How to introduce my cats to my dog ?

OH MY COD

So the dog I have is pretty old .maybe 7+ years .. he is a rescue my dad got when we were younger and he recently moved into an apartment so I agreed to take the dog until he got a house again. The dog is nice . I suspect he may have been abused as he has always been cowardly . He is a lab shepard mix. He is actually very very afraid of other animals . When I was younger we got a kitten and he feared it . He is still the same . I am wondering how can I introduce him so the cats won't hate me . And if they'll just come around when they realiaze he is more afraid of them .

Answer
Start in the biggest open area in your house. Have the dog on a leash, and a spray bottle or squirt gun as a last resort to discourage the cats. First bring the dog in alone. Let him walk around a bit and smell the cats. Pet him with a washcloth or something to get his scent on it, then take him out and bring the cats in. Let them walk around and sniff where the dog's been, and offer treats. Try putting the washcloth on the floor with treats on it for them to eat.

Next, shoo the cats out and bring the dog back. Let him sniff around again, and wait for him to calm down. Once he seems relaxed, let the cats back in. Stay calm yourself, and just watch them. There will probably be hissing, growling, and hair standing up all around. Let them approach each other if they want to, but don't force them. You don't need to intervene unless one of the animals gets cornered, or it looks like it's turning into a REAL fight. (You've probably seen your cats squabble enough to be able to tell when they're fighting for dominance, but not really trying to hurt each other. It sounds like you already know the dog pretty well, too, so just watch his teeth.) You may have to do an intro like this several times. Keep in mind it could take months for your cats to accept that the dog isn't going away, right now you're just getting them to the point they won't hurt each other.

A few tips for these introductions:
- It would probably help if your Dad is there, especially the first time.
- Don't close the doors. If an animal wants to bolt, let it (even if this means following the dog with the leash).
- Don't give the dog a bone, or any other tasty chew-thing. A toy might be okay, if you want to distract him, but he might feel like he has to defend something food-like from the cats.
- If one or both of your cats responds well to catnip, get kitty good and stoned first.

There's always the chance the cats will completely ignore the dog. Really, that's the best case scenario for a first-time. In my experience, the skittish one will spend a lot of the next several days hiding. Tough ones either attack the dog immediately, glare/growl/hiss until it's satisfied the dog is submissive, or swat at it. I'm not saying all cats fit into one of these categories, but those are the adult cats I've done this with.

For the longer-term, make sure there's a dog-proof area of the house for the cats. This is a good place to keep the litter box, both for their comfort and so the dog doesn't eat anything from it. If you leave food out for the cats, keep it there, too. Likewise, if the dog doesn't have a kennel, make a bed for him somewhere den-like. (The cats will probably avoid it on their own, but if you have a male with a dominant personality, keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't pee on it.)

If you feed the cats meals, instead of leaving dry food out for them to graze on, feed the dog at the same time. Ideally, do it at opposite ends of the same room, at least to start. If the dog finishes before the cats, and he probably will, take him out of the room or distract him so the cats don't feel like they need to protect their food. The cats probably wouldn't appreciate being removed, but watch them to make sure they don't steal the dog's food from him.

Have more than one water bowl. At least one should be somewhere only the cats can get to, and at least one in a dog-friendly area away from the food.

Just keep in mind that a little roughhousing and dominance-posturing is normal. By the sound of things, the cats are going to be on top, so just watch them over time to make sure they aren't bullying the dog. If the cats are already friends with each other, they will probably eventually end up ignoring the dog as much as possible, and a timid dog would like that just fine. Still, there may be moments they get along, and those are supremely cute. (A cold night and a wood stove make for strange bedfellows... /nostalgia.)

I want to thank you, and everyone else who takes in adult animals when their owners move to smaller housing or assisted living. I've known people who had to put down loving, healthy pets that had become part of the family, simply because they couldn't afford to stay in their old home, and it's heartbreaking. Good luck!

