I have a 2 1/2 year old rescue GSD. I've had Ebony for over 6 months and we have a pretty good bond/pack structure. I got married a month ago and the husband came with 2 cats. Now, I've read Ed's article on introducing dogs & cats a few times, but no matter what I do, Ebony still goes NUTS in her crate when she sees the cats or they walk by. I've scolded her verbally, put a sheet over her crate, and she wears the bark collar while she's in the crate as well. The bark collar is on level 5, and it doesn't seem to stop her from barking at all. I know she feels it and it hurts when she get shocked cause she whimpers a bit.

She's actually met the cats face-to-face a few times as I was taking her out of the crate, and she does pretty good with them. I would describe her as overly friendly when she's interacted with the cats. Licks them all over, sniffs them, and generally gets all in their space. Very non-aggressive body language & behaviour when she's out of the crate and the cats are around. Why, then, does she get very aggressive when she's in the crate and what else can I do to manage this situation?

First be sure the cats have several high places to 'escape' to where the dog can't reach them. Not just the back of the couch, but a large cat tree, etc. Makes the cats feel safer.

Currently I have 9 indoor/outdoor cats and 5 dogs. Each one was pretty much raised with the other, BUT the dogs will ALWAYS chase the cats if they run. Bogie likes to run up to the cats (outside) to see if he can get them to run. Some of the cats think it's a game. A couple just look at him & he puts the brakes on QUICK! It depends on the cat involved.

I had the opposite problem. My daughter had 2 cats that had been indoor only and NEVER even SEEN a dog when she had to move. Now you would never know these cats hadn't been around dogs all their lives -- in fact one of them is one that will play WITH the dogs.

First, the cats were put into a spare bedroom with food, water, litterbox, etc. I played with them several times a day & even slept in there occassionally. The dogs would sniff under the door and knew the cats were in there.

Next I put a baby gate in the door and left the door open. That way the cats and dogs could see each other and later on, the cats could jump the gate if they felt 'safe' and jump back over if they wanted a 'safe' place.

Within 2 weeks the cats abandoned the spare room and were out in the main area with us. Yes there was still some hissing and spitting going on, but it gradually lessened.

I haven't ever crated the dogs OR cats, I just correct them when they would antagonize the cats. For that, I would go get the dog by the collar and s/he would have to come lie at my feet for 10 minutes or so. Pretty soon they learned that chasing the cats = having to be in 'time out' so they would stop themselves.