Cat & Dog War!!

[Kerry L]

I am looking for any suggestions to get Hank (7 months old, 1st gen labradoodle) to get along with my cat (6 year old).

I got my cat about 6 years ago, as a kitten. She is a plain ole' barn cat, nothing fancy. She is declawed and has forever been an indoor cat. When we got Hank, I read up ways to slowly introduce them and to not force them and all that jazz. We took all the steps suggested but nothing has worked. We've had Hank since February and he chases the cat every time she's brave enough to come out of hiding. I know he'd never hurt her (if he really wanted to, he would have already). I think he's just curious because he'll get her cornered then just let her 'punch' him in the face repeated, all while his tail is wagging a million miles a minute. (ok, it's kinda funny/adorable to watch how happy he is to get 'punched')  The cat, does not enjoy this as much. She is usually  hissing, growling and swinging at him. We've tried to keep him away from her but it just seems to make it that much more of a temptation. Then we were told to just let them figure it out, but unfortunelty, with my cat being declawed, it basically feels like she's throwing cotton balls at him and she hasn't attempted to bite him (I don't know if that's good or bad). There really isn't any way for us to keep them completely separated. I just feel horrible for my poor car and to top it off, I am 24 weeks pregnant. I'm really hoping they call a truce before this baby comes!! Anything we can do to help improve their relationship or at least get them to tolerate each other at this point? How long does it usually take for a cat and dog to get along?

I want my cat to feel comfortable in, what was originally, her home again!

[Judith and Addie]

I am sorry to say this and I hope others will have more hopeful things to say, but I don't think your puppy and cat are going to be friendly with each other. My previous dog  (who was a spaniel, maybe beagle/lab mix) joined our household when he was 12 weeks old. My older cat never got along with him, while my younger one eventually became brave enough to stand still and the puppy would sniff and attempt to play eventually. If your cat runs, your puppy will be happy to chase, in my experience.

I have the same cats and a new doodle puppy who is 6 months old now. (The other dog passed away at a young age.) Addie is crated overnight and periodically during the day. I also made certain that the cats had safe places where they could go without the puppy being able to follow. I did this by gating off a couple rooms, a spare bedroom and the laundry room where the litter box is. As part of her training, I had Addie tethered to me throughout the day as well. Eventually, the younger cat became brave enough to walk or sit near the puppy. Although he is not happy, he allows the puppy to sniff him and he tolerates a lick or two before he spits and swats. The older cats has also slowly started to stay still or walk. If a cat runs, all bets are off as Addie will chase them until they hit a safe place, such as high ground or gated room.

[Leann]

We have a 10 week old ALD puppy and a 4 year old male cat. We went into it with the mindset that its the cat's house and the pup has to learn the rules.

We keep the leash on the puppy when the cat is most likely to be around (around his meal times) and when she goes to chase the cat, we either pick up the leash or step on it. Don't chase her or yell, because that just makes the game even more fun! We're clicker training so once she stops pulling  on the leash and sits, I click and treat to reward her. It's gotten a lot better and now when she sees the cat she pops her head up but doesn't try to chase him. I click/treat her and tell her good girl.

[Malenie Piscetelli]

I have a 7mth old she is a goldendoodle and other is almost 12 years old he is t-cup poodle. She wants to play and he wants nothing to with her. He growls at her. To me I don't think they will ever get along. He stays upstairs and she stays downstairs. It works.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I don't have this problem, but I was curious in case they don't get along, what about one of the gates that have a small opening for a cat that your dog can't go through. That way at least your cat could off into a safe area if she wants to.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Excellent suggestion. I have 2 and the cats used to like sitting just on the other side so they could watch the puppy. I have since removed them. :)

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

My thoughts are that it will eventually settle down in time... Could be a longish time. But so long as Hank has no intention of hurting the kitty, and from what you've described, he is just being goofy, then 'she' has to figure out how much interaction she will tolerate. One day you'll suddenly notice, "hey, they're both in the room and neither of them care!"

When I cared for my daughter's three dogs in my home. Miley, a French bulldog, was always obsessed with hunting and terrorizing my cats. My solution was to keep a leash on Miley so she could see the cats but not go after them. After a few days the cats lost their fear of Miley and started lounging around the house as usual. Miley and I both discovered that if the cats didn't run, Miley didn't chase. I kept her within my sight and told her calmly to leave the kitties. Mostly she just had a deep curiosity about them.
My daughter and her fiancé couldn't believe it when I sent them a photo of all 5 dogs (my 2 & her 3) and the 2 cats all hanging out together in the living room near the wood stove.

Yarrow (9 months) plays with the cats sometimes. It looks like she pretends they are playing with her in return. There's no actual touching. The cats have come to the conclusion that this big puppy is harmlessly amusing and just a little annoying.
It will work out.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Some dogs are more prey driven than others and your cat, being de-clawed, cannot defend herself.  I know that cats would not be safe with my dogs. I have no suggestions for training them to be together other than tethering the dog while the cat is in the same room. Or using an aversive (like a squirt gun at the dog, every time he approaches the cat. Or provide your cat with 'safe' hideaways in every room.

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

I am not an expert on cat dog relationships. As a matter of fact, I've had my very first house kitten for only 2 weeks as of today.  But, my boys run around with free range chickens outside and with the kitten inside.  I use an e-color on both boys when we go outside.  I realize some people really dislike such training tools, but it is just that, a tool.  I had a trainer train me how to use it properly and I had to feel the shock before putting it on my dogs.  My collars have a tone option which 98% of the time is all I need to use.  Because they were never allowed to chase the chickens it was just natural that they wouldn't chase the kitty.  And if they do become over excited when kitty (still don't have a name ) runs past them I call their name firmly and say leave it.  It didn't take long for my boys to learn not to chase the chickens or kitty.  Now if I can just get Shaggy to stop chasing skunks.....