Therapy Dog information?

does anyone know of any sites other than the TDI and Akron Children's Doggie Brigade that i could do for my silver award? i am a cadette girl scout and we got a dog a few weeks ago. i've been wanting to do therapy dogs as my silver project since i was done w/ my bronze. i am only 13 so organizations that i could join would be appreciated. thanks!!!!!!!!!
i've already looked at the TDI. i'm just wondering if there are any others. thanks anyway!

Answer
The three big organizations are:

The Delta Society (http://www.deltasociety.org)
Therapy Dogs International (http://www.tdi-dog.org)
Therapy Dogs Incorporated (http://www.therapydogs.com)

Off the top of my head I don't recall the age limitations, but I do know that some organizations will permit two person teams when a minor wants to participate. It means you'll have to convince a parent or other mentor to prepare and test with you, and accompany you on any visits.

Sometimes local human societies have their own therapy dog programs, and the same may be true of other dog organizations such as local kennel clubs or rescues. Your veterinarian or pet store owner may be resources in tracking down local therapy dog organizations.

Check with the facilities you'd like to visit and ask what they require. Regardless of whether you get your dog certified with an organization you'll still need their permission to enter their facilities. Some facilities have requirements in addition to what the therapy dog organizations require, some want you certified with a specific organization, and some have their own program entirely. So make sure you know exactly what they require before committing too much unnecessary time.

Good luck with your silver award. I think it's a great project idea.

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How to start a at home dog rescue???

Q. Hello,I am Stacy.

I am interested in starting a at home rottie rescue or a pit rescue something like that.I was wondering how to go about this? so if you have a lot of property do you get a lot of large outside kennels and supply and things dogs need and start rescuing rotties??? I really don't get it? ID LOVE TO RESCUE ROTTIES i just don't know how. can you give me the 411 on starting your own at home dog rescue or kennel? I mean from top to bottom EVERY DETAIL! Thank you SOOO much! I really would like to help bully breeds and just give back to are furry friends. Thank you.

Answer
Are there any existing rescues in your area? They ALWAYS need people to keep the dogs, and will give you guidance along the way. And they will have a system in place (hopefully!) to help find the dogs homes, which is the best part of fostering.

A good rescue will give you all the guidance that you need. Good luck!

Stories about dogs escaping kennels?

BOUDICCA

Let's hear your stories about your dog(s) that have escape for crates or kennels at home...

Answer
A Basenji I transported for Rescue could escape wire & fiberglass crates. He'd bend the wires, eat out the floor tray-- and in a fiberglass crate he'd just chew a big hole through them. Luckily he wasn't destructive in the house.

One of my Basenjis can climb- I put her in a 7 foot tall outdoor kennel for the day & looked back to see her halfway up the side, climbing. I quick grabbed her & put her in one with a roof on it.

That kept HER in, but I have heard a story from a Basenji breeder who got one of the new African imports when the AKC opened the stud book in '89 and allowed native Basenjis to be imported from Africa. This dog apparently was able to not only climb, but SQUEEZE herself through the 4-5 inch gap between the top of the kennel and the roof. When the roof was reinforced with wire, she figured out how to un-do the latch on the gate. I think finally adding a clip to the latch to 'lock' it kept her in for good.

A while back I worked at an animal hospital. Somebody boarded 2 Mastiffs for several days. One night, they got out by chewing a hole through the chain link kennel....they chewed and bent the wire back- a hole big enough for a 185 lb dog to squeeze through. They proceeded to wreak havoc on the kennel area. Ate an entire bag of dog food, chewed the container it was kept in (rendering it useless) and left several monster-sized poops throughout the area. Clawed at the doors, leaving huge gouge marks. Chewed on the swinging door leading into surgery. Luckily there wasn't anything in surgery they could get into. Tore up some towels. Got into the kitty litter. Vet politely asked owners to pay extra for damages & banned them from boarding their dogs there again. LOL.

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what do you believe is a reasonable price for a siberian husky puppy?

