How to introduce a dog to resident cats - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**guineapigluver1** · #1 08-09-09, 01:51 pm

To make a long story short, we want to adopt a dog. We found one we are submitting an application for and hoping they don't reject us for the sole fact that our yard isn't fenced (it isn't possible to fence our yard, the way it is laid out).
Any good links for introducing a dog to resident cats?

**Seonta** · #2 08-10-09, 10:21 am

Many shelters will test dogs for cat friendliness so that is one thing you might want to look into. Some people introduce by keeping one animal contained and letting the other sniff through. When we got our kitten this time we just opened the cat carrier and let her choose when to come out, the dog stuck his head in but there wasn't any hissing or growling or smacking. Part of it is knowing the temperament of the animals.

**guineapigluver1** · #3 08-10-09, 10:24 am

In her description it says she is great with cats. That is one thing we were sure to look for.
I know that they have been chased by a dog before, but it was a big labrador (this one we submitted an application for is a Boston Terrier, 20 pounds).

I'm hoping that even if the cats have a hissy fit, the dog will just ignore them or leave them alone since it says she is great with cats and loves kids.

Would it be okay to have them sniff through a baby gate?

**Seonta** · #4 08-10-09, 10:28 am

Yeah that'd be good. I would expect some growling and hissing from the cats since they are already there. In our situation the cat we already had was more angry about the kitten than the dog was. He growled, hissed, and smacked. The dog just sniffed, whined, and ran away.

Baby gate is a good idea- the cats could probably jump it though and our dog always climbed them when we used them to block him off from part of the house.

**guineapigluver1** · #5 08-10-09, 10:31 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seonta

Yeah that'd be good. I would expect some growling and hissing from the cats since they are already there. In our situation the cat we already had was more angry about the kitten than the dog was. He growled, hissed, and smacked. The dog just sniffed, whined, and ran away.

Baby gate is a good idea- the cats could probably jump it though and our dog always climbed them when we used them to block him off from part of the house.

They can jump over it. It is in use for the kitchen and another for the stairs.
The one for the stairs is much taller than the one for the kitchen though, and more stable as it is mounted on the wall and banister. The one for the kitchen is pressure mounted.

Should we put all of their stuff (water bowl, food bowl, litter box, toys etc) on the side of the gate where the dog is not?

**guineapigluver1** · #6 08-23-09, 07:09 pm

Sadly (well, not sadly for the dog) her adoption is pending. We hadn't sent in the form yet as we wanted to know a couple things and they were not e-mailing us back, we saw today her adoption is pending. We are kind of sad we couldn't get her as it is seemingly hard to find a Boston Terrier that is both good with kids and cats (and if it is good with one, they aren't with the other). This rescue does have another that could possibly work-he was an owner surrender from a puppy mill breeder. The only info on him is that he is very sweet and good with people and does well with other dogs. Unknown about cats and says unknown with kids but probably so.
Well, we will keep looking! We obviously weren't meant to have Miley.