Cats terrified of new dog

[StormChaser]

Dave and I have been searching for dogs constantly since taking Kaya back. I've been on Petfinder.com pretty much every day. We have met so many dogs and pups... we were beginning to wonder if we'd ever find "our" dog. On Sunday we drove out to an Australian Cattle Dog rescue in the country near us to meet a 2 y/o cattle dog mix named Liza. She was very cute, and LOVED to play with toys, but once again, we just weren't feeling the connection. The rescue had a couple more dogs in mind for us (though they were really pushing Liza on us, because she'd been there for a long time), so they brought out a couple more, and eventually brought out two of their older puppies - a 6mos old Border Collie name Misty and a 5mos old Border Collie mix named "Dakota". The moment we met "Dakota", we knew we'd found our dog.

He is one of the sweetest, most calm puppies we have met - which I think is interesting, given his breed background. I really did not go into dog adoption wanting a puppy - it's honestly a little intimidating. Kittens I know how to raise - it's been a very long time since I've helped raise a puppy. I know that if you don't train them right they can develop some very bad habits (take Kaya, for example). But I also know the feeling of that bond when you look into the eyes of the animal that is yours... Dave had it when he found Asia, I had it when I found Zoe, and we both had it when we found "Dakota". I've been researching non-stop and will be picking up some books on training from the library. I'm hoping to prepare myself for anything. I've also found a trainer near my home that I will get in touch with should it prove necessary.

So, here we go again! We are bringing him home on Wednesday - I can't wait! I honestly think that with "Dakota" (his name will be changing once we figure one out that we both like) our cats will have a little bit easier of a time adjusting - even though he is a puppy with a higher energy level. He's coming to us crate trained already, so we won't have to worry about that. We'll be crating him while we are at work (neighbors are stopping by at noon to let him out for an hour - no worries ), and at bedtime, so the cats will be able to see him at their own leisure, and he'll be able to get used to having them around.

I will keep this post updated on Asia's & Zoe's reaction to the smaller, younger puppy as opposed to the much bigger, adult dog, and how they come along with the introduction and getting used to the new animal in the house.

[marie73]

Congratulations!

I'll be watching for the updates.

[ZoeH]

So glad to read about this positive turn, and I look forward to reading about their adjustment.

Originally Posted by StormChaser

I also know the feeling of that bond when you look into the eyes of the animal that is yours...

Thanks for mentioning this. I've been feeling a little guilt because I just haven't had that with SemiFeralKitty ... and the week before, I did have it with a different semı-feral kitten, which I didn't take.

[~Siameseifuplz~]

Congrats!! She sounds like he'll fit in well. Since I love training and behavior I hope you don't mind but I have some book suggestions.

My favorite is "The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson, it covers everything in depth. Some find it long and boring but it's very informative and helpful.

I also like
"The Other end of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell. This one talks about body language and behavior, both the dog's and yours, and how it might confuse things in the relationship and in training.. Patricia also uses a lot of examples from her work as a behaviorist which keep things interesting.

"The Power of Positive Dog Training" by Pat Miller also goes over a lot, it's more basic than The Culture Clash but still helpful.

"Bones Would Rain from the Sky" by Suzanne Clothier. This book is not so much about how to train your dog but how to build a strong, trusting bond with your dog and how humane training can do that.

"Train Your Dog like a Pro" by Jean Donaldson. This is only about teaching commands (both basic obedience and some tricks). She breaks the process down into a concrete process which is nice for people like me, who excel in math (I leave creativity to others lol), it is nice, it gets rid of a lot of guesswork in training.

I also like Karen Pryor a lot, I love clicker training. Ian Dunbar has some good puppy books too I hear, they're mainly about socialization I think. He uses luring though, which can work, but I prefer clicker training since you don't need to have the treat right in your hand or even on your body and the dog certaintly does not need to see the treat first. This makes it a lot easier to get the dog to listen later when you don't have a treat on you al the time.

Avoid anyone who focuses on dominance, being "alpha", or "pack hierarchy". These people tend to trick you into thinking the things you do when your dog misbehaves is a dominance display to teach the dog his place in "the pack" when it's simply a punishment, nothing more complicated than that. Anything the dog doesn't want to happen again can be used as punishment. So "Alpha rolls" and everything else these dominanace trainers tell you to do is not different than hitting, yelling, using a squirt bottle, collar corrections, whatever. They don't teach your dog some imaginary social hierarchy, they just punish bad behavior.
I don't like punishment like that period.

