Help~ introducing my Boston puppy and kittens

We just adopted a 4 month old Boston terrier Sunday. She is the calmest one I have ever been around but at times she is still boisterous. We adopted Abby and Beth last night and I have no clue how to introduce them to each other.

Kaylee(our Boston) was in her crate while the kittens were out today playing and they would look at her and then go in another direction. One even walked by her and was fine but the other did hiss at her. Kaylee is so sweet. She just laid there watching them. After they were put up she came out of her crate and just sat by it. I think she thought they were still out. She's a little scared one. lol

We wanted to get them all while they were little so they could grow up together but I have no idea how to introduce them. Any advice would be sooo helpful. I went on a Google spree yesterday but didn't find any real helpful information

tia

Here's a picture of Kaylee in her travel crate while Abby and Beth were out. This is what she did the whole time. She is such a sweet puppy

I have not done this personally yet, but I think you're off to a good start... Keeping the boston crated while the kittens are out will give them a chance to get used to her being around. Once both of the kittens are pretty much ignoring her or showing interest I would start bringing the boston into the room on-leash (and being tired after a walk wouldn't hurt either, lol) and watch their interaction. If she lunges or acts aggressive to the kittens you can correct her and praise her when she is gentle with them and/or does the normal puppy play behaviors with them.

Once the cats and puppy seem ok with that arrangement, I'd then allow the boston off-leash with the kittens... You might want to leave the kittens' claws un trimmed so that if they do hit her with their paws when she nips them or plays too rough, she'll get the message. I would supervise them together and not leave them alone together until they are all very used to each other.

Kaylee is very cute btw... She looks either sad or tired in that pic.

Keep puppy on leash until you're 100% sure she's OK with the cats, do not leave them loose together for quite awhile. Better safe than sorry (what would you do if she injured one of the kittens???).

Give the kittens time to adjust as well, everything's new to them & this yappy little stinky faced dog probably just wants to play with them - something they are unsure if it is play or eat most likely at this point.

Originally Posted by artgecko

Kaylee is very cute btw... She looks either sad or tired in that pic.

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Thank you~ She was very sad that night that she had to be put up. lol She wears her emotions on her little face.



Thank you both for the help. Things are going great here now. I think what we did worked. The kittens were in the bathroom the first few days and then moved to a bigger room. We would have them out and have Kaylee crated. The kitties would go sniff her crate with her in it. Then at night we would have them all out with one of us holding Kaylee. It just kept getting better. Now they seem to be just dealing with each other. Sometimes Beth will purposely go up to Kaylee and Kaylee is so sweet she normally just looks at her. Sometimes though Kaylee wants to play and gets hissed at instead which frightens her and she runs off. lol Time, love and patience seems to be working well for us.

Thank you again!!