How to Introduce a Kitten to My Excitable Dog

Your dog and your cat don't have to be enemies, especially if your kitten grows up with your dog. An overly excited or energetic dog can be intimidating for a kitten, however, and can even be a danger to it if it tries to play roughly or chase and "hunt" the kitten. To encourage friendly interaction between the two, make their initial meetings as calm and rewarding as possible.

Instructions

1

Practice your dog's basic obedience skills before bringing the kitten home. Try to plan far enough in advance to spend one or two months brushing up on commands such as "down," "sit," "leave it" and "come." These commands are your most valuable tool for keeping an excitable dog calm around a new kitten. Hold training sessions every day and always reward your dog for obeying the command.

2

Confine your new kitten to a single room during its first few days at home, using a baby gate across the room's door. Take it out into the rest of the house only when your dog is outside. Provide food, water and a litter box for your kitten. This confinement will give it time to adjust to its new surroundings in peace, while keeping it from being overwhelmed by the size of your home. It also will give you the ability to supervise all interaction between your dog and your kitten, and prevent accidental (and unsupervised) encounters.

3

Put your dog on a leash and walk it to the baby gate several times a day. Reward it for being curious but calm and friendly when it sees the kitten on the other side of the gate. Use treats such as cheese or hot dog to show it that the kitten's presence in the home is a positive experience.

4

Ask your dog to sit or lie down if it begins to get excited (watch for it to jump, whine, bark or pull on the leash). Reward it if it obeys and simply remove it from the area if it doesn't. Put your dog outside or close the door to the kitten's room when you aren't supervising introductions.

5

Reward your kitten with meat, tuna or cheese if it comes to the gate to investigate your dog. Use these treats to teach it that the dog is not a scary or negative thing. Don't force interaction. "...Many people believe that it must be crucial to get dog training tips preceding to having their pets. A number of people might find this exciting but a lot of people could concur that this is a great tip to follow. The problem with some pet owners is they will get a dog and then find out that they are not suitable to be cautious of them. Finally, they could give up their pets in order to bring back their past lives. These dog training tips can let people understand what they need to take care of and if they have the time to teach their dogs. These guidelines could be found on Secrets To Dog Training. By using the time to perform appropriate dog training, you will enjoy a lifetime of comfortable friendship with your ".... If your kitten hides, try again later.

6

Move your kitten to a larger, more open room such as the living room or kitchen. Keep your dog on a leash, but allow them to be in the room together. Reward both the dog and the kitten for staying calm. If your dog becomes too excited and your kitten gets nervous, try distracting your dog with a "sit," "down" or "leave it" command. Reward it for obeying. If it continues to jump, whine or pester the kitten, remove either the kitten or your dog from the room.

7

Allow your dog and your kitten to meet when your dog isn't on a leash. Wait until your dog is always calm on the leash when the kitten is near before trying this step. Reward your kitten and your dog for being calm and friendly toward each other. Separate them if your dog gets too excited, plays too roughly or tries to chase your kitten.

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