Hi All...
So I have done ground work and I am working on basic obedance training..Lilly is still by my side at all times either in kennel or on leash..

So here is the deal..The cat! When the dog is out the cat will walk up to her and hiss and grow...Lilly is cusious so she just stares at her wagging her tail (no I don't trust her to be free with the cat) At night during TV time Lilly is sleeping at my feet ans the cat comes in and wants to lay on me..If Lilly see this she of course want to smell the cat at which time the cat goes mental and then Lilly goes into spaz out mode..I'm sure there is a step that I am missing here! I don't want or need them to be friends but I would like to work toward a calm co-exsistance! I read that Ed will kennel his cats and then let the dog have a little house freedom (with eyes on)He kennels the cats at night as well? This would make for a better nights sleep for us!!!!!!

Ok any experience you have would be appreciated

You can put the cat in a kennel so the dog can get used to the cat's presence and smell. Otherwise, put the cat in a separate room with a litter box and water and close the door when the dog is out.

How long have you had the cat and dog together?

How old is the dog?

My cats are WAY to dog savvy to care about a new one coming in but if this is a new dog and your cat has never been around one then this kind of behavior can happen. So what I would do is reinforce my "leave it" command with the dog.

I would use marker training to teach the dog what "leave it" means and then apply that command to the cat. So when the cat comes around, I would expect the dog to ignore it. By doing this, you will make the cat feel a little more comfortable and I think with time they may start to accept each other as "fixtures" around the house.

Would a water bottle work? Squirting my dog inside the house for 'illegal' behavior works wonders!!

I don't know guys, this sounds more like a cat problem to me.

Use the squirt bottle on the cat.

Or just a thought you could build a kitty condo to keep the peace, and confine the cat at night. I wouldn't approve a spray bottle for a corrective device on a dog, why would I think using one on the cat is ok?

Granted it was a flippant response to the squirt bottle remarks, but the fact remains, it is the CAT's problem and not the dog's issue.

The stupid animal wouldn't last long in my house.

I don't know how to train cats.


If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

I would vote for putting the cat in a kennel (or separate room, as suggested, or kitty condo if it's confined), at night or anytime your dog needs the space.

I'd keep working on the leave it with the dog...

When I adopted my first rescue cat, he lived in a very large kennel at night, and when necessary, off and on during the day. It had a litterbox, a nice ferret sling bed set up, some toys. He was quite comfortable in there. And, I placed it up high, on top of my dog's crate in our bedroom. I fed him in there, and he'd hop right in there for his last treats at bedtime.

Over time, it got to the point where the dog and cat could be free in the house together, no problem, even if I wasn't home, but that took months.

I definitely wouldn't spray either the dog or the cat<g>.

(And, if your kitty needs time with you on you lap, that may be a good time for the dog to be in its kennel...).

leih

I have three cats and I am currently training my 4 month old GSD and a 9 month old Golden for a therapy dog. My cats do not pay any attention to the dogs because they are so use to them. The dogs are taught to "leave it." I have always trained with food and recently purchased the Marker Training DVD. I train the dogs in a room with a parrot, rabbit, and a cat and both dogs stay focused on me, not them! I don't expect these animals to have a love relationship with each other, but if these dogs will be used for theapy or even living in my home, these distractions are common. I would not allow the cat to growl and/or hiss at the dog, the cat needs to be taught manners while around the dog also! If the cat comes into the dog's space, I would crate him,he will catch on, mine did.. Your dog will respect you for it!

I see your earlier post mentions that you would like to do therapy work with this dog someday. If this is the case, you should contact a pet/animal assist association in your area. Now is the time to start foundation training with her and also yourself. There are so many sights, sounds, smells, precautions to therapy work, wheelchairs, crutches, oxygen tanks,tubing, other animals, not to mention the fragile individuals!

Patient, persistent and markers...It will pay off!