Raising a small animal friendly boxer

[BoxerIsisDreamComeTrue]

It took me so long to get a boxer for several reason one of the main ones though was that I have cats. I cannot handle the thought of my dog harming a cat especially one of mine some day. I am hoping that by raising her around the cats that she will not see them as a pray animal but at best a member of the pack or at least as something to ignore.

Are there any tips on training her so that things will go smoothly with the cats? Please tell me that she can be taught to leave them alone.

She will be 8 weeks old when she comes to me btw.

[Samsons Mom]

A solid LEAVE IT command is a must I dont have small animals, so im sure someone else will chime in with suggestions.

[maxndixiesmomma]

My Max was 14 weeks old when I got him, we had our cat Jazmyne for almost 2 years by that time and he would chase her not intending to do harm I don't think but I would say NO MAX in a stern voice and I was also told to get a rolled up newspaper and tap him on the nose when he done something wrong, I'm not promoting this at all but we only had to get his nose a couple of time and now all we have to say is "Do you want the newspaper?" and he will quit whatever he is doing. But, yes within a few months he learned the cat was family as well. Just wish I could get my Dixie girl to realize that as quick. LOL.

[BoxerIsisDreamComeTrue]

The one cat I have who is indoor is going to be 16yo this April. She stays in her own room because she prefers not to have to deal with the kids and because of litter box issues. So she only comes out when I can watch her. I am sure she will hate the puppy on site lol since she is very picky about who she trusts and since the death of her sister 8 years ago she hasnt been around any other animals. Just seeing the strays outside the door on occasion and she hisses at them when she does.

I plan to introduce Isis to as many other animals as I can safely and correct behavior that is unacceptable it just worries me because I know there are no guarantees about this kind of thing. So I want to make sure I do things right from the very beginning so that I dont have to much trouble down the road.

[BoxerWB]

Re: newspapers - I would not recommend hitting your dog, whether light or hard, with any object.  Fear training can be effective, but using threats is not the way to build a trusting partnership with your dog.  Dash's first owners used it just to smack their own hand and it still obviously had a negative rather than positive effect.

For most boxers here, it seems like they just need a little adjustment time and some rules. It sounds like your cat already has a safe place to stay, which is the biggest need during the adjustment. I'd definitely suggest a "leave it" or "easy" command. Remember to reward the good, calm behavior the pup displays near the cat, rather than focusing on the bad.  The pup needs to learn what she's supposed to do around the cat, not what she isn't.

I think the difficulty comes with prey drives - some dogs are higher than others and the higher ones will take more work.  Xena has near zero prey drive and she was easy - we had an adult cat when we got her and she quickly learned not to bounce around at her.  The cat was also wise about when she chose to show herself (started out just showing up when Xena was asleep).  Dash has much more drive and took longer to adjust. He spent a lot of time staring at Shady (our current cat) through a baby gate. I think in the early days he might have hurt her if he'd had the chance.  He was also 7 mos when he came to us, so he never met her when they were still close in size. These days, the most we have to worry about is Dash getting a little playful and cornering Shady for fun. If we tell him to leave it, he'll generally turn his attention to a more suitable plaything.

[BoxerPerson]

since she is small, I think the most issues you may have is chasing.  A simple "NO" or "LEAVE IT" was all I used. I have not had problems with dog & cats....in the house. But outside, I wouldn't trust any of them.  Their yard is their sanctuary and any treaspasser is taking their life into their own hands (paws).

[whitepupzoe]

I had no problems when Zoe was a puppy, she left the cats alone. Never bothered them at all.  Now Abby was another story...but she was a year old when we got her so she was harder to break of the cat chasing. 

[Bumpy]

I wonder how my guys would be with a cat. I think some serious training would be needed. I know small critters like squirrels are their arch enemy. They will spot one way before me and If I don't get control first before you know it it's cornered and Keanu is performing a high energy Squirrel CPR manuver.

