My cats and partners dog..need advice

[cushionstar]

I met my DP and currently we live separately. I have two cats 4&2 they are out at night & sleep all day at home. I am close the 4 year old cat.
My partner has a dachshund. I mainly stay at DPs house one night a week & as it's easier with the cats. & then We have a set up the moment where dp stays at my house once in a blue moon and brings the dog. We have tried to introduce them slowly as we go along but obviously the dog goes mental when he sees the cats & the cats scarper and don't come home until the next day or sometimes 2 days later!
We are looking at moving into togther soon in a few months and I'm really concerned about how it will all go. Living separately long term is not an option but DP won't give up the dog and me neither my cats so I'm just asking is there anything I can do to help
My cats adjust now or when we get a new house ?
I understand they will never be best friends but I'm just asking as I don't want to end up with my cats running away 😩 Thankyou xx

You need to keep the cats in the house or else they will never get used to the dog.
Ensure the dog is on a lead, if he barks or tries to chase the cats, then a firm 'no', tell him to sit and when he does and ignores the cats, then reward. I've had multiple dogs of various breeds living with my cats, I currently have a lurcher.

Always make sure that the cats have a safe area in the house where the dog can't access and make sure food, water and litter trays are nowhere near the dog.

They will need constant supervision at first, but once the dog realises that barking and chasing are unacceptable then you may be surprised at how well they may get along.

I hope someone comes on and says I am wrong, but I thought dachshunds and cats were not a good fit as dachshunds were a bit too feisty/bitey and don't tolerate cats well.....will try to find my source for this...

Echoing others, ensure cats have safe routes in and out and safe space to sleep. Baby gates to keep them separate and initially keep dog on a lead. We have 2 cats and a high prey drive dog, If they run her instinct is to chase, she has 'caught' them once or twice but made no attempt to hurt them...its the thrill of the chase! So even though it's a small place, we have gates across doors. They will lay on each side in harmony, nearly touching now. The cats know they are safe and rule are happy around the dog.

I have a daschund who is scared of cats 😄. In my experience, one hiss and a swipe from a cat is enough to make them wary in future. My elderly cat did this when my dog was an excited pup and she now knows not to approach (sadly my cat died a few years ago).

Your DP needs to control his dog so it can't ever, ever chase your cats.

@Stickytreacle this is really good advice thanks. I wanted to ask how long each time should I keep the dog on the lead whilst I keep the cats in the house? 1/2 hour ?
& the cats will run off upstairs away from the dog as they will be scared of him and hun wanting to Chase.
Do we let the dog go up the stairs after them(on the lead ) and just have a sniff around whilst they are hiding?
I've got a small 2 bedroom house and my stairs are in my living room. I have a gate at the top of the stairs too xx

Do we let the dog go up the stairs after them(on the lead ) and just have a sniff around whilst they are hiding?

I really wouldn't do this, no. It could absolutely terrify the cats and end up in a fight. Just keep the dog on a lead at all times in the house so that one of you can grab it if the cats are around. Don't leave the dog unattended anywhere where the cats can access either, just in case.

Cats upstairs and dog downstairs. Dog never allowed upstairs. They’ll soon settle.

Dog training advice and support on Facebook have a guide on this.

You need to take it very slowly and carefully. Give cats escape routes at all times, give them height, use babygates/ room dividers etc.

Don't just have the dog sat on a lead barking at the cats or indeed let the dog chase/follow them about.

It's a dachshund breed trait to hunt and flush out so you will have your work cut out.

www.facebook.com/groups/dogtrainingadviceandsupport/?ref=share

You keep the leash on the dog all the time until he can be trusted, you can get thin house leads that are quick to grab or place a foot on if needed.

He shouldn't be allowed in the cats safe space at all and the whole point is that he learns to respect the cats, if the cats run or hide then it makes it a game and will be very difficult to resolve. Don't let it happen in the first place and you've got a head start.

I often look after our neighbour’s dog and occasionally have her here with our cat. She - dog - has lived with a cat previously so isn’t fussed, but I always keep her on a lead and close to me in the house. Our cat hisses at her but doesn’t run away, I think he knows she’s the interloper in his space! I reckon they’d eventually become friends, but I try not to bring her in often in case it stresses him out.