Good luck with your pup, I'd love to see some pictures! My parents just got a puppy, he's 12 weeks old now. Gotta say he's confirmed that I'm an adult dog person lol. The constant dupervision is draining. But he's making good progress, especially with biting. He and the cats are already great friends, they even play (we've had him 2 weeks) Someday I'll be able to get myself the 3 year old pit bull I dream of, just gotta get through college.

[catloverami]

Hate to be a downer, but I hope you've made the right decision. A Border Collie are "working breeds" and need a job to be happy and a lot of exercise and would not have been my choice. I've heard it said many times by dog owners and trainers that "a tired dog is a good dog". Perhaps Kaya would not have had SA as much if she had been exercised hard. Greyhounds need a lot of exercise and so do Border Collies. If they don't get it, they can be real destroyers. With long working hours, I don't really see how you can give enough exercise that your dog will need, which would be hard running a minimum of 2 hrs. in the morning and evening or more. This is what Border Collies are genetically bred to do. This dog is a high energy mix. I would have been more inclinded to get a smaller lap-type dog that doesn't require much exercise to be happy except a walk around a block.

[ZoeH]

@catloverami, the OP didn't say what Dakota is mixed with.

Maybe Dakota didn't get the characteristic BC genes. Or if he did, maybe several people in the family jog regularly -- things look different when two or more people in a household are training for marathons and integrate doggy time with running they're doing anyway.

[catloverami]

In StormChaser's post #11, she says:

"The rescue had a couple more dogs in mind for us (though they were really pushing Liza on us, because she'd been there for a long time), so they brought out a couple more, and eventually brought out two of their older puppies - a 6mos old Border Collie name Misty and a 5mos old Border Collie mix named "Dakota". The moment we met "Dakota", we knew we'd found our dog."

I've underlined what to me seems clear that they're getting "Dakota" the Border Collie mix.

[~Siameseifuplz~]

Zoe is saying that she could be mixed with something other than BC that is low energy. So he may not be as active as a pure BC.

I would have been a lot more worried if they had gotten an ACD, they are intense and I don't think the cats would have fared well. The BC may still try stalking and herding the cats but that easier to deal with than a dog who tries serious biting and killing like an ACD might.


I think a working person can own a BC, but yes, they have to commit to coming home tired and still getting that dog out to run and play and train (working the brain is as important as working the body). You could even set up your own backyard agility (no jumping yet though, too young I think). I missed the part about her working hours though, so I don't know exactly how long we are talking.

[StormChaser]

Thanks ~Siameseifuplz~ for the book suggestions!

@catloverami -
Thanks for your concern. I am active and did keep Kaya well exercised while we had her. I do understand that this is also a common theory to ease SA (get them well exercised before leaving so all they want to do was sleep). Unfortunately Kaya's SA was way beyond my experience level (just a few days ago we noticed that she had scratched up the front door and drywall by the window there trying to get out when we left her alone). She is actually being adopted by the foster home we got her from, because she is extremely attached to the foster mom and her 7 y/o daughter, and the foster mom is home all day with her. She is a nurse that works at night, and her husband is home during that time. Kaya is in a very good place now.

I am familiar with the background on Border Collies as well, and I know they are a high-energy breed. But quite honestly, I do not know if "Dakota" is truly a BC. That was just their guess. But he is definitely some kind of herding dog, and all herding dogs are high-energy and need to be kept active both physically and mentally. We don't work long hours - full time, 8 hours a day, the usual - but with our commute time we are gone for about 9 hours a day. This is no more unusual than anyone else out there who work full time with dogs. We are prepared to keep him well exercised and trained with not just basic commands, but more advanced ones as well to keep him occupied. "Dakota" is also going to be my hiking buddy, and when he's older we will be getting into agility training.

I get what you are saying about a lap dog, but my husband and I are not lap dog people. We like big dogs - the bigger the better. We like to have the distinction between cat and dog. Especially since our dominant cat - Asia - would like beat the crap out of a little dog. lol

[StormChaser]

Originally Posted by ZoeH

Thanks for mentioning this. I've been feeling a little guilt because I just haven't had that with SemiFeralKitty ... and the week before, I did have it with a different semı-feral kitten, which I didn't take.

Did you adopt this kitty, or are you fostering it?