My neighbours have got a kitten

[RIPWalter]

Looking for some helpful tips to keep me sane please.

We have a 5 yo beddy x cocker spaniel neutured male.

We live in a little cluster of 3 properties (old farm) and until recently neighbours on the left had no pets, and neighbour on the right have a lovely collie who may dog occasionally talks to through the fence, with a little more noise rom both of them when she is on heat, but no real issues.

A few weeks ago neighbours to the left (semi detached with us) rescued a kitten (neutured male), which in the last week has started to go outside in their garden, and is also sneeking into our garden when our dog isn't out there.

My dog is not coping well with this, he is on high alert all the time, and barking constantly, trying to dig under the fence, sticking his head through the fence ( just stock proof fencing dividing the garden) but tail wagging all the time.

Our cottage is very tiny, with a open plan living room kitchen, so there is no escaping his (very loud and cutting) bark. Also DH works from home so it's really not ideal, and gardening is my hobby/passion and it is not at all enjoyable with a constantly barking dog, and he is also trashing plants in his excitement.

So far, we have hung a blanket up to cover the back door window so he can't see out (not working as he stood by the door barking as i type), bought a thundershirt, which has some short term effect, and i've been taking him out and about with me during the day when i can and leaving him in the car, so that he has time to calm down (but this won't be a solution for long as the weather warms up).

The only other thing i can think of is building a 6 ft solid fence, so he can't see the kitten (he's a very sight/movement orientated dog). But this will cost us £££, and piss off the neighbours as their garden is directly North of ours, so would cut out a lot of sun light to there garden & kitchen. So I don't really want to do this if it isn't likely to help, or if there is a cheaper solution any one can think of.

What is it you are worried about? That he'll carry on barking, that he'll harm the cat?

We've got lots of cats that come into the garden - our dog hates every cat apart from our own. So we've put up a curtain so he can't see them. If he's in the garden he chases them out and then they sit just far enough way taunting him? While our cat snoozes on the bench next to her.

I think that he will eventually get used to the cat.
can you use those rolls of bamboo fencing along the boundary for the time being?
Or at least for the first few metres from the house, so the cat isn't so obvious?

I would talk to your neighbours and try to introduce the animals to each other in a safe way

You can get stick on frosting for windows, it’ll come off easily when he’s more used to the kitten.

Just get frosted peal on/off decal for the window/door?
But I’d get a behaviourist in -that’s 2 reactive hunting dog breeds. This may end badly for the cat.

@JustJam4Tea

What is it you are worried about? That he'll carry on barking, that he'll harm the cat?

We've got lots of cats that come into the garden - our dog hates every cat apart from our own. So we've put up a curtain so he can't see them. If he's in the garden he chases them out and then they sit just far enough way taunting him? While our cat snoozes on the bench next to her.

I don't think he would intentionally harm the cat, I think he just wants to chase and play with it, but he is an 18kg dog and the kitten is tiny in comparison, so I think the kitten could get hurt even playfully.

The barking is the big issue, he has a really loud, grating bark, so it isn't pleasant to listen too all the time. But also my dog is getting worked up to the point that his beard fur is dripping wet with drool, and I want he to be able to relax at home.

When they are both out in the gardens at the same time the kitten just sits up on the platform of next doors play equipment watching my dog frantically bark and try to get through the fence.

@steppemum

I think that he will eventually get used to the cat. can you use those rolls of bamboo fencing along the boundary for the time being? Or at least for the first few metres from the house, so the cat isn't so obvious?

I hope he will get used to the kitten, but when? How long is it going to take?!

We have thought about using something to temporarily make the fence higher & solid, but where we live is VERY windy and we have more strong winds thursday night into friday, hoping the winter ends soon, and then we can try this.

@Damia

I would talk to your neighbours and try to introduce the animals to each other in a safe way

I had my dog in our garden on his lead the other day and the cat was out in NDN garden at the same time, and it just walked straight through the fence to say hello to DD whilst my dog went nuts in the background. Other NDN Collie has met the kitten and is terrified, why can't my dog be scared of it too?!

Your dogs obviously a brave boy. Kittens are fast as fuck, adult cats run at up to 30mph so kitten stands a chance.

Winding up doggies is cat fun though. All mine have found dogs entertaining.

@Londoncallingtothefarawaytowns

Just get frosted peal on/off decal for the window/door? But I’d get a behaviourist in -that’s 2 reactive hunting dog breeds. This may end badly for the cat.

The few occasions he has got hold of small animals (a lamb which had got somewhere it wasn't meant/allowed to be, and rodents) he hasn't intentionally harmed them he jsut tries to get them to play with him. He stood over the lamb wagging his tail after chasing it, and waited for me to come over, and with the rodents he nudges them with his nose and bats them about with his paws (the baby rat did sustain a fatal head injury and Dog was very dissapointed it wasn't playing anymore).

