We are just in the process of introducing our dogs to our new cat, although slightly trickier for us, as one of the dogs is adult and goes ballistic when she sees cats in the garden.

We are kepping the dogs behind the stairgate when the cat is present, so the cat can see them through the stairgate, and we have introduced the youngest pup to her on a lead, which both were OK with. Older dogs will be introduced once the cat is completely happy with them, on leads at first.

I think the most important thing is to never let Dudley know that chasing cats is fun. So, keep him on a lead at first, and reward him (food or similar) for behaving 'nicely' around the cat. If he tries to chase, give a firm 'no' and if he persists, take him out of the room for a few seconds, then start again.

As an aside, I completel yunderstand the reasons for 'confining' your (gorgeous!!!) pup to two rooms at first. We did that with our first pup. However, with hindsight, and subsequent pups, we have found it far better to let them have free access (under strict supervision) to whatever rooms they will be allowed in as adults. It does make toilet training a bit harder, as you have to be extra vigilant, but it also means you avoid the pup then getting over-excited when you let them in other rooms, and doing their 'wall of death'.

I am in the same situation... it's the cats that don't want to accept the puppy... Foxy just wants to play with the cats, she isn't frightened of them at all. She was around lots of cats at the breeders house, so that might be why.

Cleo will sit and watch Foxy, but is still weary. Foxy will go running straight for her to play, but Cleo worries and runs away... she has hissed once. Bailey just doesn't want to accept Foxy... he is very jumpy when she is around. He also sits and wathces her, but if she gets too near (even if she isn't going towards him) he hisses at her really bad, it sounds like a snake. I have to quickly run and grab Foxy as I know Bailey is feeling threatened by her and could lash out... cats can do alot of damage as we know. He could really hurt Foxy... Bailey is 18lbs and Foxy is 2.5lbs. I don't know what I am going to do to get over this problem... Foxy loves the cats she wants to run and play with them, but they don't seem to like the thought of that, especially Bailey. I'm scared that if I just let her loose to run around, he would attack her if she went near him. I dread to think how much damage he could cause to her.

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I love a bit of sponge on my bob....

Dudley doesn't seem to be bothered by the cats so far - well that is the ones that walk along the back wall. There was one this morning and it just walked right past his nose while he lay and watched it! lol

On a slightly different level, he does chase the neighbourhood kids! We had a visit today from some neighbours and their two little boys, and he kept chasing the kids feet!!! Then the daddy went to stroke him and Dudley promptly let him feel his teeth - I wasn't there at the time but my partner said it was just in play - God I hope so, I'm so worried that it might not be just play, but how do you tell with a pup so young???

He will stop what he's doing when we all say a firm No to him, but if we are telling him to stop doing something, there's been times he looks up at us and just barks as if to say "I'm not doing what you tell me!"

Sal
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