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Q. at first i was considering spending $300 for one because im inlove with the siberian husky breed. i've always loved snow dogs and im a jogger and i love taking walks in the park so he/she and i are like a match made in heaven.

however after looking online i've come across people selling them for $500-$1000

are these reasonable prices? am i naive to try to spend $300? i mean i know they're beautiful dogs but darn!

what's your take?
no i want an active dog not a chuaha or however you spell it.

Answer
A husky for 300 quid is too cheap. Roughly, I'd spend about 600quid + of your looking for a healthy dog that's kennel club registered. A 300 quid pedigree husky is most likely from a puppy mill and had most likely never seen a vet. I'm a breeder in the Republic Of Ireland, not a puppy mill or a BYB but a responsible breeder, we breed our dogs not to make money but to improve the breed. Well as you know dog breeding does make a lot of moment anyways. Me and my family breed our Newfoundlands once a year and we sell their pups for 800 and plus. If you want a good healthy pedigree that come with his vet records , proof that he's registerd with a kennel club , and comes from a good bloodline that's the price your going to have to pay. You could also go to your local rescue shelter and maybe adopt a husky in need of a loving home?

As the other person stated, Siberian huskys can sometimes be quite a handful. They shed pretty much constantly , are escape artists and can actually kill small animals and develope behavioural issues. You can NOT under ANY circumstances let that dog of a lead. They can be very stubborn and have selective hearing and often do not return when called, and if there's a small animal such as a cat or rabbit near by, we'll their toast. You must be really dedicated to the huskys care because you spend so much money on them!

Pedigree dogs come with a hefty price tag, and that's just how it is in afraid of you want a healthy dog from a responsible breeder. Don't pay anything under around 600 quid for a husky as the dog most likely came from a BYB and will probably develop Heath issues in the near future. Our dogs are show quality and so come with a hefty price tag , and that's basically how it is for all pedigree dogs. If you active , have you ever considered some of the other breeds such as the Greyhound or maybe even the Border collie, Australian shepherd and what not? Their not as dear as the Siberian husky and the greyhound is relatively easy to maintain as they have a short coat. If a husky is simply too dear to purchase just imagine all the vet bills and grooming bills on top of that. Maybe you should choose one of the Lower matinance breeds instead?

What can be done to become a reputable breeder?

mandy

IF someone wanted to become a breeder, that's an IF, how would they go about finding out the necissary information and still avoid the accusations of being a BYB wannabe?
I ask because there seems to be a lack of availible websites that are usefull in learning things along the lines of what to do if a puppy get's "stuck" or what normal gestation is and the things involved in the actual act of breeding *mating, gestation, birth, what to do with the pups before they're 6weeks old* There's plenty of information availible on what the qualifications are, but being responsible and having all the vet chacks and stuff is useless when you don't know what a dog should look like when pregnant or how to tell if a puppy "is having problems *not the obvious not breathing type problems, more like a coat not coming in properly*
If the internet fails, and any questions asked are answerd with accusations of irrisponsibility, what's left to do?
I didn't ask about what makes a BYB, I knew that. Most of us do.
Hmmm, let's throw out a situation to any breeder. If someone comes to you asking for you to take them on as an "apprentice" are you more likely to take them on if they know what they're talking about a little vs. completely clueless? I'm talking the things you can do to prepare yourself so you don't go in*just to talk to a breeder*looking like an idiot.
Lots of times I ask questions here because of anonymity*sp?* and no one's going to tell me I'm wrong for thinking the way I do simply because I'm 17. Seeing as I don't sound mature in the voice, breeders I've called looking to buy a pet have turned me down because I am so young no matter what the questions are I'm asking. No one seems to want to invest their time in the "next generation" if they are mere teens.
This is my observation, and I can give an example involving a bengalcat breeder, me, and my dad that supports.
But how would a teenager get to know the basics? I've seen how-tos *so to speak* on breeding rodents and I can't find anything even close to that on breeding dogs. Or cats, even, though I s'pose they're very prolific on their own *whoever coined the term "multiplying like rabits" has never dealt with cats and doesn't know that in just a few years, one mamma cat could populate a city*
But it seems that asking questions regarding breeding dogs, no matter what the question, is met with hostility. Some people have questions they want answered just to know, not to put in practice.
I don't get it. Even asking the right way to do it was met with hostility on some bits, as in the fact that it's not entirely hypthetical. I thought it was a good idea to start educating yourself when you have the drive for it, not waiting until your 25 and capable of getting the things you need *ie. the experience pup, that i've been after for a while. people tell me i'm wrong for wanting the puppy experience, but is it so wrong to want to understand the responsibilities of house breaking and obedience training and other stuff first hand?*
How do i put without sounding like I want to jump in and make a puppy right now? I didn't think that's how what I've already said would go across.
But as for breeding to better the breed, what about breeding quality dogs with the healthchecks and that meat breed standards but don't have the pricetag of champion dogs? I wouldn't be in it for the money/glory but the joy I know a puppy can bring anyone and the companionship when they grow up.
I missed saying something a second ago. Started a thought, then half forgot it.
If you want to learn NOW and are willing to wait till then to put it into practice, what's the harm in getting in early?
If at, say, 15 you have a burning interest in psychology, but people tell you you're too young to begin to understand and you shouldn't even try, what will that cause? Who'll be better off, the college freshman who took psychology as a class in highschool or the freshman who doesn't even know what depression is *thinks it's just a mood*?
I NEVER made meantion to "where can I get a dog to breed" in this post, and when I had made the question about is it an ok idea to make my own puppy *so to speak* I didn't know some of the things that I know now. Yes, the learning process progresses that quickly sometimes. Mostly only with teens though, because when we want something, we try for it, fail, then learn the right way and go that rout. those that don't try lose interest.

