Here name is Sadie and she is officially a terrier mix, guessed to be medium size by the vet. Sadie is about 10 weeks, old and her story is pretty typical. She wandered into a family's yard who had 3 very big dogs. Being awesome people they took her in, straight to the vet and treated her fleas and dewormed her. They then proceeded to try to find an owner, using craig's list and several other local free advertising. (We have a paper) Well Matt happened to be looking at craig's list so he sent them an email. The family Heather and Chuck scoped us out a little bit, and while we had no dogs the long time residents of the cats (18 years) and turtles (21 years) was enough for them. Plus Matt grew up with dogs and had dogs experience, so that counteracted me being a noobie with dogs. We have some deworming medicine we are still doing as a precaution, but the vet gave her a clean bill of health yesterday.
Well when we got Sadie first thing we did was go straight to Petsmart. We bought her more food, her own bowl, harness and I went into the cat section to get some Feliway. So far things have been going good but slow. We have been training her very strictly. We've had her for 48 hours and she can already sit on command. She's still learning "outside" but is getting the idea that outside is where she goes potty. We are working on stay... and we've been training her to not approach the cats and holding her when they run away.
Isabell is taking this well, while she she doesn't care for Sadie. Sadie gave her her alpha status very early not understanding. As long as Sadie doesn't approach Isabell she's cool. Sadie is very smart, and seems to get this. We had one slip when Sadie just woke up where Sadie got to close and she got a swipe from Isie be she quickly learned that and backed away. When she walks towards a cat we say no very loudly. Most of the time she will sit about 3 feet from Isabell. This seems to be enough space for Isabell. When Isabell makes moves to attack Sadie I bop Isie on the nose and make the "psst" sound like I trained her when she was younger. (It means bad, no, stop that, etc) When Isabell just sits there she gets a treat and some ear scratches. Sadie gets a treat when she plops down 3 feet away from Isabell. I used the nose bop and treats with Isabell when she was younger she seems to be remembering/catching on very fast. She is otherwise acting normal, I've been spending hour with her a day since we got Sadie. Where I usually spent 30mins in the past.
EG on the other hand not taking this as well. When EG is around we have to have a leash handy. I usually keep it with me when I know he is out and about. I feel like I am making progress with EG. I spray the house with Feliway each day to help calm him down. The first day he only came out when hungry but I ended up feeding him under the bed. The second day I had to feed him under bed as well but he came out on his own and approached Sadie to about 6 feet before getting to scared and hiding under the bed. First day I spent 45 mins with him on the bed just consoling him and making him feel loved. On day two he didn't come out but I laid next to him while he was under the bed stroking his her ears for an hour.
Both cats are eating the normal amount. I can only get EG to eat under the bed but honestly as long as he's eating I'm happy.
Any suggestions or thoughts on this for either dog training, or with the cats would be appreciated.. I'm hoping that as long as we teach Sadie to not approach the cats they will be cool, with it and it seems to be working so far. My cats have a cat tree and lots of vertical space over the puppy so its helping out I think.
Well when we got Sadie first thing we did was go straight to Petsmart. We bought her more food, her own bowl, harness and I went into the cat section to get some Feliway. So far things have been going good but slow. We have been training her very strictly. We've had her for 48 hours and she can already sit on command. She's still learning "outside" but is getting the idea that outside is where she goes potty. We are working on stay... and we've been training her to not approach the cats and holding her when they run away.
Isabell is taking this well, while she she doesn't care for Sadie. Sadie gave her her alpha status very early not understanding. As long as Sadie doesn't approach Isabell she's cool. Sadie is very smart, and seems to get this. We had one slip when Sadie just woke up where Sadie got to close and she got a swipe from Isie be she quickly learned that and backed away. When she walks towards a cat we say no very loudly. Most of the time she will sit about 3 feet from Isabell. This seems to be enough space for Isabell. When Isabell makes moves to attack Sadie I bop Isie on the nose and make the "psst" sound like I trained her when she was younger. (It means bad, no, stop that, etc) When Isabell just sits there she gets a treat and some ear scratches. Sadie gets a treat when she plops down 3 feet away from Isabell. I used the nose bop and treats with Isabell when she was younger she seems to be remembering/catching on very fast. She is otherwise acting normal, I've been spending hour with her a day since we got Sadie. Where I usually spent 30mins in the past.
EG on the other hand not taking this as well. When EG is around we have to have a leash handy. I usually keep it with me when I know he is out and about. I feel like I am making progress with EG. I spray the house with Feliway each day to help calm him down. The first day he only came out when hungry but I ended up feeding him under the bed. The second day I had to feed him under bed as well but he came out on his own and approached Sadie to about 6 feet before getting to scared and hiding under the bed. First day I spent 45 mins with him on the bed just consoling him and making him feel loved. On day two he didn't come out but I laid next to him while he was under the bed stroking his her ears for an hour.
Both cats are eating the normal amount. I can only get EG to eat under the bed but honestly as long as he's eating I'm happy.
Any suggestions or thoughts on this for either dog training, or with the cats would be appreciated.. I'm hoping that as long as we teach Sadie to not approach the cats they will be cool, with it and it seems to be working so far. My cats have a cat tree and lots of vertical space over the puppy so its helping out I think.
