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Can Cats and Dogs Get Along?
This is a question many people wonder about, after all everyone knows the saying fighting like cats and dogs, but can cats and dogs be friends?.
Dogs and cats can live together and be happy together, in fact many form close friendships. In this article we will look at how we can help our cat and dog do just that.
We also have a beautiful story at the end of this page about a corgi who adopted a kitten as her own, to show it can happen.
How to Introduce your Dog to your Cat
If you have a new dog it will take time for it to settle into its new home. Allow your dog to do so without the early pressure of socializing with another animal, keep them separate for a while and then slowly introduce the cat and dog to each other.
The dog should initially be kept on a lead or in a confined area so that the cat can go up to the dog and investigate in her own time. If she gets scared and wants to leave, let her and don’t let the dog chase the cat as it will begin to see the cat as prey. If necessary restrain the dog, such as by holding his lead.
Allow the cat an escape route to get away from the dog such as a high perch so she can climb away, or an open to door to area in which she can hide. Teach your dog that there are some cat only areas of the house. If the cat and dog feel safe it will take away tension and fear.
Smell is important to both dogs and cats. Take a towel or something similar and rub it on the cat or dog. Allow each pet to get used to the other’s scent this will help both of them feel relaxed and more familiar with the other. Once they are no longer curious about each other’s scent allow them to see each other, if necessary with a barrier between them.
Re-Inforce to your dog that having a cat around is a good thing; give your dog a food treat to achieve this. Your dog will then believe that having a cat around can lead to good things like a delicious treat.
More Tips to Achieve Cat and Dog Harmony
If your dog has an instinct to chase he must be taught that the cat is different and is not to be chased.
Your dog needs to be taught respect for the cat and this can be achieved by demonstrating that you value your cat.
You should spend quality time with both the cat and the dog individually, when your dog sees this he will understand his place in the hierarchy in the family and that you have no favorites and value them both equally.
Allow the cat and the dog to have separate areas which belong to them and also separate feeding areas, somewhere above ground would be ideal for the cat as the dog would not be able to reach the cat’s food.
Setting boundaries early and letting both pets know the rules will make a huge difference so that eventually both pets will be comfortable being in the same house, regardless of whether they become great friends.
As promised, here is a great story of how a cat and dog became firm friends. Click the link below.
Corgi Adopts A Kitten As Her Own
Visit the Homepage for more stories
Thanks for Reading
I hope you enjoyed this article, why not share your techniques in the comments box below.
Please do visit our other “how to” dog articles listed below and on the “how to” page HERE
More articles will be added to the “how to” page in the next few days and weeks.
Please keep coming back .
Dealing with Excessive Dog Barking
Why and How to Exercise your Dog
For more detailed information from the pros our recommended resource is the Brilliant Fix your Dog Training Manual. You can read about it HERE
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