Introducing a Parson Russell Terrier with a Cat

Despite the misunderstanding, a great deal of dogs and felines can cohabit comfortably. Follow these simple to follow steps to understand how to best introduce your Parson Russell Terrier with a feline.

1. Make sure your Parson Russell Terrier understands fundamental commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘down’ before meeting.
2. Create a safe space for both your Parson Russell Terrier and feline, where the other pet can not go into.
3. Keep them separated in the beginning, for the first few days. Ensure both Parson Russell Terrier and feline have had the required shots.
4. Feed your Parson Russell Terrier and your cat on opposite sides of a closed door. This helps make them associate each other’s existence with pleasurable things.
5. Once they both can consume calmly next to the door, commence having meet and greets in a common area of the house. Keep the first few sessions short and calm with your Parson Russell Terrier on a leash. Treat both pets for excellent behaviour.
6. Continue these face to face sessions every day. Make sure to save your pets’ favourite treats for these sessions. If your feline wishes to leave, allow them to, however ensure your Parson Russell Terrier doesn’t chase. Try ending the sessions just before any family pet shows indications of tension or bitterness.
7. When they appear like they’re getting a long well, let them hang around in the area together. If any stress erupts, return back to the previous actions and redo them.

Why do Parson Russell Terriers Hate Cats?

Not all Parson Russell Terriers detest cats, some get along with them. When Parson Russell Terriers do dislike felines, of the most common factor is quite simple. Like all dogs, Parson Russell Terriers still keep a few of the hunting behavioral instincts that they were originally reproduced for. This is why Parson Russell Terriers love chasing after all moving objects, whether it’s a toy, mouse, or a feline.

Considering that a lot of cats will escape when they come across, it’s easy to see why they are known for not being friendly with each other. Parson Russell Terriers really enjoy chasing cats not since they dislike them, however generally since a quick running animal triggers a powerful, natural behavioral instinct to go after overcomes any training or socialisation.

How to Stop Parson Russell Terriers Chasing Cats?

Training your Parson Russell Terrier to stop going after cats takes time, practice and consistency, but the benefit of not needing to worry about them continually chasing after is very well worth it. Here are the steps of how to stop your Parson Russell Terrier from chasing cats.

1. Keep your Parson Russell Terrier on a leash while loose when your cat remains in the same room.
2. Whenever your cat is near to your Parson Russell Terrier, stop what you are doing and get your Parson Russell Terrier’s focus. If he listens, give him a reward!
3. Keep awarding your Parson Russell Terrier till the feline disappears. If the feline stays offer your Parson Russell Terrier a chew reward or toy so they remain focused on their treat.
4. Consistently repeat the above stages and you’ll see your Parson Russell Terrier instinctively sit and look up to you when they see the feline. Do not forget to keep rewarding them!
5. If they are now immediately looking at you each time the feline is in the space, they’re prepared to be using a longer leash. If they still attempt to chase after the feline at this moment reel them in and return to step 2.
6. Last but not least, take the long leash off and enable your Parson Russell Terrier and cat in the very same space. At this point your Parson Russell Terrier need to know not to chase after the cat, however if they do return to step 5.

How to Stop Parson Russell Terriers Killing Cats?

The best technique to ensure your Parson Russell Terrier would never kill a feline is to raise them with cats when they’re a young puppy before 3 months old. At this age, they will normally want to play with the felines and won’t see them as prey.

If your Parson Russell Terrier has killed a feline in the past, its optimal if you keep them in an open, enclosed space. When taking them for walks try to stop going after dusk and before dawn because that’s when felines are most active and likely to be wandering the neighborhoods.