New dog, old cats - help! :-)

[iris5426]

Ok...let me preface this by saying that I've always had cats, my whole life, and know next to nothing about owning a dog. My hubby and I have 2 cats, Abigail is the calico, she's 9, and Roger is the black and white kitty, he's 3 (his mom was a Maine Coon). I don't think Abby has ever completely forgiven us for bringing Roger into the family, though she tolerates him. So 2 weeks ago we decided to adopt a dog from the local shelter. He was an animal control pickup and was very shy at the shelter. They think he is about 3 years old, he's a black lab mix, but small, weighs only 35 lbs. They warned us that he probably wasn't trained and might not know how to play...so we brought him home and named him Rigby (we're huge Beatles fans :)) and have been trying to integrate him into the house. As he's relaxed around us, we've found out that he knows how to sit and give paw, and sometimes stays. He seems to like to play, though he won't drop a ball when he brings it back to you most of the time. He doesn't seem to pay much attention to commands when he's distracted though, whether its by Roger or by another dog on a walk or whatever.

So, we've been keeping the dog on the first floor of the house, he sleeps in his crate at night (though we'd eventually like to have him sleeping upstairs and not having to be in the crate at night) and most of the time that we are home he is out of the crate, but on his leash (though we aren't always holding on to it) because he gets really excited when Roger creeps downstairs to check things out. Poor Abigail hasn't left the upstairs bedroom since we got the dog and we've taken to feeding both cats upstairs. Roger has gotten braver and braver and comes downstairs more often, staying longer and getting closer, but there is always a point where the eye contact or proximity seems to be too much for Rigby and he lunges for the cat, making all sorts of noise on the wood floor and generally scaring the crap out of the cat, who runs upstairs.

We're afraid to just let the dog go, because we don't want him to hurt the cat in any way, and I just worry that we'll somehow traumatize the cat(s) if we let him run free before he calms down more, especially Abigail (if she comes out from under the bed).

On top of that, the dog seems to be getting more and more spazzy when we are outside the house. He gets all riled up by other dogs when we are walking him, and last night my neighbor walked up the driveway to talk to me and the entire few minutes we were talking, Rigby was barking pretty ferociously at him. We're signed up for a 6 week obedience type class at the shelter we got him from, which starts tomorrow, and I think that will help a lot. But I'm just looking for some advice on all of this, if anyone has any to offer...

TIA! :hi:

[China_cat]

1. Obedience classes will definitely help

but the thing that will help the most is just time. Time for dog to grow a brain (between age 2 and 3...if you're lucky), time for the cats to remember they have claws and fit into smaller spaces than Rigby does and just time for everybody to get used to each other.

[iris5426]

2. Thanks :-) Is it good to keep the dog on the first floor and on the leash

til that happens, or should we be trying to let him roam more freely (and possibly chase the cats)?

[China_cat]

5. You have to let him start sometime. It might as well be now.

For short periods and supervised, of course. I agree with making sure the cats have a safe space to get away to but the dog will learn more from a handful of fish hooks in the nose than any amount of 'no' from you.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Adorable furbabies. What I did was to set up a "safe space" for the cats. I got one of those

really good pressure gates, and installed it about 4-5 inches above the floor. This way the cats could scoot under it to the part of the house where the dog - a German Shepherd - could not get to them.
I kept their food, water and litter boxes inside the safe spaces.

The only time the dog was allowed on the other side of this gate was when I was there too.

It just meant that there were two sides to the house...the dog side and the cat side. The cats, of course could wander on either side if they chose to. The dog was restricted unless I was there to chaperone.

Eventually, the dog got used to the cats, and vice-versa. I still kept the gate up for a much smaller area..just to protect the cat food and the litter boxes from canine curiosity and appetite.

[iris5426]

4. That's a good idea, thanks...

Now I'll just have to figure out where in the house that would work... :)

[demnan]

6. I'm sure it will work out

Labs are such easy going dogs, smart and kind. I've had dogs and cats together in a household get along well. But don't expect miracles from the elder female cat, they tend to not adjust as well to new additions, for some reason. As long as you provide her a refuge and remember to give her plenty of attention, she will be alright.

[intheflow]

7. I actually think the barking and leash misbehavior is a good sign.

Means he's getting comfortable with you (knows you're on the other end of the leash to keep him safe) and protective of you. You are becoming his pack! :thumbsup: That being said, of course it's annoying behavior. As others have said, the obedience training should help a lot. Not only with Rigby's behavior, but with your comfort level at being first time dog parents. :)

BTW, my dog sleeps in his crate in a spare bedroom; in fact, he hangs out there all the time. We've never closed the door, so he can come and go when he pleases. He likes it because it's cave-like and we like it because it keeps him off the bed.

[iris5426]

8. Thanks for all the comments and advice :-)