are currently studying and I shall test them on later ;D
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He looks really cute. We had our current dog when he was 12 weeks old. He only had one accident in the house (he had an upset tum) and never chewed anything. Guess we were lucky. He is a handful in lots of ways though, even now ..... at 7 years old.
Have lots of fun and enjoy him. I bet your girls are sooooo excited. :dog: :dog: :dog:
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Heis absolutely gorgeous :love:
Sounds like Christmas is arriving early at your house :excited: Need a spoilt puppy emotio :roflanim:
Im also a great believer in indoor cage training. It helps in busy homes where pup can have a time out area to play and chew appropriate items in a safe place while you are busy. It can be a godsend at times, and less damage to your property at those terrible teen chewing stages ::)
( of which I'm just getting past with our GSD puppy, who is now 15 months old. )
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I am another one for the cage training. I was luckily enough to be given a cage and found it a god send.
He knew it was his place, in fact, still does, even though he really is too big for it now.
He never soiled the cage and would go there when he was really tired and wanted some peace. So it would be a good respite from your children. It is also a safe place to shut him in during the night or when you might not be able to keep an eye on him.
I am sure you are all going to have great fun with him. :dog:
Sally
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He's adorable :love: :dog:
You'll make a good job of him, plums, and the cat will show him who's boss.
It's lovely if they do make friends, but I think it's easier for that to happen when a kitty joins the household where there's already a dog knows how to be with cats. Jacob :cat: used to curl up next to Horace's big hairy paws, and pull H's big hairy tail over him like a duvet :love: When Horace :dog: died, Jacob mourned harder and longer than I did :'(
My first cat, Mix, had a way with dogs. He was best buddies with my dog at the time, they used to go on adventures together ::). One day a friend visited with her huge GSD, Cane. Mix was asleep on the back of the sofa in the window, his favourite spot, where he could see most of what was going on in the house and also what was happening in the close. Cane spied Mix and started to bounce towards him - it was a 'through lounge' so it was 30' or so from one end to the other. Cane got halfway up the lounge, Mix opened one eye and LOOKED >:(. Brakes on, skidding halt, Cane turned and walked away :roflanim:
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Thanks everyone for your encouraging messages :thumbsup: really appreciate your help and tips and there will be plenty of questions coming (I'm afraid!!) been a long time since a)I owned a dog and b) I've never owned a dog with livestock before, new challenge!
Strange stuff going on downstairs....my husband (as many of you will know) doesn't really 'do' animals. But he is beavering about making a little indoor kennel for night-time out of a walk in larder room that is currently only used to house my dirty washing bins. It will be like the dogs 'cage/crate' and his place to go for peace and quiet and where his bed will be. He's putting up stair gates and arranging food bowls and when I said I'd spent a fair bit on new equipment he said "I'm not worried, we needed it all...". errrrr I think he might be looking forward to our new dog.
Murphy :love:
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Can't see the Sammy in him but he looks lovely :love:
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Plums I think its great that your husband is looking forward to having the puppy. Maybe its just the start of something more? Lets hope so.
Sally
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Well...he's here!!
nice car journey home, quiet and no dog sick (always a bonus) he's had a sniff round, he's had a smack from the cat. she is now upstairs, he is downstairs. He's seen his new toys and his crate in his little 'room'. been round the garden, saw a goat - didn't like it much ;D
He sits when we ask him to already - result!
All very happy. Hubby just gone to collect my 2 youngest from their grans' house - can't wait to see them all meet as they've not even seen the puppy *Murphy yet. Scarlett is nearly 6 and has been scared of dogs for all her life until the past few months where she has learnt to be with them so we feel confident now.
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Sounds good, can't wait for the next instalment
Sally
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If the pup tries to chase cats, how do you deal with that behaviour? is it a case of keeping them on a lead to start with or does that just encourage them to chase soon as they are off again? Thanks Sabrina :)
Due to Jake our jack russell knowing not to chase cats this helps but as the cats are so used to dogs they do not run away. I have never kept a puppy on the lead around our animals. The chickens turn and face the dogs if they get too close and the ponies would soon chase a pup if it tried anything. Jake once got in beside the pigs. they thought he was a new playmate and he got himself in a right panic. Never went near the pigs again.
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Slightly different problem in that the cat is chasing the dog :-\ hopefully this will soon settle down, poor thing has some war wounds. We are giving the cat loads of treats and attention so she's not pushed out ....fingers crossed!
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Murphy looks gorgeous! Just be careful that the cat isn't allowed to lash out at the pup - they can catch the eyes with their claws and lead to loss of eye & huge vets bills (happened to someone at work :( )
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Thanks Shep - will take that on board. Its quite scary how she is going for him, he does have a crate to escape to but he's not using it. Feeling a bit stressed (and guilty) - just posted in the sheep area too as we had a sheepy issue. Oh dear :(
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Don't feel guilty - it will all come right, really it will. ;D
Put him into his bed for a rest - with a toy he can't swallow, a hot water bottle well wrapped up so he can't get into it and chew it, and a ticking clock very nearby (to imitate his mother/siblings' heart beat.) Leave him in just fora few seconds to start with, don't go to him if he makes a noise - wait a second till he's quietened then let him out, and then lengthen the time each time you put him in there. He may just settle down anyway, but don't leave it till bedtime as he will find it strange being on his own.
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Thank you :bouquet: We have popped him in his little room for a few short bursts and then while we had our tea so he'd have some time to himself and then we went back to him after dinner. He whined as expected and woofed a bit!.
Just need to find a clock now.