Want to be prepared to prevent an issue

We have four cats and it's just been confirmed that we're getting a puppy.

I don't want the cats to feel like they need to defend either their litter pans or their food.

What is the best way to keep a curious little puppy from sticking his nose into their faces when they are eating or peeing?

Dogs WILL get into the litterbox and cat food dishes. The only way to overcome this is to put the litterboxes and food dishes where the dog can't get to them. Behind a baby gate, in a room with a cat door cut in the big door, etc. Otherwise the dog is going to be getting lots of "kitty snax" from the litterbox! The food can be put on top of a table, coutertop, or washing machine/dryer.

We lack counterspace. It's very much at a premium in our current place. Even if we had lots of it, well... This dog is going to be rather tall. He's a great dane and they're known for counter surfing. Putting the litter on a counter would just put it at mouth height once he's full grown or approaching full height. For at least the first little while, we're going to practice 'umbilical training' where the dog is always tethered to our waist when he's out of his crate and otherwise he'll be in his crate. He's deaf, so leash training is very, very, very important for him. He needs to be fully responsive.

I'm just trying to find ways to keep him from sticking his nose into things when the cats are actively using them, just in case of escaped puppy issues.

Training a good solid "leave it" command (hand signal, I guess) would be helpful. But cat poop seems to be incredibly reinforcing for dogs, and it's hard to train them out of that. I think a baby gate (and training him to respect the barrier, since he can probably step right over it) would be the best idea. A visible barrier is easier to train a dog to respect, rather than having an "invisible line".

deaf great danes can be extremely hard to train! The baby gate idea will be the best. but if you dont want to make your kitties jump everytime to go potty or get food, you should get one of these baby gates that way the kitties can have access always but not the dog.
Also baby gates and pet gates have come a lot way! They are now super easy to open and you can get them that dont stand out as much! And even the tallest great dane should not be able to just step over it! You should find one about waist high, and teach him early on no jumping (which is a good idea to teach any dane!) and no headbutting it!
NEVER feed the dane from the table or counter of course! Not so much because of the health problems, but because they can easily help themselves if they decide they like human food! Our last dane actually stole an entire pork chop off the plate on the counter...
Also a Vibrating colar can be great to get their attention when you are working on training and out playing!

Also dont forget to elevate food and water bowls! And get a good bowl that will cause him to eat slower!

Good luck with your puppy!

Hmm... Our flat is very open-concept, so gates won't help much, but I think I can get a couple of playyards or something (the 'baby gates' with like, 4-6 panels). We've started talking to trainers, before the pup was even born, so I think we'll do okay.

I just have to train my dear sweet boyfriend not to feed him off of plates because, uh... he's got all the cats trained. And not in the good ways.

They make very long gates that should be plenty.Like this one
The reason I say a gate over a play pen is the fact great danes are goofy puppies and will run head first into a playpen and knock it over. And while working on training you can keep the dog in a one part of the house. Plus that is a good option for getting the cats and the dog used to each other.
Our last puppy dane we had was a handful. He actually broke my moms knee because he would run full speed in the yard and he ran into her and knocked her down. He also got stuck in a dining room chair because he was able to fit under it when he was a baby but then 2 weeks later he was entirely too big but thought he was a mini. schnauzer.... That was a fun night....

As for your boyfriend: you can tell him to think of it this way: Meal already fixed and plated up, run to answer a phone or door, or something. Come back to an empty plate and a dane licking its lips!

I cant wait to see pictures of yours! I would love another dane but the boy does not agree!

Well, here's a pic of him right now.

Dawwwww!
He's a cutie!
One things my mom did with one of her danes was take a picture next to the same chair every week until she was 1. its amazing to go back and look at those pictures! Its kinda scary how fast they grow up!
And then there was that tail.... such a dangerous weapon!

Our last one named Jake. We got him when he was 2 as a rescue.

This guy we almost adopted (he came to the daycare I worked at) because his owners were having to move for a job. They ended up selling their son their house for next to nothing so he could keep the dog! His name was Max but I called him Maximus!
Can ya tell I have a soft spot for the danes?

Originally Posted by Thoenix

Well, here's a pic of him right now.

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Aw, he's cute. How old is he, one day?! Geez, he's going to be so much bigger than he is now. I can't stop laughing at how small great dane puppies are!

Never had an issue with my 125 lb GSD or my 50 plus herding dog getting into the litter box ... My Little dogs will even attempt to climb into the 18 gallon tubs at times...Gates are great , I run a doggy day care in my home and pet sitting business which most stay with me ... gate are life savers ... Though save yourself some grief and get the baby versions vs pet... they are built better... There is a problem with the very seemingly practical little door in big... a big dog can get their head stuck in it ( friends dog did it and you dont want that vet bill amount)

Originally Posted by rad65

Aw, he's cute. How old is he, one day?! Geez, he's going to be so much bigger than he is now. I can't stop laughing at how small great dane puppies are!

Click to expand...

He's two weeks, actually. You can see his eye is just opening. He's soooo cute and we love him already.

I used to have large greyhounds, which aren't quite as tall as danes, but they were eye level to counter tops. I kept them away from food by training them that they could only stay in certain rooms of the house. The cats were fed (on counters) in other rooms.

For my current group of dogs, I've trained them to lay on the floor and wait until the cats are fed. Once the cats have had their fill and walk away, I give them a release command (puppy time) where they can walk up to the bowls and lick them clean. The dogs are fed immediately afterwards. I've actually forgot to release the dogs a few times where I've come back an hour later to find the dogs laying on the kitchen floor, waiting for me to tell them it's OK to lick the cat bowls clean. One of those times I left for an errand to a store. This method has the side benefit of raising your status in the household, as in the wild, the alpha dog has control of when their pack members are allowed to eat. Gaining control over food helps you to gain control of the dog in general.

Start training very young and be very consistent with it. It will make your life a lot easier.

Save yourself and your cats any trouble and use a baby gate or couch or whatever you have to do to make a dog free area so they can use the bathroom in peace and dog doesn't get used to the taste of kitty crunchies from the box.
The food I feed my cat with the dogs around and they don't bother it because I am there to tell them not to, my cat is fed on a schedule so this is super easy though.