[tonym]

Heres how my introduction went down:

Yesterday i decided to give Dyna her first real chance to meet the cats (4yr and the other about 7mo). I started with the older cat Andretti since he is so mellow and could care less about dogs. I put him in his crate and brought it to the middle of the yard so it could be on more neutral territory. I brought Dyna out on her leash and let her get up to the crate to sniff things out. I squatted next to the crate with my arm over it to try and let her know it was mine. I stayed like that for a good half hour or so. I then went inside and did some other things and peeked out the window from time to time to make sure everything was okay. Dyna just laid there and looked at the cat. I then brought out the kitten and put her in the crate with andretti. She is a lot more verbal about her dislike of the new dog. I have a few battle wounds from trying to put her in to the crate while Dyna was nearby. I let them all stay like that until Dyna calmed down. I then brought the crate inside to the living room, then Dyna on leash after. I let them stay like that for a a good amount of time until everyone seemed relaxed. Andretti was starting to get a little playful and rolling around in the crate but seemed like he wanted out. So I put Dyna in her room for when i let the cats out of the crate and brought her back up on leash. She went straight for Andretti and just seemed to want to sniff him out. He held his ground and pretty much beat the crap out of her. She got pretty excited but seemed a lot more cautious about her approach after that. I ended up letting go of the leash and just supervised. She still gets fixated on the cats but shes definitely not trying to hurt them. I wont let them be alone together but it was very encouraging to later have one cat on the back of the couch, the other sleeping on the stairs, and both Dyna and Murphy (Golden Retriever) sleeping with us in the living room. In the end, i got the most injured from the introductions. Dyna did take a few hits including one on her lower eyelid which was certainly scary but she didnt retaliate and get aggressive towards the cats. I think she now knows what the gatos are capable of and will keep her distance for the most part. Hopefully with a little more time she will just ignore them.

 

[kiya]

Hopefully with a little more time she will just ignore them.

HA HA HA! Ignore! Lakota loves playing with the kitten sooo much, funny thing is now the kitten initiates the play.
My other dog, Kiya, she's still being very difficult. We have some good moments, I'm hoping with my 4 day weekend I'll be able to work on her. I made a fresh batch of liver brownies this morning so I have plenty of amunition!

 

[nitemares]

I think she now knows what the gatos are capable of and will keep her distance for the most part. Hopefully with a little more time she will just ignore them.

Well dont count that LOL my pup has been here for 3 weeks and still try to go after the cat although my cat got him twice in the nose and it bled both times. I can tell Dumpty doesnt really want to harm the cat, but the cat just hasn't got the memo yet.

 

[codmaster]

Wow! I don't know that I would take a chance with my GSD's eyesight in trying to introduce him to a cat. Sounds like a couple of close calls with the cats claws!

I think if we ever have a cat again I would have it declawed first (would only be an inside the house cat naturally) - too much of a chance of disaster otherwise.

 

[kiya]

Lakota plays with the eye closest to the cat closed. Even if shes not that close she closes her eye. My kitten bites harder than he claws.

 

[kiya]

I think if we ever have a cat again I would have it declawed first (would only be an inside the house cat naturally) - too much of a chance of disaster otherwise.

I had 1 cat declawed (over 25 yrs ago) she ended up getting out, never found her, I swore I would never do that to a cat again.

 

[codmaster]

Good idea if one favors the cat over the GSD - I just happen to think the other way, esp. if the dog is friendly toward the cat.

Cats can certainly be taught not to use their claws in an aggressive manner (if not, then treat them like an overtly aggressive dog!).

 

[HankGSD]

I gave the cats in the crate a try today, one at a time for a few minutes. The cats were NOT happy but I think they realized Hank couldn't get at them when they were inside.

Hank did ok for it being the first time. With the first cat, he obeyed "leave it" every time and "come" since I had a treat waiting for him. He also did a down stay for a few minutes.

The second cat didn't go as well, so I put a prong collar on him and we sat a few feet from the crate and allowed him to watch the cat from a distance while continuing to tell him "leave it."

