The Eukanuba Adult
Dog Guide.

Just because he's no longer a puppy does not mean his
owner cannot learn a few new tricks.

Dogs and Cats: Yes, They Can Be Friends

You brought two Springer Spaniels into the marriage. Your spouse contributed an overweight orange alley cat plus a yowling Siamese. Now, you're living in a zoo. While the animals chase after one another like they're race cars in the Indianapolis 500, you're constantly jumping over baby gates that (in theory, at least) barricade canine terrain from feline territory. Is there any hope you'll make it to Christmas with all four pets and your sacrament still intact? Take heart, friend. With some practice and patience, you too can someday hope to have all your pets posing in the same holiday card. Here's how:

Why Can't They Just Get Along?

Chasing is a reflex for dogs just like swallowing. Canines don't even have to think when this impulse is triggered, they just act. This is true even for the most mild-mannered, geriatric dog. (In fact, we know of one mutt who was terminally ill and, in her final hours, got up from her death bed to chase a squirrel — 50 feet away.) Therefore, any dashing, scrambling creature could prompt a chase — even a small child. (For more information on raising dogs with kids, please see our article "Raising Dogs and Kids Together".) Sometimes, all it takes is for a dog to lock eyes with a cat, who might be sitting perfectly still. That's because long ago your dog learned that cats will run from him — in fact, they are prey.

When a Cat Isn't a Cat.

It is difficult to get a dog to stop chasing prey. The key, then, is to reprogram Bullet to think of the cat as something else. Here's how to do it:

  • Run your hands over the cat so that your scent is present on her fur
  • Have a friend hold the cat. (May we suggest your buddy wear long sleeves?)
  • Leash your dog and then take him to the cat
  • Allow the dog to sniff
  • If the dog is friendly, reward him with treats. If the dog shows aggression, pull him away and say "No!" firmly
  • Repeat the drill until the dog has the appropriate reaction. (Yes, you'll have to practice a good many times before you can unleash your dog around the cat, especially if they've had history together.)

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