new dog + old cats = ouch.

**karone** · 11-26-2008, 10:25 AM

we got a puppy last nite. his name is max. to introduce him to golden and orange i grabbed golden in the bedroom by the scruff b/c i knew she would scratch me if i didnt. as i was trying to hand her to jason she swatted at max before jason grabbed her. she got my wrist a little. she laid down in jason's lap for a hlf hr. jason handed her to me and she laid down. jason got orange and when max came over one time orange bit jason and pooped in jason's lap before running into one of the kitchen cabinets. merrick got the roll of trash bags jason asked for. jason cleaned the poo off then got orange again in his lap. merrick went to bed soon after that. i let golden go a few minutes after that. she went with orange and hid behind a couple of speakers. they hissed at max the whole time they were around him and whenever he came around them. i think jason has the camera so he will upload the pix later or i will if i find it here.

**mandi0808** · 11-26-2008, 10:34 AM

Ouch!
Don't worry, they will make friends someday. (Hopefully!)
When we got a puppy, we put her in a crate and I sat on the floor next to it with the cats. They could sniff and smell and poke around, and the puppy was contained so she wouldn't startle the cats.
It helped the cats be comfortable with what was coming into their house, without the puppy bouncing all over and making them nervous.

**karone** · 11-26-2008, 10:53 AM

lol, we dont have a crate thats big enough for him. when i let him out just before jason left for work jason and i had to chase him. shortly after that i went to the store and got him a collar and a leash so we could walk him around out back for bathroom duty.

**patticakes** · 11-26-2008, 04:30 PM

I second the crate option.

We got a new puppy two months ago & now the cat only comes in on the cold rainy nights. He has chosen to make himself an outside cat with the deer, raccoons and fox.

Last night when I was cooking, his happy face was in the kitchen window debating joining us inside. He didn't.

He will be back inside soon, he is a wuss.

**karone** · 11-26-2008, 04:45 PM

lol, even before max our cats were very skittish. during the day they would be in our bedroom and come out at nite after merrick went to bed.

**phoeny_moonstar** · 11-28-2008, 02:42 AM

That's a puppy? My what a big puppy! My full grown dogs are probably 1/4 the size of it!! Congrats on the puppy and hope the introduction into the household gets easier for you!

**Palooka** · 11-28-2008, 03:38 AM

Yes, what a big puppy! lol

Crate training is the best! Let them out to wonder and go pee and allow them 10 minutes to roam in the yard, Thats it! If they do their business let them play in the house and for 20 minutes outside the crate. If they don't do nothing put them back asap.

They usually won't mess in their crate if it is just the right size,

They learn that a crate is like a safe haven for them and it doesn't matter the breed. If you keep the crate door open at night, they actually feel that is there safety net. My Bishon loved it after I crate trained her.

Some people think crates are inhume but they are not. They will get your domesticated friend to adopt so much faster to humans.

Just like cats and they will come around .