Both times, I opened the crate door and put him into a sit stay while holding the leash so he couldn't chase.

I also had a few minutes where he was in the crate and I held a cat in my lap while sitting on the couch a few feet away. He had on his "Petsafe" bark collar which sprays citronella if he barks. (I am not ready or interested in going to an e-collar if I can avoid it.)

I think this is going to be a very long process but could be successful if I work on it with him every single day. The cats need to be desensitized to him as well since they have worked up to be so terrified of him. They both have claws but for whatever reason have not clawed him when he has gotten close to them.

 

[nitemares]

Lakota plays with the eye closest to the cat closed. Even if shes not that close she closes her eye. My kitten bites harder than he claws.

same here, he also does a duck and snap movement LOL kitty tries to slap, puppy ducks then try to take a quick snap at the kitty. Tamtam the cat is starting to relax a lot around the puppy, he can sleep and clean himself in the same room. As long as Dumpty doesn't try to play they are both in the same room together fine, never unsupervised of course.

 

[tonym]

Success!

I took this a few weeks ago while doing some remodeling around the house. I had success with the dog and cat thing shortly after my last post on this thread. It didnt take much after that one day that i spent as much time as i did with all the animals. Now Dyna and the cat are like best friends. They even spoon. I just thought about this thread and figured I would prove to you all that it is possible, even with a non declawed cat and nobody lost their eyesight.

 

[scottkeen]

I know this is an older thread, but I need help with this cat vs. GSD situation.

I'm a cat person, trying to become a cat & dog person.

I just got Ruger from a breeder, a 2 year 3 mos old GSD with Sieger and working lines. Ruger is a playful and innocent seeming dog, who grew up in a family with 3 children until the family had a divorce and Ruger was returned to the breeder. But Ruger has never seen a cat before. Ruger was pretty well trained, but like any adolescent, loses his focus sometimes.

I'm a first time GSD owner and first time dog owner, and so far I like Ruger very much and he likes me. I've had Ruger for 5 days so far.

But Ruger and my cat Kilia who I've had for 5 years need to live in harmony. On the first day, Ruger found Kilia hiding under my bed and tried with all his might to get to her and created quite a commotion. Kilia bolted out the cat door and wasn't seen for 2 days.

Tonight I saw her on the edge of the property and she was glad to see me (anyone who says cats can't have personalities or affection doesn't know what they're talking about). I put Kilia in an airline crate and brought her inside. Ruger went ape-nuts barking and whining and panting very heavily. Kilia cowered, growled, and hissed.

I need these two to get along or at the very least ignore each other, but Kilia needs to feel safe inside my house even when I'm not home. That is the ONLY way this is going to work. I can't have Kilia who has lived indoors, all of a sudden have to move out and live outside.

I've seen photos here of people with GSDs and cats snuggling together and living in harmony -- I want that!!!

Please look at this photo, and see how Ruger is fixated on Kilia inside the airline crate.
Am I doing this crate introduction right?
How long do I do this?
What's the next step, and when do I take it?
Is Ruger exhibiting something I need to be concerned about long-term (I won't own a dog who will attack my cat given the opportunity)?

 

[Chip18]

Top of my head, the dogs fixated on the Cat/Crate and no effort to counteract the fixation...oh cool what's in there??

Not an expert but what I do have is 13 years experience with dogs and cats living together in harmony. BullMastiff/Pitt,Boxer/Pit,Boxers and now my GSD. I started with Cat rescue long before I had dogs,And I have had up to 15 cats and three dogs in the home without a single incident in all that time.

Number one rule of Cats and dogs living together is "THE DOG NEVER CHASES THE CAT...EVER!!!" Not one paw forward towards the cat! I don't care what the cat does if the cat wants to go to the dog fine but the dog never steps a single paw towards the cats!

Leerburg did it a bit differently than myself and I have also never had a cat play with the dog like his does, even so notice his dog never chased the cat!

