New Puppy Introduction Failure

carolina · Mar 27, 2010

Ok, I am going to bed now... Remember this: Often times the way you introduce your kittens/puppies kittens and puppies can affect their relationship for life... This means many many years in their future...
You have the space, you have the time... Be patient, and everything will end up well.
This is only a few days or a week that will make a difference in many years to come... Do not hurry...
Yes, there are pets that immediately will take one to another... There are others that take a loooooong time.... Some will never get along... What you want is the best outcome possible.
I know you are eager to have a normal life with all of them, and that is understandable, but there is no reason to hurry... We will help you to get there... Just take take a step back, a deep breath, and be patient... All will be fine...

spywell · Mar 27, 2010

Originally Posted by Carolina

You need to play it by ear...
Also, today is not really the third day... The introduction was not done correctly as per your post, the puppy was returned to Petland, and came back this morning, so today is really the first day. Yep, it starts all over...
There is no written in stone... If Luna is having trouble, you need to go slower.
Feliway will help a lot, I highly recommend having that...
I would keep them completely separated and keep doing the introduction very slowly. Keep working on the scent exchange.

Also do a scent exchange with a rag to put under the food dishes - are you doing that too? Or only with the sleeping blankets? Get a rag, and rub all over the puppy, especially on the face, but on the body too. Rub it rub it well - fold it and put it under the cats food dishes.

Do the same thing with Luna and the other kitties - rub a rag on their faces - cheeks and in between their ears, and also along their bodies... When you feed the puppy, fold the rag and put that under the food dish.

Yes we started off with a rag but I never thought to put it under their food dishes. I will try that and I guess make another special trip to Petco for feliway.
Starting over with potential is better than giving up.

carolina · Mar 27, 2010

Originally Posted by spywell

Yes we started off with a rag but I never thought to put it under their food dishes. I will try that and I guess make another special trip to Petco for feliway.
Starting over with potential is better than giving up.

Don't give up!!!
You will be fine! That's just how it is though... You need to start over... Sometimes you need to introduce them after boarding, after surgery... It happens...
Anyways, yes, get the feliway - it will help a lot.
The idea of the rag under the food dish is to associate the scent with good things... Nothing better for a cat, or a dog than food!

sharky · Mar 27, 2010

I agree DO NOT give up.... And take it slow... I actually take 3-4 weeks to intro cat to cat .. and so far my cat and dog intros not one has failed if given time( yes some dogs are never fully trusted alone but puppy s are normally not that way )

spywell · Mar 27, 2010

Received a curve ball this morning. Lucy (the puppy) went into heat. Is it a good idea to hold off introductions? Now I have to keep her separated from Mick and the cats.

carolina · Mar 27, 2010

Originally Posted by spywell

Received a curve ball this morning. Lucy (the puppy) went into heat. Is it a good idea to hold off introductions? Now I have to keep her separated from Mick and the cats.

How old is this puppy? Who is Mick? Are you saying you have an intact dog at your house? Besides the puppy?
By the way, what about the cats? Are the spayed/neutered?

Keep working on the introduction - as we said, this is not a one, two day thing. Just keep working on it - yes, they are separated anyways during the introduction, so I am not sure what the heat has to do with anything. Just one more reason to take things slowly and keep them separated (from the intact DOG, especially, in this case... please please please don't breed them!!)

Please get this puppy and any other intact animal spayed and neutered ASAP.

spywell · Mar 27, 2010

Originally Posted by Carolina

How old is this puppy? Who is Mick? Are you saying you have an intact dog at your house? Besides the puppy?
By the way, what about the cats? Are the spayed/neutered?

Keep working on the introduction - as we said, this is not a one, two day thing. Just keep working on it - yes, they are separated anyways during the introduction, so I am not sure what the heat has to do with anything. Just one more reason to take things slowly and keep them separated (from the intact DOG, especially, in this case... please please please don't breed them!!)

Please get this puppy and any other intact animal spayed and neutered ASAP.