[Bugsys Mom]

Ugh, dogs and cats. 

Zeus adores and protects the cat.  Bugsy was 8 weeks when we got him and if he even looked at the cat Zeus would chase him away and bark in his face.  Capone was 7 months when we got him and Zeus did the same thing to him.  Bugsy is always nice and calm around the cat and there are no problems.  Capone on the other hand will see the cat, look around for Zeus and then chase. 

Sidenote:If someone says to Zeus "puppy is getting your kitty" he will loe his mind and run around and find his kitty. 

[maxndixiesmomma]

I have not used the newspaper with Dixie, she's just seen Max do what he was ask when it is brought out. I could not ask for a better dog than Max, I was worried the first year and a half, I thought either me or him would lose our sanity..lol. But, he is now 4 years old and very seldom gets scolded for anything or has to be ask more than once to do something. Which is more than I can say for my 2 sons. lol.

[boxer pal]

We've always had a house cat or two and we've managed to have peace and tranquility.  That atmosphere is being severly tested this week with our foster/adoptee.  I did it with a 3 year old boxer who's previous owner claimed he HATED cats.  It took time and patience but with in a month of slow and careful introductions, Abe became comfortable around our cats and eventually played and slept with them as if he was a cat himself.  Romy and Rudy came to us a very young puppies so it wasn't hard at all to teach them that cats are part of the family.  (the cats did a fine job of teaching them, I didn't have to do much!) Now, our challenge is Malibu who, at 8 months is a LOT faster than I am (and I'm 10 years older than I was the first go around!) and she's deaf.  That makes verbal corrections pointless but I'm sure we'll find a way.

[BoxerIsisDreamComeTrue]

Thank you so much it does help to know that all is not lost. I know that Stimpy my cat will smack the poo out of the puppy given the chance. Should I let her do this? Will it help the puppy see that cats can be ouchy?

Stimpy by the way is declawed (happened before I knew better) so I dont have to worry about the puppies eyes being hurt by a claw.

The outside cats who are feral for the most part though I can touch some are very aware of the damage a dog can do so they will run. I dont plan on letting her run loose since we dont have a fenced yard yet.

When I take her out for walks and stuff and she sees a cat should I let her investigate as long as she is calm? Or should I gently correct her if she seems to be focusing to hard on the cat?

Any pointers in that direction would be most helpful. The leave it command will be one of the first things I work on.

Thank you all so much for putting up with my questions.

[BranwenBoxers]

Thank you so much it does help to know that all is not lost. I know that Stimpy my cat will smack the poo out of the puppy given the chance. Should I let her do this? Will it help the puppy see that cats can be ouchy?

Sorry had to laugh     Your cat should take care of its self , but with your kitty being declawed there won't get the point across   .   So I think your best bet would be the leave it command .    As for cats outside , you are going to have a harder time with keeping your pup away from them .   

[chapsmom]

Thank you so much it does help to know that all is not lost. I know that Stimpy my cat will smack the poo out of the puppy given the chance. Should I let her do this? Will it help the puppy see that cats can be ouchy?

Sorry had to laugh     Your cat should take care of its self , but with your kitty being declawed there won't get the point across   .   So I think your best bet would be the leave it command .    As for cats outside , you are going to have a harder time with keeping your pup away from them . 

 
I had cats before I got the dog. My middle cat did in fact smack the crap out of the dog when he was a pup. To this day, he is afraid of that cat.
 I have three cats. Chap has never chased any of them. In fact he snuggles, sleeps and cleans the older male. He has a different relationship with each one. I bet your cat will determine what the relationship will be. If your cat runs, then your dog will chase it. Or, your cat may be the boss! Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[jesticboxers]

I have no problem with my dogs and our cats, the cats run the house. We make sure that when the puppies are little they respect the cats instantly.

Also my Boxers leave my rats alone too. I would never trust them alone with the rats loose lol, but when I'm around they just ignore them.