My cats and dogs don't play with each other but they live and sleep together and in the morning if I have let the cats out first and Rocky comes out later some of the cats will run up and greet him! I never did the cats and dogs eating treats together thing? For Rocky that would be a bridge to far!

I fed him away from the cats so it's not worth the headache to me.

I'd put a drag leash on the dog put the dog in a down stay and let the cat be a cat, dog can look if he wants but if he makes a move towards the cat he gets a correction! Verbal should be enough if it's not you have other issues.

If you're unsure of the dog you can use a soft muzzle on him for extra protection but it shouldn't be needed because "he is not going to move!

When the dog is at the point where he shows "no interest in the cat whatsoever" your job is done!

Added benefit, if a cat pops up out of nowhere, your dog won't bolt after it!
http://leerburg.com/dog-cat.htm

 

[scottkeen]

Thanks for the reply, advice, and link.

I will get a drag leash to put on Ruger to wear around the house so I can easily and quickly give him a correction. Is this how a drag leash is used? About, what, 18" long or so?

So, from everyone I've heard from, I had the crating arrangement all backwards. The cat was in the house before the dog, so it was the dog which should have been crated not the cat.

I'm starting to crate Ruger at night when I sleep, and in the evening during dinner/TV time before I take him out for a bathroom break before bedtime. This gives the evening to the cat to hopefully come home and be safe. I'm hoping to eliminate crate time once and if they can get along.

But I noticed something disturbing about Ruger today on our 1-hour morning walk around the neighborhood. One of the neighborhood cats was crossing the street. Ruger noticed immediately, ears perked and shoulder hairs bristled. This is very worrisome, because he sees other animals -- birds, small dogs, but I've never seen his shoulder hairs bristled. I can only attribute this to a high prey drive.

If this is a sign of a high prey drive, can he ever learn to accept cats?

If the answer is "No" or "very unlikely", then I may have to decide that I can't keep Ruger. I've had Ruger for 1 week and I've had my cat for 5 years. Ruger is a great dog in all other aspects and I'm enjoying his companionship, but if he will likely never accept coexistence with my cat, then sadly I cannot keep him or he may have to be relegated to an outdoor dog run and he can only have limited visiting hours when the cat isn't around.

I welcome all of your advice and opinion, anything that will help my situation.

 

[Tratkins]

Thanks for the reply, advice, and link.

I will get a drag leash to put on Ruger to wear around the house so I can easily and quickly give him a correction. Is this how a drag leash is used? About, what, 18" long or so?

So, from everyone I've heard from, I had the crating arrangement all backwards. The cat was in the house before the dog, so it was the dog which should have been crated not the cat.

I'm starting to crate Ruger at night when I sleep, and in the evening during dinner/TV time before I take him out for a bathroom break before bedtime. This gives the evening to the cat to hopefully come home and be safe. I'm hoping to eliminate crate time once and if they can get along.

But I noticed something disturbing about Ruger today on our 1-hour morning walk around the neighborhood. One of the neighborhood cats was crossing the street. Ruger noticed immediately, ears perked and shoulder hairs bristled. This is very worrisome, because he sees other animals -- birds, small dogs, but I've never seen his shoulder hairs bristled. I can only attribute this to a high prey drive.

If this is a sign of a high prey drive, can he ever learn to accept cats?

If the answer is "No" or "very unlikely", then I may have to decide that I can't keep Ruger. I've had Ruger for 1 week and I've had my cat for 5 years. Ruger is a great dog in all other aspects and I'm enjoying his companionship, but if he will likely never accept coexistence with my cat, then sadly I cannot keep him or he may have to be relegated to an outdoor dog run and he can only have limited visiting hours when the cat isn't around.

I welcome all of your advice and opinion, anything that will help my situation.

Our sweet cat Joey is a stray that showed up in our back yard about 4 years ago. He is the easiest going cat I know (kind of actually acts like a dog in most respects!). He even runs to the door when the doorbell rings and even though he was our only pet for the last 4 years, we had dog sat for several of our friends' dogs while they were away and Joey always got along with the dogs.

