Training Idea's for introducing GSD to cats. - Page 2

 Make sure the dog knows "leave it" and make sure he has an E-collar on and you know how to use it,  if he choses to forget what "leave it" means then you have to teach him what it means again. . Introduce them slowly don't just throw them in together and hope for the best, maintain control of the situation but don't be "button happy". Only use the E collar if you must.

With some dogs letting the fur fly will probably work. With some dogs you will have a dead cat.

Thank you, I am a little nervous, there was a transition period with our first Gsd but after that they were fine.  The first time we banned the dog from the basement, so the cats could go down there and be "safe"  when our dog comes he will have a leash on for a while anyways so he can be easily controlled if needed.  Also the first time I would hold the kitties and say mine, and act like they were precious to me.  They tended to hide in the begining anyways.  Thanks for your idea's I think we use the E-collar if looks like it won't go well. 

One idea to consider is giving your cats a safe place that they can retreat to, to avoid the dogs altogether.  In my house we've got 3 cats and both the Mali and the GSD puppy love nothing better than a chance to give chase.  However, the cats are mostly undisturbed because they lounge upstairs in the bedroom, and the dogs must stay downstairs with us.

We keep litter boxes both upstairs and downstairs so the cats don't feel the need to cross paths with the dogs at all to do their business.  We put the dogs in their crates before bedtime and the three cats almost immediately appear in the hall to get some loving.  Everybody gets a chance at "house time". 

Best wishes for a smooth transition!

Yvette