Answer
You get involved with other breeders, of your breed and other breeds.

You go to shows, join breed clubs and kennel clubs, attend educational events.

If you have a breed that was created for some sort of work, you go to trials to learn about the work your breed is supposed to do.

You read everything you can about your breed and dogs in general. You learn about your breed, health problems, training, dog psychology, nutrition, breeding etc.

You learn about breeding ethics.

Best if you can find someone in your breed to mentor you.

Edit: Just because you are a teenager doesn't mean you can't join the clubs. Some places even have a junior kennel club, or programs specifically for juniors. This will help to show you are serious. If you have a registered dog already, train and compete with it in a performance event, like obedience or agility. If you have a purebred that's not registered, you can get an ILP number and compete in performance. Again, competing with your dog will show that you are committed enough to put some effort into it. If you have a groomed breed, learn the correct grooming. People WILL get to know you, if you are persistent. Keep attending the shows and meetings. Meet people, network and learn. Just phoning people and asking questions will not do it. Nobody wants to trust a dog to a fly-by-nighter, but someone who shows serious interest and committment is more likely to get a second look.

One thing sure to put a serious breeder off is if your first interest appears to be "breeding", rather than "the breed".

Edit 2: There's nothing to stop you from starting now and "getting in early". I did.

When I was a teenager, we adopted a Basset Hound from a family member who didn't want it any more. Fortunately, he had come from a good breeder but had been sold as a pet. I was also fortunate that he had grown up to be good enough to show. When I watched my first dog show, I thought "Sam is as good as any of these, I think I'll show him".

So we attended our first match when I was 15. Then our first show. As a handler, I stank. When going around the ring my dog lay down and refused to move. We got reserve in spite of this. I decided he needed some training. I was also inspired by the fact that there were TWO bassets entered in obedience that weekend, as up until then I'd believed that bassets were untrainable. So that's how I also got into obedience.

As I said, I was a poor handler. Our first year showing, we got 2 points. Our second year showing, ditto (though we did earn a CD). I spent the next winter attending handling classes, and in the spring we finished his Championship right away with a group placement.

Unfortunately, a couple of months later he escaped from the yard and drowned in a neighbor's pool. I went to his breeder for a new puppy to show. This dog did not turn out to be show quality, but I showed him anyways for practice and because I enjoyed it. We also did obedience and earned his CDX (and top obedience basset). During this time I was also training and showing/trialing dogs belonging to friends, and learning all-breed grooming as a career. I also got involved in rescue.

By this time I was ready for a foundation bi tch. The breeders all knew me now, new that I was responsible and serious about the breed. I was able to purchase a nice girl from a breeder in Texas, and then another from Quebec.

The rest is history.

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How do i get my dog to stop chewing things up?

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frank

My dog is about a year and 2 months old. I take him on runs a lot and he's very active but a lot of times when I get home from school or work I find things shredded into hundreds of pieces. I strongly punish him every time but he keeps doing it. Any ideas on how I can get him to stop chewing things up?

Answer
The best thing to do is to get a kennel and keep your dog in a kennel when you are gone. Your dog has no idea why you are scolding him when you get home. He could have torn stuff up two hours ago, and then he's so happy when you get home and you punish him. All you are doing is teaching him to hate when you come home. It may seem cruel to leave the dog locked up, but it gives them a secure space. Once they realize it is their own space, they actually find it very secure. My own big dog will go lay down in his kennel at night when he has his bedtime, or if I give him a new chew toy, he immediately takes it to his kennel to chew on it in there. I have had many rescue large breed dogs and many immediately take to having their own kennel. It also helps with housebreaking! Other than the kennel, when you are home, make sure you keep up with the exercise, make sure he has appropriate toys to take his chewing needs out on, and possibly look to change his diet a little. One thing you can do that is mentally stimulating for a dog is to buy a Kong Toy at the local pet store and fill it with dog treats and peanut butter. They have to chew and lick for awhile to get all the stuff out of the kong toy. I give a new dog a kong toy only in their kennels. They learn the kennel is a good place and they get goodies in there. Also when you are starting the kennel process, teach them to get in with a word or hand signal, close the door, then open it right back up to let them out. A few times an hour get up and lock them up for a few seconds, then a few minutes, then maybe briefly leave the room. Build up more and more time. The idea is to keep the kennel a positive experience. You can also feed them exclusively in their kennel, which further reinforces the kennel being a good place. Many people at the pet store can help you find the right size. Generally you want at a minimum enough space to get up, turn around, and lay down comfortably. Their heads shouldn't touch the top when they are standing up on all fours either. Too big can be a issue for a small dog b/c they often will potty in one corner and sleep in another, so the size is important. Google videos about crate training or kennel training to get other pointers. I swear it is a wonderful way to have dogs, they are safe, your stuff is safe, everyone is happy. Another side worry for me would be if your dog is ingesting anything he's shredding. For instance cotton stuffing in pillows very easily can bind up in the intestine causing a blockage and a nice $2000 vet bill to retrieve it via surgery, so if anything the kenneling could save his life!

Who should watch my dog for my wedding?

Michelle L

I'm getting married in October. My fiance and I have a (currently) 7 month old black lab / border collie puppy. I'm having trouble trying to figure out who I can trust to watch him for about 2 days. Everyone that I trust will obviously be at our wedding. The reason I'm having an issue with this is because as of right now, he's a little "mouthy". The border collie shows much more than the lab and he does try to "herd" us. He does bite sleeves, pant legs, and shoes on occasion. He is very good with other people / kids / and other dogs. The only person that's ever watched him before is my future mother-in-law who watched him everyday while we were at work but she'll be at the wedding as well. By the time we get married he'll be almost 15 months old and will (hopefully) be out of that phase. He's gotten much better but I still worry about that. On top of it he does have some separation anxiety (he's a rescue and has had this issue ever since we got him). My fiance will be with him the night before, but we'll need someone to watch him the day of the wedding and overnight. Do I leave him with my in-laws and just have someone go and check him throughout the day and they'll be home later that night? My fiance keeps telling me not to worry about it, but he hasn't gone that long without us since we got him and I just worry about his "attitude". Please help!

Answer
Why burden your in-laws with him when they should be enjoying your special day too? Put him in a boarding kennel. That's what they're there for, and they are used to handling dogs with separation anxiety. Ask friends for a referral or phone your vet for one.

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