So, I'm not particularly concerned about him intentionally hurting the cat and "finishing it off" as he seems to lack this instinct, but I could see him chasing it and rough playing with it, or hurting himself trying to chase it over the back wall (dry stone wall with DIY doggy defenses rigged up with stock proof fencing lay across the top of the wall to stop him jumping up onto it).

See what training techniques you can start so you can teach him to not react. Also get plastic cat spikes for your fence so the cat can't climb over.

@Fluffycloudland77

Your dogs obviously a brave boy. Kittens are fast as fuck, adult cats run at up to 30mph so kitten stands a chance.

Winding up doggies is cat fun though. All mine have found dogs entertaining.

He is an extemely fast and agile dog, we suspect there is some whippet in the mix too. It's only really young lurchers that can out run and out manouvre him.

The kitten is already enjoying winding him up. I just wish my dog could be wound up quietly!!

@WouldIwasShookspeared

See what training techniques you can start so you can teach him to not react. Also get plastic cat spikes for your fence so the cat can't climb over.

I'd also think you could/should do some training with him.

@WouldIwasShookspeared

See what training techniques you can start so you can teach him to not react. Also get plastic cat spikes for your fence so the cat can't climb over.

The gardens have stock proof (wire fencing) between them and drystone wall at the back, so no scope for cat spikes at the moment.

When we moved in the properties had only just been divided up, so there was no fence and we needed something up quick and cheap when we got out puppy and neighbours didn't want to loose the sun from there garden, so the stock proof fence suited everyone, until this week!!

This is why I am considering paying for a 6ft timber fence but it will be expensive, vulnerable to the very high winds we get, and piss off my neighbours.

You can just see the fence to the left of the pic, and my previously calm doggy in the middle.

I would put up bamboo fencing to keep it out of your garden.

If you were being super lovely you could erect it a couple of feet inside your border so as not to reduce their sunshine

My pup gets treats when she doesn't react to NDN cat, which has worked, but she barks er silly head off if squirrels are about, so you have my sympathies!

@DameHelena

How do i teach him not to react?

I take him out in the garden on his lead and take him to the other end of the garden with me, and in the house i repeatably take him away from the back door and put him on his bed, to try to get him to give up and calm down. He has now, finally, settled down between DH and I on to sofa.

Is this the right sort of thing to do, and are there other things to do?

He is a play orientated rather than food orientated dog, so would always choose barking at a kitten over, even the fanciest, treats.

@ABitBesotted

I would put up bamboo fencing to keep it out of your garden.

If you were being super lovely you could erect it a couple of feet inside your border so as not to reduce their sunshine

My pup gets treats when she doesn't react to NDN cat, which has worked, but she barks er silly head off if squirrels are about, so you have my sympathies!

but she barks er silly head off if squirrels are about, so you have my sympathies!

In a decade or so when it's time to get another dog, my starting point for breed choice will be whether they bark or not and how loud. Forget about hip scores, the breeders should test the decibels of their dogs bark.

How do i teach him not to react?

Treats. Or whatever motivates him most.

Take him out on a lead, when he looks at the kitten, call him, when he looks at you, make him sit still, give a treat. Repeat over and over until he no longer needs the call, he just instantly looks at you.
Eventually you wont need to give the treat.

You need to turn 'seeing the kitten' from stressful/exciting to relaxing and rewarding

I think trying to introduce them safely is a good idea; also some training with whatever he focuses on.

If it’s a treat, then you have to ignore the barking until the second he takes a breath, then give him the reward and lots of praise. It take a lot of effort.
My girl detests cats and has a deep growl at next door’s whenever she smells it, but we have managed to stop the barking.
It’s fair game if it comes in the garden, and has been stuck up an apple tree with 2 labs circling like sharks before now. ( clearly I call them off)
They each learn where the boundaries are pretty fast.

Currently your issue is the effect on your dog. Next thing said feline will be pooping in your garden!

Kill the cat.......... joking but not entirely!

Sorry just seen no treats, so reward by giving a toy to pull or play with.

Equally, if he goes into the garden ensure he takes a toy with him, or go with him and play so the focus is on the toy, not the kitten. Eventually that will become routine.

Ime a fence is pointless. The dcat will just sit on and taunt your ddog.

Call your ddog in for a treat every time it sees the dkitten. Or give him a filled kong /long lasting treat. Distraction is the key imo.
We have Lurchers and dcats. Only recently the youngest has braved kissing dcat after 2 years!!

Hopefully they will get used to each other. Cats are no fools, and generally in a situation they are not happy with, will jump up onto the nearest fence or tree, well out of the way of a barking playful dog

Omg your dog is going to eat this cat
Judging by your responses, you’ve normalised the dogs prey drive

Hope you’ve a good insurances and don’t mind falling out with neighbours.

@Londoncallingtothefarawaytowns

Omg your dog is going to eat this cat Judging by your responses, you’ve normalised the dogs prey drive Hope you’ve a good insurances and don’t mind falling out with neighbours.

What rot.