Help- my dog and cat don't like each other!
Hi everyone,
I'm Heidi, and my 9 month old Corgi is Foxie. I've had her for almost 2 months. She is very energetic and good-natured to everyone with the exception of my cat, Garfield. Initially Foxie was very scared of him, and wouldn't even look at him but just whimper. Garfield the cat wasn't welcoming and kind of creeped around her for a little while. He's not that interested in her anymore, except if she's blocking his was to the courtyard where he likes to sit. I got her a baby gate (in addition to her crate) so she could relax at bedtime. Her crate is also right outside my room and we are so close that she can see me.
Now Foxie gets in Garfield's face barking at him and continually advances until he jumps up high onto the furniture. This happens daily. So far they have not bitten each other, but Foxie corners him and barks at him and Garfield has let her know in no uncertain terms that he does not like it. He hisses and swings at her, although he is declawed. I do my best to keep them apart. The cat is 7 yrs old and male and just basically wants to sleep and eat now. Foxie physically blocks him from entering or exiting the house to get to the courtyard where he likes to sit.
Does anyone have any suggestions?? The trainer at the puppy training class said to treat each of them when the other entered the room so teach would associate the other with good things. It wasn't effective. My friend's trainer said to use a water spray bottle on them when they go at it. I haven't tried the water yet, but I will.
I would appreciate any input, especially if you have had a similar experience! Thank you!
Comment
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Comment by Heidi on March 6, 2012 at 6:27pm
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Thank you so much everyone! I really do appreciate all of these tips, and I will try them all until one (or all) seems to work.
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Comment by Becky S on March 6, 2012 at 3:34pm
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Our kitty Dusty is funny, she HATES Brody but will share my lap and even let Lilly use her as a pillow, purrring away. They both know leave it, so Brody pretty much ignores her now, except if she goes out in the back yard. They see it as their job to get her back into the house, and the occasional chase up or down the stairs. She's figured out how to get around the house without touching the ground. DH is allergic so she's not allowed in the bedroom, occasionally gets in so the "find the kitty" comes in handy as they will roust her out of her hiding spot.
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Comment by Lemmy Winks on March 6, 2012 at 1:52pm
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Just correct Foxie when ever she gets in your cats face. I don't think it's so much of "the cat wont tolerate it" but rather, you, the leader/big dog wont tolerate it.
We have a similar problem, only my cat made it VERY clear ( blood all over the kitchen floor, wall and cupboard doors) to my hound that she wasn't enjoying being cornered, pawed and barked at....and it's done nothing to faze my dog, (only his ear got cut).
I'm constantly on top of both my dogs when they corner or chase after our cats.
Teaching "leave it" will help tremendously too! I tell them "leave it" when ever they so much as perk up when seeing a cat enter the room, it's not 100% yet but it's a work in progress, and it's been about 5 months with my hound and my corgi is just learning.
Consistency! You must show no matter how stubborn the dog is, you can be more stubborn @_@ and it is exhausting but it will work, slowly but surely!
Hope this helps.
Best of luck!
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Thanks Jennifer! For some reason I couldn't see your whole reply on my laptop, but from my mobile phone it's no problem, lol! I will spend more time on 'leave it' for sure!
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Comment by Jennifer Markley on March 6, 2012 at 10:50am
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Corgi's are herding dogs, and your cat is moving. ("How dare he" says your corgi). My corgis chase the cats incessantly....and sometimes the cats egg them on, knowing they can't catch them. You can work on the "leave it" command. Put him on a leash, and place a bowl of food on the floor. Walk him around it in circles, and every time he looks at it or moves towards it, say "leave it" with a quick correction on the leash. When he ignores it after, praise and give a treat. Soon he'll learn what it means. My dogs know the leave it command, and listen probably half the time (it doesn't help when my husband is in the background saying "get the kitty!"- he hates the cats)....but my dogs have very strong herding instincts and sometimes it's just too much and they get caught up in the moment and don't listen. Pretty much my cats and dogs just tolerate each other. They don't hate each other, and Seanna and Sage won't hurt the cats--when they have them cornered they just sit there and look at them waiting for them to move again- but for the most part they don't hang out together or anything. Sometimes my one cat and Seanna will play- they do this sitting on their butts with their front paws in the air batting at each other...but they ignore each other for the great part.
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