Advice for Introducing a Puppy

Hello all! I've searched the forums and gathered some advice but I'd really appreciate some fresh insight

My family is bringing home an eight week old purebred German Shepherd puppy in about four months. We have two cats, a thirteen year old (Mici), and a six year old (Mourek). Both are Siamese mixes, Mici is definitely not shy but Mourek needs time to warm up to newcomers. Once he's comfortable, he's very playful and sweet. We also have a twelve year old Golden Retriever (Amber) who loves the cats, they cuddle regularly and Mourek will wash her face and attack her tail. 

So, what would your advice be as far as introducing a young Shepherd pup to this mix? We're hoping that raising the puppy with our cats will teach her/him to love them like our Golden does, or at least be as safe as possible. The only concern we have is about prey drive, but it seems that Shepherds are one of the best breeds to have with cats. The breeder has very laid back and sweet dogs that all get along beautifully, so we are hoping the pups follow suit.

Finally, and most importantly to me, what is the best way to reduce the stress of a newcomer on our cats?? I'm not too worried about our older girl Mici, she was with us before we even brought Amber home as a pup, but Mourek has grown up with an already sweet and loving dog.

I'm so sorry for writing such a long post and I really appreciate you all reading this!! Please let me know if I should clarify anything!

Hi @MissM  

I'd suggest having a dog crate, a baby gate, or wooden screen doors for separation, in the beginning, and to be able to confine the new puppy to a certain area, while you are potty training him/her.

Also using a long training leash, to keep the puppy under control, so that s/he does not go chasing the cats.

The leash comes in handy, too, for training the young pup in recall, and the basic commands.

It's a bonus that you already have your Amber, Golden Retriever, ...since I think that she will also teach the puppy, by example.

However, since Amber is older, then you're going to have to make sure that the puppy does not bother her too much, initially, as well.

(I remember our young lab/retriever mix,...having the sharpest puppy teeth, for a while, and liking to bite at our pyjama bottoms, socks, and slippers.

Our dog did play with the neighbour's female Boxer dog, who showed him how to potty outside, and played with him, a lot, but the Boxer was young, at 2 years of age.)

Just make sure that the cats have plenty of vertical spaces to escape to, and relax in, where the puppy cannot reach them.  Side-tables, dressers, shelves, cat trees, etc.

Having a safe room, or even having the upstairs be 'only-cat-territory', or 'part of the house' being 'only-cat-safe zones', will help your cats adjust to the newcomer.

The biggest problem, is usually that the puppy is so energetic, and over-exuberant, and wants to chase and play, which scares the cats, who I think, prefer slow, and non-erratic movements.

If you do get a dog crate, then you could slowly let Mici, and Mourek explore around the puppy, while s/he is in the crate.

Also remember that Mici, being older, might not be able to jump, or defend herself, as fast,...so definitely keep an extra eye on the puppy whenever Mici is around.

Do you remember back as to how you introduced your Amber to the cats?

Try using some of the methods that worked back then, especially, if Amber was also lively.

Good Luck, and post some photos, when you get the chance.  

Hi @cat nap  !

Thank you so much! We'll definitely be crate training the pup, so hopefully that will help the cats  When we brought Amber home, she slept most of the day and that gave the kitties plenty of chances to sniff her and get used to her without Amber trying to play. Amber was very very sweet with the cats from the very beginning, she'd only jump on the and try to lick their heads but she was quite gentle. 

Mici is strong and healthy for her age, fortunately, so we have no concerns about her being able to get away from the puppy if she wants to. She will also stand her ground and swat anybody she doesn't like, so I think that will definitely help set some boundaries.

I'm a bit worried about Mourek though, since his first reaction is to run and hide underneath things. I don't want his running to trigger a chase reaction in the pup, even if the chase is in play. Do you know of any way to help Mourek be less fearful? He doesn't value food much, sadly. Would Feliway sprayed around the house help calm him a bit?

Haha, good point about those puppy teeth! I'd forgotten how Amber loved to pull on sleeves and nibble blankets when she was a baby.

Thank you again for your advice!! I'll definitely post pics once we bring home the little doggy monster 

Hi @MissM,

I cannot really comment on using Feliway, since I never have,...but from reading other posts...it seems to be a 50/50 shot, on working or not.

I guess buying the spray, would be less expensive, and worth trying out. (I think I probably would, if Mourek is very fearful and skittish.)

Amber sounds adorable, by being so gentle.

Yeah, I forgot, too at how puppy teeth were like shark teeth while teething. Make sure to have plenty of dog chew toys around. It helps.

You're right,... the pup would also pull on sleeves, blankets, socks...etc.  

My lab/retriever, Floppy, got bopped on the nose...quite painfully, by my older rainbow cat Spotty, at their first meeting...so I would also suggest trimming the cat's claws, before any actual face-to-face meetings take place.

