How to Train a Puppy Around Cats

They are mortal enemies. Or are they? While it's true that cats and dogs can show enmity toward one another at first, and a cat will probably run from a strange dog before playing with it, it's also true that cats and dogs that live in the same household can become friends. Your puppy probably doesn't realize this yet, and it might be obsessed with the cat. You can help a standoffish relationship grow into a positive one by training your puppy and your cat to accept one another. Once your puppy is used to the cat, it will no longer be distracted by it whenever it comes near.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog treats
  • Crate
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Instructions

    • 1

      Confine your puppy to a crate that is large enough for it to move around in. Place this crate and your cat in a room together so that they are near each other but not threatened. Let your cat investigate the crate at its own pace. With the puppy confined, the cat won't feel as inclined to run. This gives your cat and puppy a chance to sniff each other out in a safe environment.

    • 2

      Reward your puppy with treats every time the cat comes near the crate and your puppy stays calm. Make the cat a positive experience. Your puppy will realize that, whenever the cat is around, it gets praise and a treat. If your puppy becomes tense, growls or barks at the cat, don't reward it. Simply pick up the cat and move it away from the crate.

    • 3

      Let your puppy out of the crate and allow it to sniff or follow the cat. If the cat runs, don't force them back together. Reward your puppy if it calmly sniffs at the cat rather than barking at it or chasing it.

    • 4

      Remove your puppy from the cat's presence if it behaves aggressively or gets overly excited. Don't punish your puppy or you will teach it that the cat is a negative thing and reinforce the behavior. Only allow your puppy to stay around the cat if it is behaving calmly.

    • 5

      Supervise all meetings between your cat and puppy until they get used to one another. This will allow you to intervene if they become aggressive and help you minimize danger and negative feelings between them. As your puppy learns to be friendly toward the cat, or even to ignore it, you can stop rewarding it with treats.

    • 6

      Enforce your puppy's rules and train with it daily, even when the cat is around. Use treats or toys to keep your puppy focused on you rather than the cat. If your puppy moves toward the cat anyway, interrupt it by saying "leave it" and reward it if it turns its attention back to you. (The "leave it" command will be useful in keeping your dog out of other trouble as well.) This helps it learn to obey you even in distracting situations.