New family member! It's a boy!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

In a little while I will be bringing home our newest family member. A two and a half year old Golden Retriever. He has medium length hair and a more rust colored coat. A beautiful sweet face and a temperament to go with it.

The only advice I need is this-

my other cats love dogs and were raised with them as I had three dogs at one time. My ragdoll is willing to hang out with them and lay in the same bed...drink out of the same water bowl etc. The others ignore the dogs except for one...my cat Jack..he is 4 years old and territorial.

Anyone got advice for how to acclimate a possessive little ass of a cat to a new dog?

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. tie them together with string

After a month, they should start to get along. :D

[populistmom]

2. Congratulations!

Those are beautiful, good natured dogs (wish I would have gotten one instead of mine in fact). No advice though as I've never had a cat and a dog at the same time.

[demnan]

3. Just don't let the cat scratch the dog's eyes out

before the dog figures that it's best to stay away from the cat!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

He doesn't approach dogs..he just gets in the Halloween curved

back mode and jumps up on top of the refrigerator growling...hasn't ever gotten near them...we've only ever had visitors for a few days..I am hoping once he realizes the dog is staying, he will snap out of it and get over the threat...the dog is good with other animals..this much I know already.

[proud patriot]

4. It should be okay

Goldies are sensitive to other (including cats) feelings
and will most likely not push it to the point of scratching .

[underpants]

5. Congrats

I'd guess do the same thing you would with two cats. Keep them seperated as best as is possible for a few days but crack the door so they can see each other and smell each other.

I dunno.

[proud patriot]

6. I forgot to say congrats on the goldie

We have a 8 year old Goldie , he's the best .

[pmbryant]

7. Congratulations!

Not sure what advice to give you, except that, at least in my experience, it won't take all that long for the cat and dog to learn to live with each other's presence. Maybe just a couple weeks, or less even.

Of course, our cats and dog have a lot of space in which to avoid each other.

Again, congratulations on your new dog. And good luck!

:bounce:

--Peter

[rasputin1952]

8. Congrat's on the pooch...

I could be a real brat and call you something....but I shall refrain.

Most pets tend to get along, but it can be a process. I'm sure it will work out. Now if that was a pit bull, I might be inclined to say something different.

:party:

[SheilaT]

9. The string idea is a good one.

Can Magic Rat be more specific about the length of the string? Should it be shortened as time goes on and they learn to get along?


(ROTFLMAO!)

[Democrats unite]

10. congrats

eom

[Cannikin]

11. Congrats!

My 3 yr old golden is VERY protective of my cat now. And he has to thoroughly inspect her when she comes inside. They'll get along if the cats feel like it!

[John Titor]

12. Congrats!

I just checked, and it seems that your son is gonna make a great grand-dad.

[Cleita]

13. If Jack is like Benny, also territorial, he probably gets along

better with dogs than other cats. I think letting them get to know each other slowly will probably work for you. Retreivers are such super dogs anyway, who couldn't love one, even a jealous cat. :-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. Well it was going good then it got rocky..

first off..the dog found out we own a pool the hard way....then he swam to the edge and I led him by his collar to the steps...that was the good part..I usually take a new dog in the back yard first so that they figure this out as I want to make sure they know how to get out...and not drown..mission accomplished.
He now thinks his new mom is so cool because she bought him the biggest water bowl in the whole wide world (although I will train him to drink from a bowl so as to not ingest chlorine)

Then we were doing well in cat coexistence 101...until he and I came back from visiting his new neighborhood and taking in all the smells (and leaving a few scents) When we walked back in the door...one of the cats ran and of course the dog thought it was a contest and followed in pursuit...I had whacked out cats and a whacked out dog for about 45 minutes...I put him outside to calm down and he damn near busted the door down (he's a big guy..somewhere between 60 and 80 lbs)

So I put the leash on him and brought him back in...he is now laying at my feet resting peacefully.

He does listen and I had already taught him SIT, COME, DOWN and shake (at my friends house earlier this week)...but he was a bit too wound up to even hear it.

It will be a challenge but that is why I decided to take him over the long weekend...little guy needs to learn some manners