Mick is our Husky, and as I was reading female puppys can go into heat as soon as 6 months. Mick was going to get fixed this week but we are holding off until next week. In the mean time Lucy is in doggy diapers and Mick will be kept outside until next week. Our older cat is spayed and declawed and Tabi plans to do the same thing to the two kittens at the same time (next week) I really really dont want her to declaw my cat and we have already had a few arguments about it. We dont really have a problem with them scratching any of the furniture anyways.

nekochan · Mar 27, 2010

I am sorry but Petland is a horrible place to get a puppy.

If you are keeping the puppy, be prepared for potential health and temperament problems as your puppy grows. Please please get into a puppy training class ASAP as puppies from pet stores tend to have issues with socialization, so they need a lot of socialization (such as through puppy kindergarten) to make up from what they missed.
Here is a good link to socialization info:
http://www.dogscouts.org/How_to_socialize.html

catmom2wires · Mar 27, 2010

Wow, I really think you two need to SLOW down and think some things through and get on the same page about your pet situation. Between giving away and taking back, and heats, and neuters and crying wives and plans to amputate kitten toes...it's hard to keep up with things. And if you all are arguing so much about pet care, seems things are a bit out of balance in your home.

Please take some time to consider what you all are doing!

C

white cat lover · Mar 27, 2010

Originally Posted by spywell

Mick is our Husky, and as I was reading female puppys can go into heat as soon as 6 months. Mick was going to get fixed this week but we are holding off until next week. In the mean time Lucy is in doggy diapers and Mick will be kept outside until next week.

Even after neutered, it is important you keep them seperated until you have Lucy spayed. If she's 6 months old, you can do is ASAP.

Originally Posted by spywell

I really really dont want her to declaw my cat and we have already had a few arguments about it. We dont really have a problem with them scratching any of the furniture anyways.

The official stance of TCS is that declawing is inhumane. You won't find anyone who supports it here. Before declawing, please read this thread Bea begs you to never declaw. A surgery done for the convenience of Bea's owner quite literally ruined her life. And more links on declawing:
More info on declawing
Pics of a declawing procedure - GRAPHIC!

Soft Paws - an alternative to declawing

Quoting the rules:

3. This website considers declawing a drastic way to curb cat behavior. A painful ordeal for your kitty we would suggest that declawing never be considered for any behavioral issue. Health issues are entirely different. It is up to you as a responsible pet owner to explore all the different options available instead of declawing. Your cat is dependant on you to make wise choices for her, and not put her into any more stress or discomfort. Please be a responsible pet owner and research this subject thoroughly. Understand that if you are pro-declaw in your posts, you will encounter opposition. Please learn more about alternatives for declawing here in our forums as well as on our website itself. Declaw - More than Just a Manicure. Hopefully those of you with claw-related problems will find solutions by spending time in our Behavior Forum.

spywell · Mar 27, 2010

Originally Posted by white cat lover

Even after neutered, it is important you keep them seperated until you have Lucy spayed. If she's 6 months old, you can do is ASAP.

The official stance of TCS is that declawing is inhumane. You won't find anyone who supports it here. Before declawing, please read this thread Bea begs you to never declaw. A surgery done for the convenience of Bea's owner quite literally ruined her life. And more links on declawing:
More info on declawing
Pics of a declawing procedure - GRAPHIC!

Soft Paws - an alternative to declawing

Quoting the rules:

I read the whole rules page yesterday and I am quite familiar with that paragraph. She really doesn't have a reason at all but she is going to do it anyways just so all the cats are equal. I have argued about clipping, she doesn't like to clip. Softpaws or whatever it's called has also beed mentioned. She is stubborn I hate that, after talking with her she is having Lucy spayed ASAP. I'm worried about that since Lucy doesn't even fit in yet.

Anyways, just got done riding atv's at friends house, heading home.

sharky · Mar 27, 2010

I am sorry and this is not meant to sound rude but.... If she HAS NO reason and still declaws IMHO she should NOT have a cat... there are LOTS of animals that do not have claws that she could have without Mutilating another Living being...

