Everyone knows the saying "live like a dog with a cat", which generally means a clash of two elements and endless quarrels because of their differences. It is difficult for a dog and a cat to reach an agreement, although it is not impossible. This friendship also happens! With the right approach to the domestication process, we can get our pets used to each other and make their relationship not troublesome. So how do you get your dog used to your cat?
The differences between a dog and a cat are not just in appearance. They result from the way of life, sensitivity, the ability to show emotions or eating habits. Dogs are herd animals that love contact with humans. Loneliness is a punishment for them. On the other hand, cats were labeled as individualists, walking their own paths and hunting alone. And while their behavior changed in the process of domestication, some aspects of the solitary nature of the cat remained in their habits. Dogs are more expressive, they express themselves by barking, running, jumping, wagging their tail. The cat exposes its emotions to a lesser extent. At the same time, the two races have different body language, which causes many conflicts between them. In such a situation, it is understandable that their relationship can become tense, nervous, nervous and even aggressive. This is a normal reaction, so from the very beginning of being together, you should get your dog used to your cat so that they can function safely.
The easiest way is to get a puppy and a little kitten used to each other, but this is not always the case. Otherwise, when introducing a busy puppy into a house where there is already a senior cat, we must remember that this moment is a source of stress not only for the cat. But let's discuss the opposite situation - we already have a dog and we want to enlarge our family with a cat. Then it is worth preparing your pet for the new situation. An inborn trait of tetrapods is the response to odor messages. Therefore, it is a good idea to tame your dog with the cat's smell, e.g. by placing something that smells like a cat next to the lair. It is good to do this a few days before the first meeting. In addition, playing cat sounds from a smartphone can be an effective solution. Cat meowing from the phone will make your dog a little familiar with the new sounds.
Before the first meeting, remember that both pets are fed and that the dog runs for a walk. You can also make the cat's fur take some of our scent. This will make it easier for the pooch to accept the kitten faster. At the same time, the space in the apartment should be organized in a way that provides each animal a separate and safe area where it could shelter. It should include: a bed, toys and bowls for food and water. Remember that the cat likes to eat in isolation.
The first animals you meet are crucial to the further process of getting your dog accustomed to the cat. It must run in a calm atmosphere, without showing unnecessary emotions and nervousness, because the animals will sense it immediately. During the first day, animals should be kept separate from each other. For this purpose, it is best to place the cat in the carrier. It's a good idea to swap their toys. This will allow you to get to know your fragrances and get used to them before meeting them directly. Some people recommend keeping pets on a leash. This way, in a dangerous situation, we can separate them immediately. We keep the dog on a looser leash, and the cat is put on harnesses and a leash, provided that it feels comfortable in them.
During the first days together, we observe the dog's reaction to the new member of the household and when we notice inappropriate behavior towards the cat, we can extend the dog's training with adequate commands and learning self-control. We do not allow the dog to chase the purr. We praise pets when they behave according to our expectations. We split them immediately when aggression occurs, but do not apply penalties. We do not favor the newcomer kitten so that the pooch does not feel jealous. After some time, the dog and cat will begin to get used to each other, tolerate each other and function better together. Each of their positive behavior towards each other must be rewarded with treats.
The dog and cat must eat from separate bowls. Ideally, they should eat at the same time so that neither pet feels interested in the contents of the other's bowl. It is best to place the bowl of dog food on the kitchen floor, and place the cat's bowl somewhere on a platform, e.g. on a scratching post or a stable stool. This will give us a guarantee that the dog will not be able to reach the purr's bowl and will not disturb him during the meal.
It is in the nature of the dog to satisfy his hunting instinct, which in this case may manifest itself in chasing a cat. It's not because of bad intentions, it's just that the pursuit itself is exciting for him. The cat's reaction may vary, most often it escapes to furniture or hides under cupboards. Such a relationship between pets is very stressful, especially for a cat that does not feel safe in its territory. It is therefore important to work on the elimination of such behavior.
During the training, you should take care of the safety of both pets. Animals must not be a threat to each other at any stage of training. We must also take care of their safety when they are alone at home. It is a good idea to install a special gate to the door frame, which will divide the apartment into a cat and a dog part. Be sure to place bowls of water and food in each, as well as a litter box in your cat's room. Training can be conducted with the help of a second person. The helper should keep the cat on its lap or wear a harness and leash it. At the beginning of the training, the dog may also have a leash attached. We reward the dog (e.g. with a treat, affectionate gesture) every time he remains calm, being in the same room as the cat. He should understand that his composure and his lack of interest in the kitten will give him a tasty reward.
After some time, you can make your dog's task more difficult by keeping him on a leash behind a purr. When the dog becomes restless or starts chasing the cat, command "not allowed". We reward the dog when it reacts properly and loses interest in the cat. If he turns out to be disobedient and continues to chase the cat, we take the dog to another room and do not reward him with a treat. We ignore him until he calms down. The training can be continued after a few minutes, when the four-legged pet is already calm. We lead him back to the room with the cat. If he doesn't get interested in purring, we reward him.
After some time, we can shorten the distance between the animals, remembering to reward the dog each time he is not interested in the cat. In the next step, we teach the dog to meet its hunting needs, away from the cat. We use toys for this. We can use a cutter and play with the dog while dragging. The pet should chase and chew on the toy, thanks to which his instincts will be satisfied. It is also worth introducing the commands: "leave" and "catch", which will teach him greater self-control and patience. It is important that each time you finish learning how to get your dog used to a cat, you should ensure that both pets remain at rest for the rest of the day.
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