Introducing Your Dog to Smaller Pets

Sometimes one pet is just not enough.  Perhaps you’ve moved in with a significant other who also owns a pet or have found an apartment with pet owning roommates.  There are a number of reasons why your dog may need to meet small pets.

If your dog has met cats before or has been around other dogs.  Introducing the animals should not be a particularly difficult task.  Introducing two dogs, providing neither is particularly aggressive or dominant, can be quite easy.  Introducing a dog to a cat is a much different ordeal.

The nature of cats and their like of solitude and space means that the cat should be allowed some time to get itself accustomed to its surroundings before it meets the dog.  If the dog is moving into the cat’s territory that has already been established, then this should not be a big issue.

Your first step should be to confine the cat in one room.  Bring the dog into the apartment or house and let it sniff around, all on a leash, without actually meeting the cat or entering the cat’s room.  This can take a few minutes or half an hour.  Take the dog away.  It is easiest if you have somewhere else to stay with the dog for a few days.

Let the cat out after the dog has left.  This will give the cat a chance to get used to the scent of the dog she will soon meet.  The next day if you like, confine the cat to the room again, but this time bring the dog into the room.  Again, it is very important that the dog be on a leash.  Even dogs known to be good with cats will want to sniff the cat on first meeting and this can frighten and intimidate a cat.

Once in the room, close the door.  Have your dog sit or lay down and stay this way for a while.  This gives the cat a chance to get a feel for the dog without actually having to meet it face to face.  The most important element here is that the dog be completely calm.  If you have little control of your dog, the cat will be frightened.  If your dog understands you to be in charge, the dog will calmly wait for your next instructions.  Do not even let the dog show an interest in the cat.

Go through these steps several times until you feel that the cat is becoming comfortable with the idea of the cat.  When ready, you can let the cat wander the house while you keep your dog on a leash.  Eventually the two can be allowed off leash in the house at the same time.