German Shepherd Mix & Cats

[Noles03]

Hello everyone,
I'm Sabrina (new here, of course). I recently rescued a German Shepherd mix (I named Seminole) from the pound (she's adorable ... she's medium weight and has light beige fur where normally there would be brown fur). I'd share a pic but she's still at the pound waiting to get spayed (I pick her up tomorrow). She ended up at the pound because her previous owners abused her

Though she was abused she's as sweet as ever and loves everyone she meets. However, I introduced her to my parents' dachshunds and one of the dachshunds growled first (probably out of fear from a large dog sniffing her butt, haha) and that put Seminole in a defensive mood and it took ~30 minutes before they ever said their doggy hello's.

I'm not worried about the dogs accepting each other, what I'm worried about is my cat getting along with Seminole. My cat is also a rescue, and she is my heart and soul (and has been the 'apple of my eye' if she could describe herself to you). It took my cat, Shelby, about a month to get over dogs being around her (the Dachshunds - when I moved to my parents' momentarily). I was just wondering if anyone had any experience in introducing their youth (18 months) German Shepherd to their adult cat (4.5 years)? I really want to make sure Seminole & Shelby get along because I'd hate for their relationship not to work out. Shelby loooooves playing with tails so I'm hopeful someone here has a strategy to get the two accustomed to one another.

Thanks,
Sabrina

[Noles03]

Oh, also while I visited Seminole last (at the pound) we were in the clinic waiting room and volunteers kept walking by with cats and she got excited enough to jump up and sniff them but she was also calm and non-aggressive toward them. I'd say she was just genuinely interested in what cats were.
Shelby is sure fire going to puff up and growl and I'm hoping Seminole doesn't become aggressive towards that.

[KZoppa]

its a long process (time). Definitely introduce the dog to the cat ON LEASH!!! NEVER let them be unsupervised. Make sure the cat always has a place to go that the dog can NOT get to. patience, training. Watch the dog for signs its going to be a problem. crate the dog when you cant supervise or be home. i've done it a few times but i never had an problems. Keep in mind some dogs will never get along with cats however. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing pictures of your new baby!!!!

[KZoppa]

oh and keep a calm relaxed and confident atmosphere about it.

[Noles03]

Thanks for your advice. I was hoping to avoid crating Seminole b/c of her background at the pound but I think it will give me peace of mind to know Shelby will be safe from an unfamiliar dog.
I really hope Seminole will accept my cat. It'd be heartbreaking if my little fur-family didn't accept one another.

[KZoppa]

dogs are naturally den animals and crates help them feel safe. some people will argue that point but its true. Its one of the traits they still retain from wolves. A crate is more often a dogs quiet place. My dogs are crate trained and they'll be in there snoozing and just hanging out on a daily basis with the door wide open. lol even my kids are crate trained! they go in and play in the crates and pull the door closed on themselves and crack up. BTW my kids are 3 and 15 months. they think its just one of the greatest places to play and the dogs dont care one way or the other. the crate will be completely different from being at the pound. The pound is loud and scary. Crates are calm and safe.