Introducing an Icelandic Sheepdog with a Cat

Regardless of the mistaken belief, a great deal of canines and cats can cohabit comfortably. Follow these easy to follow steps to get to know how to best introduce your Icelandic Sheepdog with a cat.

1. Make sure your Icelandic Sheepdog understands fundamental commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘down’ prior to meeting.
2. Make a safe space for both your Icelandic Sheepdog and feline, where the other pet can not get in.
3. Keep them separated at first, for the very first couple of days. Ensure both Icelandic Sheepdog and cat have had the required shots.
4. Feed your Icelandic Sheepdog and your feline on opposite sides of a closed door. This helps make them associate each other’s existence with pleasant things.
5. Once they both can ingest calmly next to the door, begin having meet and greets in a common spot of your home. Keep the very first few sessions short and calm with your Icelandic Sheepdog on a leash. Treat both animals for great behaviour.
6. Carry on with these face to face sessions every day. Ensure to save your animals’ preferred treats for these sessions. If your cat wishes to leave, allow them to, but make certain your Icelandic Sheepdog doesn’t chase after. Try ending the sessions well before any pet reveals signs of stress or hostility.
7. When they seem like they’re getting a long well, let them hang around in the room with each other. If any tension erupts, return back to the previous actions and redo them.

Why do Icelandic Sheepdogs Hate Cats?

Not all Icelandic Sheepdogs don’t like cats, some get along with them. When Icelandic Sheepdogs do dislike cats, of the most common reason is quite straightforward. Like all pet dogs, Icelandic Sheepdogs still hold onto some of the hunting instincts that they were originally bred for. This is why Icelandic Sheepdogs like chasing all moving things, whether it’s a ball, rodent, or a cat.

Given that many cats will escape when they come across, it’s simple to see why they are understood for not being friendly with each other. Icelandic Sheepdogs in fact enjoy chasing felines not because they hate them, but primarily because a fast running animal triggers a strong, natural behavioral instinct to chase overcomes any training or socialisation.

How to Stop Icelandic Sheepdogs Chasing Cats?

Training your Icelandic Sheepdog to stop chasing cats requires time, training and consistency, but the benefit of not needing to worry about them continuously chasing after is well worth it. Here are the steps of how to stop your Icelandic Sheepdog from chasing after felines.

1. Keep your Icelandic Sheepdog on a leash while loose when your cat remains in the same space.
2. Whenever your cat is close to your Icelandic Sheepdog, stop what you are doing and get your Icelandic Sheepdog’s focus. If he pays attention, give him a reward!
3. Keep rewarding your Icelandic Sheepdog till the cat goes away. If the feline remains give your Icelandic Sheepdog a chew treat or toy so they remain focused on their reward.
4. Consistently redo the above stages and you’ll see your Icelandic Sheepdog instinctively sit and look up to you when they see the feline. Do not forget to keep rewarding them!
5. If they are now automatically taking a look at you whenever the feline remains in the room, they’re prepared to be using a longer leash. If they still try to go after the cat at this point reel them in and go back to step 2.
6. Finally, take the long leash off and permit your Icelandic Sheepdog and feline in the same area. At this point your Icelandic Sheepdog should understand not to go after the feline, but if they do return to step 5.

How to Stop Icelandic Sheepdogs Killing Cats?

The best approach to ensure your Icelandic Sheepdog would never kill a cat is to raise them with felines when they’re a puppy before 3 months old. At this age, they will typically wish to play with the felines and will not see them as prey.

If your Icelandic Sheepdog has actually killed a feline previously, its ideal if you keep them in an open, enclosed area. When taking them for strolls try to avoid going after sunset and prior to dawn since that’s when cats are most active and most likely to be roaming the streets.