Dogs are from Mars, Cats are from Venus

INTERSPECIES RELATIONS

What happens when you mix this

with this?

Or worse yet, this?

Most people would not think that peaceful and happy interspecies relationships are possible, but I think they are. With trained animals and a great plan, you can make a dog into a mother for ducklings, a horse and a cat be best friends, and your dog and cat nap together when you're not looking.

TIMING

If you currently live in a petless home and are interested in someday adopting two animals from different species, great! You are in the best of all worlds. You have the opportunity to choose animals that will best suit each other and your environment. Interested in having a cat and dog household? Start with two young ones, a puppy and a kitten. This way they can grow up with each other and create a relationship together. Not interested with the thought of having two "toddlers" in your home at once? Start with a calm adult dog, work on its training, and then introduce a younger (1-2 years old) cat. Think a bunny and a cat will make the greatest companions? Try this one with young animals again. Want a nice houserabbit and a doggy companion? Start with a well-trained adult dog, and add the rabbit to its turf later. When you start planning for a situation before you ever have the animals, you can best plan for peace in the household.

But what if you started out with one animal already? For example, you had a cat because you lived in an apartment that only allowed cats. Now that you have a bought a house, you want to add a playful puppy. Or you've had the same old dog for years - how will he react to a new kitten? With these situations, preparation and training are the key. Before you ever start looking for that animal, decide what kind of animal would work best and begin working with that current animal to help it adjust.

But what happens in those situations where your child dumps a dog on you that your cat doesn't approve of? Or the neighbor next door has a rabbit they left behind after moving? Or you find a stray that you just can't bring yourself to take to animal control? Two words: SEPARATE THEM! In order to re-create that before-the-new-animal-arrives period, you will have to separate the two animals within the same household to allow for adjustment and preparation.

PREPARATION AND TRAINING

So you have decided to add a second animal - what now?

It is time to prepare for your new arrival. Purchase everything you will need for the new animal well ahead of time and place the items in your home. Let your current pet get used to the look, feel and smell of a litter box, kitty tower, cage, dishes, alfalfa pellets, leashes, etc. This will help your current animal adjust to these new things before the new animal arrives. This will also place your current animal's scent on the new animal's things, so that they may smell each other before they even have contact.

But how do you "train" an animal to accept a new one? Where do you even start? With dogs, start with basic obedience. The adjustment period will go a lot smoother if your dog knows how to sit, down and stay. Relaxation exercises also help to keep the animal calm in new situations. Introduce your dog to cat- or bunny-smelling things, and teach him/her that it's not okay to chase anything. "Leave it" is also a very important command, as well as a reliable recall. Remember: It's important for your dog to obey these commands during distractions as well, not just when you are sitting at home.

But what if you are not starting with a dog? Cats and rabbits both respond to training with a clicker. Teach them to come to you for a treat when called. Help them associate the CLICK with a positive reward. Cats can also be taught relaxation and dominance-establishing exercises, as well as tricks - all of which are great distraction techniques.

TAKING IT SLOWLY

So Rover is at home waiting and Princess or Floppy is sitting in your car. What now?

Go slowly. It is always better to go too slowly than too quickly. Without introducing the animals, allow them to sniff each other. This is accomplished by separating the two animals and periodically taking items from one animal's location to the other's. For example, give each a few blankets to lay on. Take a blanket from each to give to the other so that they may sniff it without the stress of true interaction. You can also rotate the animals by switching their locations frequently. (That is also a great tactic for preventing territoriality between the two!)

Once the animals have adjusted to their own areas and each other's smells, introduce them in a controlled and positive way. Place a screen barrier or baby gate between them, and give them meals on each side of the barrier at the same time. Let them see each other for increasing amounts of time without actually touching each other.

When they have adjusted to the ideas of each other, it's time for the introduction. Make sure that you have human helpers and citronella spray or a squirt bottle to break anything up. Start with small amounts of interaction time in the same room, all supervised. Don¹t allow one animal to chase or harass the other. If you are working with a dog, put the dog on a down stay or find some other good way to keep it calm. Always be on the alert, ready to break up a potential squabble. Also be sure to give each animal equal attention in front of the other. Increase the amount of "together time" as you feel the animals can handle it.

WHAT IF IT'S NOT WORKING?

Safety should always be your number one concern, especially when dealing with animals that have a considerable size difference. (Think of the damage a Great Dane could do to a dwarf bunny.) If the situation is not going well, or you are not sure where to go next, please seek professional help and never leave the animals alone together. It is better to be safe than sorry.

A FINAL NOTE

With patience, love, training and luck, you can make interspecies relations wonderful. Take, for example, the animals I started this article out with. Through preparation, training, timing and proper introductions, they're now a happy little family: