Safety Cat

0

Posted by admin | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 10-12-2009

Tags: cat, cats, dog, dogs, pets, safety cat, safety cat collars, safety catalog, safety catch, safety catch phrases

Safety Cat
What is the best way to introduce a 4 year old dog to a young cat to ensure safety of the cat?

We have a 4 year old male French Bulldog who is not aggressive inside the house or with animals while we are out, but he is completely different with everything living when he is outside in our yard. I don’t know if he can be trusted with a cat in the house but we would like to try it. Does anyone have sound advice to ensure the safety of all parties and a peaceful cohabitation? Or is it just not worth the try — the last thing I’d ever want is to come home to a dead cat, a blind dog or a trashed house.

Don’t listen to Silver — some of the worst advice I’ve seen on here for training — and if followed, I promise that you could make matters worse. Training needs to be kept positive, and utilizing physical corrections will cause the dog to associate negative things with the experience (“every time that cat’s around I get punched in the side, I’d better get rid of that stupid thing to stop getting trounced”…THAT’S how a dog’s mind works, and people who know how to train effectively understand that and how to get the best out of their dogs, as well as how to do so quickly.) Following this very poor advice might make the dog more aggressive to the cat both in your presence and out, and harmony will not be a part of your home. This talk seems to come from too many people who watch a few episodes of Cesar Milan, not realizing it’s been edited and isn’t for instruction to the general public without first assessing a dog and it’s family and environment!

The best way to introduce your dog to any new member is in a neutral, enclosed/safe place and on lead. Done slowly and without pressure, letting each animal feel safe. Slowly increasing the space between them so that you can keep an eye on everyone, and react to any stress you see arise in either. If your dog reacts aggressively in a neutral space, chances are he will do so, perhaps more strongly, in “his” territory. If your goal is for them to be playmates, you will want to bring small, soft treats with you that you can introduce while in the new member’s presence, so that the dog associates positive things happening when this new creature is around, increasing the odds that he will accept this “intruder”. If your goal is simply to add to the household but not to necessarily be playmates, you’ll want to desensitize your dog to the presence of this new member rather than increase space between them, and simply have him not care about the new guy. Keep them separate when you’re not there to supervise until they are both used to sharing their environment and you know you can trust them together.

If you have issues with being the leader already then the best thing is to spend time with a professional who will help educate and instruct you on how to properly handle your pets, not to “step up” and decide you know what it means to be the alpha because someone told you! There are numerous non-verbal and non-physical ways to easily demote and restructure your pack, and done properly, are far more effective than any physical corrections will ever be. That’s not leading, but bullying, and it only impedes the relationship between you rather than causing it to flourish.

Good luck.

Cat Safety Propaganda