Soooo, we just got our first GSD about 5 weeks ago and our new puppy showed a lot of interest in our cat and still does, but primarily when he is in a high energy mood (puppy crazies we call them). But, if he is just chillin on his bed, he might look up but not chase.

What has worked for us is:

1) Long lead so we can correct in the moment.
2) We have given the command "leave the kitty" as opposed to the normal "leave it" which applies to so many things. We wanted him to understand "kitty". Of course as soon as he turns his head in the slightest from fixation on the kitty, he is treated. It took him a few days to learn this but it is working like a charm. Now he knows when we say "Leave the kitty" and he obeys he gets a big treat. I have treats on me ALWAYS!
3) When our dog is just waking up from sleep and in "slow, calm, sleepy mode", I have been down on the floor with the dog and the cat together and treating the dog for paying attention to me and not the cat. Our cat is not in any way scared of the dog and even likes to clean his ears while he is sleeping so that actually helps me with training the dog! I just have to be constantly ON GUARD when they are both in the same room to catch the dog in the act of looking at the cat. If I happen to see the dog just casually walking by the cat, I will remind him to "leave the kitty" and he will walk right past the cat now and focus on me. I love seeing the progress.

So far it is going well and working, but it is certainly a process and just involves a lot of training and time.

Our last dog was a German Shorthair Pointer with a very high prey drive. We got her as a rescue and she loved killing birds and rabbits, but she lived very peacefully with the two cats we had at the time (even sharing water bowls). It CAN be done, but you will have to set very clear boundaries to the dog and NEVER allow chase games between the two. Good luck and I hope you can keep Ruger. So cute!

 

[scottkeen]

Oh, thanks so much for the encouragement and your story.

I want to keep Ruger too, he's such a great dog. He's my first dog, and I'm enjoying the companionship, the exercise I'm getting.

Ruger is 2 years 3 mos old. I can see if he was raised as a puppy around cats, he would be used to them. My cat is probably the first cat he's seen.

I will use the "Leave the kitty" command as you have done. I use "Leave it" when I don't want him to pay attention to something (chained up barky dogs, kids on bikes, etc). The problem right now is that the cat hasn't been inside since I got the dog so I'm not sure how to get the cat to come indoors and stand her ground. She has a cat door which she can use freely anytime.

With Ruger being 2 years 3 mos old, not a puppy, do you recommend crating Ruger and catching the cat outdoors and bringing her inside and letting her see him in a crate and decide if she wants to run out or not (she will).

 

[Tratkins]

Our GSP (Pointer) was a 2 year old rescue that had also never seen a cat and it worked out, but with time. Since you definitely can't teach him without the cat, I would try crating the dog and let the cat come in or if you can have another person hold the cat and you be in control of the dog on a leash while treating the dogs good behavior. Let the dog look at the cat (he will!) and you have some treats and say "leave the kitty" and treat heavily when he looks at you. ETA: Build up slowly to getting closer to the cat, walking by the cat with you, etc in time. And we are talking GOOD TREATS TOO (hot dogs, chicken, small pieces of steak). And while your dog is in the crate, let him see you interacting with the cat (soft voice, loving, petting, etc) so Ruger learns the cat is part of the family. I know it sounds crazy and maybe it's for my own comfort, but I explain to the dog in a sweet voice "This is our kitty and we love him". I think time will be on your side and a lot of patience. In the meantime, to keep your kitty safe, I would keep them separated except for during training and when you are solely focused on the two. Increase time together as your dog gets more comfortable.

When we leave the house and the dog is not with us, which is rare, the dog is crated and our kitty has free run of the house. Also we crate the dog at night and our cat sleeps on our bed so I don't feel like our cat has been "shunned" by any means. Our cat also hangs out on the back of the couch while the dog is asleep.

It is important to always let the cat have a way to escape if she wants (while not in training). We have stairs in our house and we don't let the dog upstairs yet. It is gated but our cat can jump it if she want to. We haven't let our dog upstairs yet (our master br is downstairs).

