[PyrNet-L] Mary and Hemi

["David Anderson" <andernet@sprint.ca>]

snip <<ok my question is..we are trying to introduce the new kitty to all
the
dogs..so far we've just let them sniff each other through a closed door.
Does anyone have advice on the best way to go about this? Reba has been
around cats before, but to our knowledge the rest haven't. We are already
prepared in case they don't get along..the dogs already have their own
playrooms & the cat will have his. But if anyway possible we would like them
all to get along & be able to be in the same room with each other.
Does anyone on the list already have a cat & Pyr that get along? >> end snip

Hi Mary, my Pyr came to me already accustomed to cats, so I had no problem
at all - I just let them sniff each other out. With my Golden, however, I
had to teach him not to chase the cats. My suggestion is this - make sure
the cat has a bolt hole the dog can't fit through and is near it when the
dog first greets him. Make sure the dog understands it cannot chase the cat.
Cats, in my experience, will stand their ground if they are not being
pursued. As Pyrs are guardians first and foremost, I think they tend to look
at cats as members of the flock, and the cat is the one who may have
difficulty accepting the dog, not the other way around. Remember that cats
are well-equipped and tend not to need much protection...Hemi will
eventually settle in. Even my most timid and frightened cat only took a week
to get herself accustomed to the new "Polar Bear!"   Good luck! Hope this
helps. I have always used the "toss them in together and they'll all sort
themselves out" approach...It has certainly worked for me with cats and
dogs.

RS, Lisette Anderson