I think you're going to have to put up a 'baby gate', or some type of divider...so that Mourek can escape, and not be chased by the new puppy.

(I had to have one up for many months, because my pup was always wanting to chase and play with the cats...one cat was 13 at the time...and one was 2 years.)

I think it was about six months, until the puppy finally calmed down, settled, and listened to commands.

Having the puppy on a long training leash, helped a lot,...since he would not be able to get at the cats, whenever he wanted to.

Does Mourek not like resting up on high places?

If he only likes hiding underneath things, then you're definitely going to have to make spots of the house....no puppy zones.

But you never know...since Mourek likes Amber...he might just need some slow and calm introductions to the new pup...and then he might not be so fearful.

Keeping the puppy on harness or leash, is the best way to do that.

You'll definitely be having a lot of fun and excitement in four months time. They grow up so fast.

Yes, take plenty of photos.

Originally Posted by MissM  
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I'm a bit worried about Mourek though, since his first reaction is to run and hide underneath things. I don't want his running to trigger a chase reaction in the pup, even if the chase is in play. Do you know of any way to help Mourek be less fearful? He doesn't value food much, sadly. Would Feliway sprayed around the house help calm him a bit?

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You can try 'scent swapping' with cat/dog toys, cat/dog blankets, and items that have each animal's scent on them.

It might help Mourek get used to the new puppy's smell, and be less fearful.

Controlling the actions of the puppy, by being on leash, is the main thing, ...since you cannot really control the running away of Mourek.

That's just a natural protection to want to run and hide.

Make sure Mourek has a safe room, and give him plenty of play time, attention, and just relaxing time by being with him, should make it easier for him to adjust to the new puppy.

I'm hoping that Amber will be able to calm Mourek, as well, and be the distraction, and go-between for the cats.

@cat nap  Thank you so much!! Sorry for not replying earlier, I had a rather busy week. 

You gave me some excellent advice and I'll definitely try everything; especially the scent swapping and safe spaces for Mourek. He's the cuddliest and sweetest cat ever, so I'll be sure to give him plenty of extra love and play so he doesn't feel left alone.

The baby gate is a great idea to give the cats places to go freely that the pup can't go to. Not sure if I mentioned this before but I have a loft bed that he loves, so that's his favourite high place to sleep besides the cat tree we have. Hopefully that will be his go-to space instead of under chairs!

Thank you again for all your advice and encouragement!   

MissM said:

 
@cat nap  Thank you so much!! Sorry for not replying earlier, I had a rather busy week. 

You gave me some excellent advice and I'll definitely try everything; especially the scent swapping and safe spaces for Mourek. He's the cuddliest and sweetest cat ever, so I'll be sure to give him plenty of extra love and play so he doesn't feel left alone.

The baby gate is a great idea to give the cats places to go freely that the pup can't go to. Not sure if I mentioned this before but I have a loft bed that he loves, so that's his favourite high place to sleep besides the cat tree we have. Hopefully that will be his go-to space instead of under chairs!

Thank you again for all your advice and encouragement! 

 

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@MissM  ...no problem, and you're welcome.    Plus, you said you have about 4 months to prepare, so that is a good thing. Plenty of time.

Wow, you have a loft bed. That sounds so cool. (Though, I'm not good at heights, and did roll out of bed a few times when younger. So I better stick to beds near the floor.  )

I bet your cats love your bed. And yes, it will be an excellent spot for Mourek to relax in, and observe all the goings on from higher up.

I did have one question about Amber and Mourek, but you don't have to answer it now...only when you have time.

When Mourek "attacks Amber's tail" ....what does Amber do?  

It sounds like a one-sided game, and Mourek is using the dog's tail, as a feather toy. Sometimes our cats make up the naughtiest games, but we're lucky when our dogs are totally okay with it.

@cat nap

Yup, I love my loft bed (almost as much as the cats do  ). It's a nice sturdy metal one from IKEA so no worries about rolling off the edge, haha! It was so fun seeing the kitties, especially Mourek since he was a kitten, learning to climb the ladder up into the bed. He scrambled up awkwardly at first, now he leaps up so easily.

And yes, that's exactly what Mourek does with Amber's tail, he plays with it just like a feather toy. Amber's a Golden Retriever so she has a lovely long haired tail with lots of fluff, perfect for holding and kicking like a toy   I must have a photo somewhere of Mourek and Amber like this, I'll try to find it! 

Amber couldn't care less when Mourek bothers her, she watches him like a patient grandma and nibble his ears or just lay her head on him. Once in a while she'll get annoyed by the claws and walk off, but she's never been the least bit rough with any of our cats. We're truly lucky to have such a wonderful dog, and hopefully our GSD pup will follow at least somewhat in her footprints (pawprints?  )