Making friends: Dogs and cats
It's a common tale: dogs and cats don't always see eye to eye. But did you know that with the right approach, patience, and training, your dog and cat stand a great chance of becoming pals? Introducing them gently and slowly usually works wonders, leading to eventual acceptance!
Before you start introducing them to each other, you need to make sure they are both comfortable in the environment they are in. This is especially important for the cat so it knows where to hide if it feels threatened and wants to escape from the dog.
Here's how:
Step 1: Scent-sational introductions
When you first want your cat and dog to get along, let them familiarise themselves with each other's scent. This is a great starting point because both species use scent to communicate. Keep them in separate rooms, and let your cat sniff your dog's blanket or toy, and vice versa.
Sometimes, either pet might react negatively to the other's scent. If this happens, stop the training, calmly remove the item, and try again later.
Once both pets react neutrally to each other's scent items, you can move on by letting them swap rooms. Only when both the dog and cat react neutrally or positively to the other's scent should you proceed to step 2.
Sometimes both dogs and cats can react negatively to the other's scent, in which case you need to stop the training and calmly remove the object and try again at a later time.
When both dogs and cats react neutrally to the other's blanket or toy, you can extend the training by allowing them to switch rooms with each other. Only when both the dog and the cat react completely neutrally or positively to the other's scent can you move on to step 2.
Step 2: Face-to-face (safely!)
After they've got used to each other's scent, it's time for them to meet face-to-face. Make sure this first meeting happens in a neutral space where neither feels cornered or can reach the other. Keep your dog on a lead and use a stair gate or a puppy pen to create a barrier.
When both the dog and cat react neutrally to the encounter, you can move on to step 3.
Step 3: Getting closer
The final step is to let them properly sniff each other. Keep your dog on a lead initially. Go at their pace and reward both pets when they're calm in each other's company.
Keep practising step three until they can comfortably share the same room.
Continue practicing step three until they can be completely at ease in the same room.
Keep in mind:
Take your time, be patient, and always reward good behaviour.
Don't leave them alone together until they've truly accepted each other.
Just because your cat accepts your dog doesn't mean they'll accept all dogs.
