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Topic Dog Boards / Behaviour / Introducing kitten to dog
- By Sarah D [gb] Date 04.12.06 11:47 UTC
I have a lhasa apso that likes to think he is the boss and I have just taken on a kitten.  They are not responding very well to each other and i am worried that the dog, given the opportunity will seriously injure the kitten.  When i bought the kitten into the house in a carrier, the dog tried to attack the box.  Since then the kitten has been hissing at him everytime we try to bring the dog close. We tried holding the cat and letting the dog sniff his tail, but he just snapped at him.  Is there anyone out there who has any advice on intergrating the two or am I just fighting a lost cause? 
- By Jeangenie [gb] Date 04.12.06 12:11 UTC
This link has some advice about introducing dogs and cats.

See also here and here. Good luck!
- By Jeangenie [gb] Date 04.12.06 12:16 UTC
More here too!

A tip is to allow each animal to sniff at the other's bedding to start to get used to their scent. Don't rush their integration - it can take many weeks before they accept each other. Keep them separated when they can't be closely supervised. :)
- By Goldmali Date 04.12.06 12:29 UTC
You don't want to ever force a meeting, it has to be on their terms and in time. The kitten needs to have access everywhere and the dog NOT, and it is vital that the kitten can escape -into a hidey hole of some sort, on top of something, or preferably through the bars of a baby gate that the dog cannot get through. If the kitten feels trapped the instinct will be to fight and I would not bet on the dog coming off best -you could end up with a dog minus one of its eyes. Best bet to have the dog confined to one room only and let the kitten wander everywhere, then they will slowly get used to each other. Even my dogs that have lived with cats all their lives always eye a new one VERY suspisciously, but they eventually realise it does belong here. :)
- By Sarah D [gb] Date 04.12.06 23:07 UTC
Thank you for your responses.  I am still keeping them apart and gradually introducing them to each other. The kitten seems more relaxed when he sees the dog now. He is still arching his back, but not hissing so much, but everytime the kitten moves, the dog tenses up, gets tunnel vision, i.e he won't take his eyes off the kitten no matter what i do to try to distract him and then he starts shaking and pulling on the lead to try to get to the kitten. I shall continue with the advice given and post back to let you know if i have any success. Thanks again.
- By Beardy [gb] Date 05.12.06 18:35 UTC
My 2 dogs will still chase the cat if it runs, they can't help themselves. However, if the cat stops & gives them a swipe the chasing game is over. My last cat was 16 years old & did not tolerate my 5 month old GSD at all to begin with. Zak the GSD just couldn't help aggravating him. On more than one occasion I had to prize the cats claws from the dogs lips. They will settle, as long as the cat can escape it won't be a problem.
Topic Dog Boards / Behaviour / Introducing kitten to dog

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