New Dog

[jltracy]

Hi all! So last night we finally got a new doggie! Here is what happened, I think I need some advice.

We locked the two cats in the bedroom area and let the dog explore. He was really scared at first, but warmed up to Derek and I very quickly. He was so nervous at first that he didn't want a treat or a bone or anything, so we just went about our normal activities until he got used to us. After that we settled down to watch a movie and he chewed happily on his new bone.

Now, as you (hopefully) remember, when we had old Grim, Chloe the female cat would hiss at him and stay away, but Diego the male cat would just sniff at him and be near him and not be too worried. I'm assuming that is because Grim was so old he just hobbled around and didn't move too much or make much noise.

So, the last owner said she crated the dog (his name is Smokey, but we are thinking of changing that because he doesn't know it anyway) at night so we put him in his crate with his bone and went to bed. The cats were able to see him through the crate and that is it, and neither of them hissed or anything, they just sniffed and stared curiously.

Well, turns out he didn't like to be crated after all. Of course. /sigh He whined for about half an hour in the darkness, while Derek and I tried to fall asleep. We know from previous experience and advice not to give in to the whining. Eventually, however, his whines started to mix with little chuffs and growls. Finally, after about an hour and a half of falling asleep and being awakened by this, we thought he had to go outside. So Derek took him out and he did pee. We decided to let him roam the place while we kept the cats in the bedroom with us. I was too tired and nervous about them being face to face too soon, so we kept the doors closed.

Smokey decided to paw at the door and carpet for awhile, then actually went to sleep, curled up on the futon with his half chewed bone next to him. This was around 3:30am.

About 6am, Diego started pouncing on our feet. Relentlessly. While meowing, which he's never done. We knew that meant he needed the potty, so we quietly opened the door so Smokey wouldn't get all hyper again and let Diego and Chloe into the other room. They both did their business but then ran off. I was in the bedroom getting Chloe in there before trying to find Diego when I heard Smokey let out a loud bark mixed with some kind of growl. I run out but he's just sitting there on the futon, giving me this look that says, "...what???" I can't find Diego anywhere, so I close Chloe in the bedroom and look for him. He finally slinks over to me and I scoop him up. Halfway to the bedroom, he freaks and leaves this nice looking deep cut on my chest, making me yelp and drop him. The dog wasn't even near him! He was still on the futon sleeping!

Diego runs into the bedroom and I stop the bleeding. I check on Diego and Chloe, both seem fine now. Then Derek and I go to bed by 6:40am.

My alarm goes off for work at 7:45am.

Thoughts? Advice? I know it was too soon for the cats and dog to be so close to each other, so advice OTHER than that will help. Thanks all! <3

 

[Dizzy]

Absolutely sounds perfectly normal to me.

It takes time for animals to get used to each other. Sometimes they just don't EVER get used to each other.

My advice would be to just take it slowly. Make sure you're there supervising when they're in the room together, but don't interfere unless you think they're in danger of some kind.

They'll adjust eventually.

 

[Lizmo]

Hmm.

Something obvious happend to make him spook like that. What, I'm not sure. It could have just been the sheer shock of seeing a dog in the living room. Maybe someone with more experience with cats could help you.


How's that for a totally useless post! lol

 

[Dizzy]

Just another thought, make sure the cats have an escape route - something they can jump up on out of the way of the dogs and observe from up high.

My dog was brought up with cats, but I moved back into my folks and they have 2 cats.

2 years later and one STILL hates the dog and will hiss and growl at her, and one is totally fine with it.

Never expect them to be good friends. It might not happen. They'll work it out though.

 

[ACooper]

I would say the first thing you need to figure out (after official introductions are made) is if Smokey is a cat hater. If the cats hate HIM, it's not as big of a deal as if it's the other way around because the cats won't seek him out and attack, LOL (not usually anyway)

Some dogs just can't stand cats and can never be trusted with them.

 

[jltracy]

I'm just really afraid of the dog hurting a cat or vice versa. The dog is fine with both cats, he was raised with them, but does growl if they come to sniff his bone or something that is his and his only. Should I be worried about that?

 

[ACooper]

Is he fine with YOU touching it? Or is it just the cats around the bone that he takes issue with?

 

[jltracy]

He's fine with me touching it. I pick it up and throw it and he runs to get it.

 

[TheGoldenRetriever]

I would say the first thing you need to figure out (after official introductions are made) is if Smokey is a cat hater.

^^^^ Same thought. Upon reading that the dog growls if the cats get near anything that's his I thought "resource guarding". But it's not consistent, since JL said the dog does not do that at all with humans, only with the cats. Another concern is that Diego, the dog-friendly cat, is the one that seems so afraid of this dog that he badly scratched JL. Hmmmm ...

One good thing is that the dog is said to have been raised with cats ... so perhaps he'll adjust with time and careful socialization/supervision. Some dogs have this weird thing in that they only like their OWN cats ... the ones they were raised with ... but do not like any other cats, sometimes not at all.

EDIT: Any idea what breed or mix of breeds the new dog might be? Goldens, Labs, Spaniels, GSDs, Australian Shepherds, Papillons, Shih Tzus, etc. tend to be good with all cats as long as raised with them. Terriers, Doxies, Chis, Schnauzers, Lhasa Apsos, etc. tend to be the ones that only like "their" cats. (Not that there aren't any exceptions either way, but after volunteering for a rescue back home that seemed to be the way it went ... too many times to be cooincidence.)

 

[Maxy24]

Sounds normal to me, it'll just take time. I dog sat a dog and when the dog was in my room and the cats were upstairs they were still growling even though she was no where near them. I would keep the dog and cats separate whenever he has a bone if he guards it from them.

 

[jltracy]

^^^^ Same thought. Upon reading that the dog growls if the cats get near anything that's his I thought "resource guarding". But it's not consistent, since JL said the dog does not do that at all with humans, only with the cats. Another concern is that Diego, the dog-friendly cat, is the one that seems so afraid of this dog that he badly scratched JL. Hmmmm ...

One good thing is that the dog is said to have been raised with cats ... so perhaps he'll adjust with time and careful socialization/supervision. Some dogs have this weird thing in that they only like their OWN cats ... the ones they were raised with ... but do not like any other cats, sometimes not at all.

EDIT: Any idea what breed or mix of breeds the new dog might be? Goldens, Labs, Spaniels, GSDs, Australian Shepherds, Papillons, Shih Tzus, etc. tend to be good with all cats as long as raised with them. Terriers, Doxies, Chis, Schnauzers, Lhasa Apsos, etc. tend to be the ones that only like "their" cats. (Not that there aren't any exceptions either way, but after volunteering for a rescue back home that seemed to be the way it went ... too many times to be cooincidence.)

He's a chihuahua mixed with something else.