1st May 2006

My 7-month-old Dalmatian won't let my three cats into our house - what should I do?

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Question:

My Dalmatian, April, is 7 months old and I have had her for four weeks now. She is doing well with basic training but will not let my three cats into our house. They will only come into the house if I block her off and all she does is chase them away if they are out in the garden. I have tried to rub their scent on her and vice versa, I have tried to hold the cats so she can sniff/lick them and I have put them in a room together for a long time hoping she will get used to them. None of this has worked. You are my last hope! Have you got any ideas as I love her dearly but feel that the only other option is to find her a different home.

Answer:

This is difficult to solve via email and you may need practical help. Being young and lively, she will seem quite terrifying to the cats and it is not surprising that they keep out of her way. The situation is not hopeless, but you will need to teach her how to behave when the cats are present. This involves restraining her, not the cats. Bring the cats in at meal times and make sure she is shut in another room for a while until they gain confidence about coming back in. Bring her into the room on a lead and insist that she lies down quietly. It will help to exercise her well before hand so that she is tired and ready to lie down. Make her be still and quiet, tethering her so that she cannot get out of the down position (make sure you teach her this slowly and gently beforehand so that she doesn't panic), or keeping her confined to a travel cage if you have one. Praise her if she is calm and ignore her when she isn't. Let her see you making a fuss of the cats and let them have the freedom of the house for while. Once she has learned to lie down and be calm in their presence, allow her a bit more freedom but keep her under strict control and put her into the down position again if she gets excited. Progress in this way, both inside and outside the house, until she has learned that she cannot chase the cats and has learned to behave well when they are around. If you need further help, please contact the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (www.apbc.org.uk).