Puppy and the cat - advice please!

[Maddogs]

Hi I have an 11 week old springer puppy. I also have 3 cats. The girls are fine they keep out of his way and beat him up if he gets too excited.

My problem is with my tom. He's closer in size to Teddy. Teddy likes to jump on his back and play with him. Including play nipping. Riley doesn't know what to do. He is remarkably tolerant and sometimes purrs. Mostly he escapes as soon as possible. But I'm concerned that the puppy will hurt him and I can tell that Riley doesn't really like it!

I've also broken both my arms and can't really manhandle teddy. Any ideas??

You really need to separate them as much as possible so that your puppy doesn't have the opportunity to harass your tom. Springers can have pretty high prey drives so this really needs nipping in the bud now whilst he's small.

This article covers managing puppies/dogs (especially those likely to be prey driven) with cats.

Thanks that really useful! It tends to be at the back door that we have a problem as both of them want to go out. I'll try to let them out separately and use treats as a distraction. He has lots of toys and has several walks a day already.

Our damn cat undoes all my training attempts by pouncing at the dog and flirting her tail in its face, then bolting across the garden and failing to climb a tree.

😂 great username too kitty

I foster puppies, and have two cats, and the rule here is that the dogs never set mouth or paw on the cats (the cats can do what they like). As soon as they start play bowing, barking, or doing anything more than ignoring the cat they get told very firmly (deep sharp voice) to leave it. You cannot allow that behaviour to go on as it isn't acceptable and could very easily progress

I do intervene but am struggling to physically get in between with my arms being in plaster. I agree it cannot continue hence asking for advice. I will watch out for early signs and intervene earlier.

OP maybe join the puppy survival thread on here. I think some people on there also have cats who might be able to offer advice and support.

Can you get whoever is walking him to work really hard with him on 'leave it'?

Keep a stash of toys by your feet so you can call him off and offer him a toy quickly as a reward when he comes away from the cat

In my experience cats have ways of dealing with this shit. Mostly involving claws. The puppy will learn a valuable and freshly sharpened lesson.

Good ideas and yes I think the puppy survival thread is a plan!
We've all been working on sit, recall and off (with lots of treats)

He is walked two/three times a day by my partner. Just short walks as he is so young and he's always shattered afterwards!

Yes starry the girl cats (who are tiny) have sorted him with hissing and a few well planted smacks in the face. Plus they team tag him. He will sit and politely wait for them to walk past him and never chases them.

Riley being twice their size is also a wet lettuce and hasn't retaliated in the same way. That's why Teddy still thinks he is 'fun'.

There has been some really helpful advice, thanks

By the way. Gorgeous.

Stair gates (with cat flaps) can help.
Cats must have escape routes.
Practice the "look at me" for a treat when dog sees cat.
Never let dog chase or grab cat.
Our 9 month old sighthound is always on a longline around the cats. We are getting there but I like the reassurance of being able to grab the lead if she suddenly decides to play! She isn't allowed to. Dog on a lead can't jump on cat. The more you allow it the more a dog will see it as fun.

How on earth did you break both your arms?