How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly?

• 09-06-2009 11:42 PM

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,712 Points 500

  How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact I'm not expecting this to go well.  But, I'd love it if anyone has advice on what is the best way to introduce them to see if Willow will tolerate him.  So, far, no, but I don't think we've been going about it right at all.  I do not expect them to be friends.  The very most I'm hoping for is that they can be out around the house at the same time and tolerate each other.  Any ideas on how to try this? Thanks! Lori

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• 09-07-2009 12:03 AM

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  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 11,794 Points 370	Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact  I always introduced dogs to cats with one or the other in a crate. That way, if something terrible did happen, it would only happen to the part that stuck out. Beyond that, I'm not much help. Mine LOVE cats.
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• 09-07-2009 9:59 PM

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  spiritdogs Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 12,431 Points 1,045

  Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact  http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/pdfs/dogs/introducingcatanddog.pdf However, I would say that you have a breed that can be aggressive toward other animals, so consider wisely whether this is the best situation for them both.  I don't know if your particular dog will be that way, but since it's a breed predisposition, be prepared if things don't go well. Regional Director for Massachusetts, International Positive Dog Training Association Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program AKC CGC Evaluator #3669 Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer Sioux, CGC, TDInc. Maska, CGC, TDInc. Sequoyah, CGC Fergie, Retired Lap Dog, Age 20 1/2 Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog In memory of Mike, please become an organ donor today. "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz

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• 09-07-2009 10:47 PM

  In reply to spiritdogs

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,712 Points 500

  Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact Oh, thanks Anne.  I love that page!  No, it's not going well.  But, I think I'm going to try to do as the article says and let Willow view him thru a gate and get her to focus elsewhere.  Because, right now she is ridiculously obsessed with him.  As in, if she's in the bedroom with me and he's roaming the house she will sit and stare at the door.

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• 09-08-2009 7:02 AM

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  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Posts 10,626 Points 655

  Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact I didn't ever put my cats in a crate (after all, THEY were here first, and one rule I have is that the current animals don't lose privilege/space simply because I am adding a new animal), but I've used baby gates a lot.  Also, I can NEVER pick up a cat with Nikon near by.  I am not sure on the psychology behind this but I have read this often, that lifting the animal somehow triggers the prey drive.  This is very true of Nikon.  He may be ignoring a cat but when I pick it up he instantly comes over and is barking and nipping at my arms. *Kenya* UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop OB1 FO RA CL1-R CL1-F HIT TT TDI CGC *Coke* VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC *Nikon* SG UCH ptd Alta-Tollhaus Bono HIT CGC *Ana* Alta-Tollhaus Havanna

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• 09-08-2009 1:08 PM

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  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,712 Points 500	Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact I think lifting him up makes her worse too!  A few times she SAT, like, "OK, I sat, now give him to me!"
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• 09-08-2009 3:24 PM

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  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 3,656 Points 280

  Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact  My only suggestion really would be to make sure Tempo has a place that Willow can't get to as a safe haven for him. My dogs love Kameo but Maze has a major prey drive that can be triggered when Kameo runs, so he's got a place he can go to (our dining room) that the Maze can't get into. Yeah and baby gates are my best friend. LOL! Good luck! ~Kitty Train early, train often, train with no pain The most powerful feeling is the knowing you belong, and you are right were you should be It’s Love when you can watch them love another person, smile and say “I’m happy for you” when inside you want to die. "...you will be positively the most fearsome pirates in the Spanish Main." "Not just the Spanish Main, love. The entire ocean. The entire world. Wherever we want to go, we'll go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck, and sails, that's what a ship needs. But what a ship is, what the Black Pearl really is...is freedom." Jack Sparrow "Why is the rum gone??" - Jack Sparrow

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• 09-08-2009 8:24 PM

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  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,712 Points 500	Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact Thanks!!
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• 09-08-2009 8:40 PM

  In reply to willowchow

  grab01 Joined on 09-10-2007 middle of the desert Posts 1,610 Points 0

  Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact I've always had at least one babygate up, so the cats have a safe place.  Works during intros, and then later on keeps dogs from eating cat food and raiding litter pans. I start off with just having the cat on the other side of the gate, so the dog can see.  I think putting a cat in a crate makes them far more interesting to a prey driven dog than just having one out and about.  I'd keep her on leash if you're worried about her chasing Tempo.  Allows for quick grabbing.  FWIW, my Chows have never eaten my cats. But they've never been only pets either, which might make things a bit different

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• 09-09-2009 1:08 AM

  In reply to grab01

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,712 Points 500	Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact Thanks!
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• 09-11-2009 1:40 PM

  In reply to willowchow

  spiritdogs Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 12,431 Points 1,045

  Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact  Completely OT, but I can just picture Aesop and Willow at some clandestine Chow Chow bar somewhere having a nightcap together;-))) Regional Director for Massachusetts, International Positive Dog Training Association Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program AKC CGC Evaluator #3669 Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer Sioux, CGC, TDInc. Maska, CGC, TDInc. Sequoyah, CGC Fergie, Retired Lap Dog, Age 20 1/2 Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog In memory of Mike, please become an organ donor today. "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz

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• 09-11-2009 2:02 PM

  In reply to spiritdogs

  Nikkiburr Joined on 03-14-2006 Posts 175 Points 125

  Re: How do I introduce Willow to Tempo properly? Reply Contact  I actually just recently intro'd Cairo and Neo when I moved Neo into my room and I did use a crate - with the help of a closet.  It worked really well and they are very tolerant of each other now.  I wanted Neo to have a safe place where he could escape if he needed to, but I didn't want to confine Cairo because he was here first...so I started out by putting Neo, crated, in my closet with the door open just a crack (I fashioned a latch out of twist-ties so it wouldn't open more than 4 inches - just wide enough for Neo to get in and out but not for Cairo to get in).  That way they couldn't see each other but Cairo could smell that Neo was there and vice versa.  Neo meowled a lot because he doesn't particularly like close confinement like that, but after a while they settled down.  Cairo's also pretty good at the 'leave it' command so that helped.  After a while I opened the closet door so they could see each other and waited again for a while and when things seemed appropriate, I opened up the crate but latched the closet door again to let Neo come out to explore if he wanted to.  Which he did, immediately...haha.  He moved slowly though so Cairo didn't flip out - and Cairo's used to the idea of "cat" because he grew up with them in the house...I don't know if Willow's had any experience at all.  In your case I think a crate would definitely be the best choice - or a baby gate.  A visual without physical or terribly close contact at first is going to be key I think.  Definitely at least give Tempo some place to go where he can get away if need be.  I think what also helps on the cat's side at least is if they can jump up on something...  I don't know if you're allowing him on counters or tables or anything, but if he can sit on a desk and look down at Willow without actually having to be on her level (she would be a lot more scary to him that way if she's a lot bigger) then he might acclimate better.  But then again I'd be worried about the higher up=prey thing, though I dunno if that still applies if the cat is sitting on something rather than in someone's arms.    Good luck!

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