Introducing Shepherd to cats

[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]

Originally Posted by tonym

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]

Originally Posted by tonym

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]

Originally Posted by codmaster

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.