If the puppy is old enough to be in heat , WHY was it not Spayed Prior to bringing home? By having a intact male in the house of a larger breed you are actually putting the new pups life in danger .... Panties are great as is keeping separate but all to often the worst happens

carolina · Mar 27, 2010

Originally Posted by spywell

I read the whole rules page yesterday and I am quite familiar with that paragraph. She really doesn't have a reason at all but she is going to do it anyways just so all the cats are equal. I have argued about clipping, she doesn't like to clip. Softpaws or whatever it's called has also beed mentioned. She is stubborn I hate that, after talking with her she is having Lucy spayed ASAP. I'm worried about that since Lucy doesn't even fit in yet.

Anyways, just got done riding atv's at friends house, heading home.

So, she doesn't have a reason at all to amputate the kittens toes, but will do it just so they are equal? That is some sense of equality

She returned the puppy so easily, because of a little, tiny incident, really... I wonder what is going to happen if one of these cats have a problem after the declaw - problems are very common, both health and behavior problems... Is she just going to dump them in a shelter?
I am sorry... Good luck with your introduction and all.
I hope you stand up at least for YOUR cat.
I can no longer support your efforts... Sorry...

spywell · Mar 28, 2010

Originally Posted by Carolina

So, she doesn't have a reason at all to amputate the kittens toes, but will do it just so they are equal? That is some sense of equality

She returned the puppy so easily, because of a little, tiny incident, really... I wonder what is going to happen if one of these cats have a problem after the declaw - problems are very common, both health and behavior problems... Is she just going to dump them in a shelter?
I am sorry... Good luck with your introduction and all.
I hope you stand up at least for YOUR cat.
I can no longer support your efforts... Sorry...

Carolina, this has been an ongoing battle with her for over a year now. If you recall the first time we met http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=201671
I lost that battle and "She declawed HER cat" now that it is MY cat the battle is heating up again and I am a little displeased that the original topic of this thread has shifted to a whole new category. I understand how strongly the catsites members feel about amputation and I dont support it and never have. I was raised on a farm with amazing mousers as pets and I strongly disagree with declawing a cat.

I am saddened to lose my support since I am against declawing but I will keep you updated on the original topic at hand as long as someone will listen.
Thanks for all of your thoughts/ideas to this point and into the future. These forums are a great resource for everyone and I value the kind, dedicated members that allow it to function that way.

icklemiss21 · Mar 28, 2010

If you google, you can find videos of actual declawing, have her watch them and see if she still wants to declaw the cats

otto · Mar 28, 2010

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

If you google, you can find videos of actual declawing, have her watch them and see if she still wants to declaw the cats

please.don't let her mutilate any more cats.

spywell · Mar 30, 2010

I made good progress on two fronts today.

Luna has stopped growling and hissing at the puppy though I am still worried about the puppy chasing the cats.

After arguing with Tabi I was able to get here to agree not to declaw the remaining cats. The stipulation is that I have to get Luna not to claw the back of her loveseat.

This is good progress!

otto · Mar 30, 2010

Oh that's lovely, well done! It's really not difficult to train cats to claw where you want them to.

They need their OWN furniture to claw is all.

Show them how to claw on their own furniture, by clawing on it yourself. Cats are the original copy cats, after all.

Do it during Games times, and anytime you catch a kitty clawing something she isn't supposed to, simply gently take her over to her OWN furniture and show her how it's done!

spywell · Mar 30, 2010

Originally Posted by otto

Oh that's lovely, well done! It's really not difficult to train cats to claw where you want them to.

They need their OWN furniture to claw is all.

Show them how to claw on their own furniture, by clawing on it yourself. Cats are the original copy cats, after all.

Do it during Games times, and anytime you catch a kitty clawing something she isn't supposed to, simply gently take her over to her OWN furniture and show her how it's done!

Do you recommend anything specific, I was going to make some cat scratching poles out of some carpet I have lying around but was also considering a retail post for key areas of the house. Luna likes to scratch the loveseat where it angles about a foot and a half in the air. Midnight likes to scratch the wood corner of the frontroom. Besides those two areas they mostly scratch on their cat scratcher in the kitchen.

sharky · Mar 31, 2010

there are many online step by step most making directions...

basics

wood
sisal
carpet

New Puppy Introduction Failure

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