Introducing a Harrier with a Cat

Regardless of the mistaken belief, a lot of dogs and cats can cohabit comfortably. Follow these easy to follow actions to know how to best introduce your Harrier with a feline.

1. Ensure your Harrier understands basic commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘down’ prior to meeting.
2. Create a safe area for both your Harrier and feline, where the other family pet can not enter.
3. Keep them separated at first, for the first few days. Make sure both Harrier and cat have had the required shots.
4. Feed your Harrier and your feline on opposite sides of a closed door. This makes them associate each other’s existence with favorable things.
5. Once they both can consume calmly beside the door, begin having meet and greets in a common place of the house. Keep the first few sessions brief and calm with your Harrier on a leash. Reward both family pets for desirable behaviour.
6. Carry on with these face to face sessions every day. Ensure to conserve your pets’ favourite treats for these sessions. If your cat wants to leave, allow them to, however make certain your Harrier doesn’t chase after. Attempt ending the sessions before any pet shows signs of tension or aggression.
7. When they look like they’re getting a long well, let them hang around in the area with each other. If any tension emerges, return back to the previous actions and redo them.

Why do Harriers Hate Cats?

Not all Harriers detest cats, some get along with them. When Harriers do hate felines, of the most common reason is quite straightforward. Like all canines, Harriers still keep some of the hunting impulses that they were originally bred for. This is why Harriers love chasing all moving objects, whether it’s a toy, mouse, or a cat.

Given that many felines will escape when they come across, it’s easy to see why they are known for not being friendly with each other. Harriers really delight in chasing after felines not due to the fact that they hate them, however generally because a quick running animal sets off a strong, natural instinct to chase after overcomes any training or socialisation.

How to Stop Harriers Chasing Cats?

Teaching your Harrier to stop going after felines takes some time, practice and consistency, however the reward of not needing to fret about them always chasing after is very well worth it. Here are the procedures of how to stop your Harrier from chasing cats.

1. Keep your Harrier on a leash while loose when your feline remains in the same room.
2. Whenever your cat is near to your Harrier, stop what you are doing and get your Harrier’s focus. If he listens, offer him a treat!
3. Keep treating your Harrier until the cat disappears. If the cat remains offer your Harrier a chew treat or toy so they stay focused on their reward.
4. Consistently repeat the above stages and you’ll see your Harrier instinctively sit and look up to you when they see the feline. Don’t forget to keep treating them!
5. If they are now immediately taking a look at you every time the cat remains in the room, they’re all set to be utilizing a longer leash. If they still attempt to chase after the feline at this point reel them in and return to step 2.
6. Last but not least, take the long leash off and permit your Harrier and feline in the exact same area. At this point your Harrier need to know not to chase the feline, however if they do return to step 5.

How to Stop Harriers Killing Cats?

The very best approach to guarantee your Harrier would never kill a feline is to raise them with cats when they’re a puppy before 3 months old. At this age, they will normally wish to have fun with the felines and won’t see them as prey.

If your Harrier has killed a cat in the past, its best if you keep them in an open, fenced off area. When taking them for strolls try to prevent going after sunset and prior to dawn because that’s when felines are most active and most likely to be roaming the neighborhoods.