Good luck! You will get through this! Your cat is obviously freaked out right now and it will be a learning curve for her too to get more comfy with the idea of the new dog.

 

[Elvis2016]

I have been reading the post and I have a similar issue. I have a 5 year old German Shepherd and my girlfriend has two cats, one 7years old and in great health and one cat that is 12 years old had has bad hips. I am a college student and have lived at her house during weekends as well as summer and xmas breaks and we always seperate out animals to avoid trouble. My shepherd wants to kill her cats. I had him on a prong collar and one of the cats walked up to him and things looked like they were going good until he lunged for the cat and only stopped because of the prong collar. As it turned out he got a deep cut in the corner of his eyelid and a second cut above his eye. The injury did not slow his advance and he would have continued to go after the cat if I had not had him on a four foot leash. When the cats are in the upstairs bedroom, my Shepherd sits in the corner and fixates on the bedroom door and softly whines. I have tried stacking baby gates on the stairs and to make the upstairs "cat land" and the down stairs "dog land". He will sit next to baby gate and fixate on the upstairs all day. When he is on leash in the house with the cats in the same room it is constant whining. I have sat at home with him for hours, thinking he will eventually tire of whining, but he doe not tire. I have tried to scold him for whining while on leash with the cats in the same room, but I am not even sure he realizes he is whining. He is well exercised and has plenty of toys. He has a very high chase drive. Several years ago he caught a porky pine and was very lucky I was within 30 feet of the start of incident and was able to quickly put it to a stop. He was not deterred by 25-30 quills in his muzzle and mouth and continued to bite the porky pine despite his injuries. I really beleive he would have not stopped biting the porky pine until he had seriously injured himself. I was walking him on leash a few months later and he tried to go after another porky pine despite his painful negative encounter. His is plenty smart and his energy level and chase drive are so high that I use him pretty effectively to hunt birds and flush quail. In summery after dating for 2 years I feel like the dog and cats will never be in the same room. My shepherd is indifferent to getting scratched and has a high chase drive. The cats are getting older and dont move as quick as they used to. I have read the threads would like to hear some new ideas.

 

[HankGSD]

Hank has turned out to have an enormously high prey drive. If he was about 40 pounds lighter he would be an ideal police K9. But in regards the cats. My two were both 6 years old when I got Hank and I had no doubt they would show him who owned the house, who was boss, and who had the claws. But nope, didn't turn out that way. They are terrified of him and stay in the basement or in my kids' bedrooms. The few occasions when they have "met" since he was a pup his main motivation before I have intervened is getting to chase them, then he wants to smell and lick them and mouth them; their fur ends up wet but they are not injured. I am not the least bit happy about this but it is the way is. My dog has a high prey drive. My breeder suggested crating the cats and training the dog to ignore the cats; not worth the stress put on the cats.

 

[ZoeD1217]

This is stressing me out as well. My cats have always mostly stayed upstairs hopping from one kids room to the others. Zoe stays downstairs where she has all living areas and our room to roam. Even without the cats she wouldn't be upstairs until older bc there are just too many fun things to chew among the children's rooms.
Anyway... So the cats are not afraid to come down and I have been consistent with having Zoe sit when the cats are around. She desperately wants to see them and she doesn't bark or try to run after them but everytime my older cat comes near she (the cat) just growls and makes all sorts of racket. Zoe and Emma (9 yr old cat) were about a foot from each other and neither stepped forward but both leaned their heads in and Emma swatted Zoe in the face. She has claws but I don't see any scratches and Zoe didn't scream. I feel bad for Zoe though. It scared her and she's just a baby (10 weeks) and she has listened so well. Even when Emma is staring her down she will stay focused on me and sit or lie down. I don't know how to get them used to each other since I'd prefer to not take Zoe upstairs and I can't really make the cats come down without ticking them off.

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[Tratkins]

Try watching this video from Zac George. I found it very helpful! And also the key is lots of patience and baby steps. Good luck!

How to train your dog to leave your cat alone - YouTube

It the link doesn't work, it is Zac George how to train your dog to leave your cat alone.