**All photos are clickable to enjoy a larger view.
Happy cats:
Not so happy cats:
This is BY FAR the most difficult lesson Raven must learn – LEAVE IT! She is about 50% successful with this command. We say “leave it” when she approaches the cats, and half the time she does. The other half the time she either barks and leaps, or takes chase. This morning Gizmo smacked her on the nose…but it did not seem to deter my little one. We’ll keep trying!
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How cute! Hopefully Raven will learn before she gets a painful scratch or two.
I’m sure it won’t be too longer before Raven gets tired of having a scratched nose! Cute pics.
I’m sorry but that’s too cute!!!!
Poor Raven – she just wants to play.
Okay, reading your blog makes me want another dog! It doesn’t really help that my friends dog had puppies and I was playing with them the other day… Cute pictures!
These are great pics! Your little pup is precious. We had the hardest time getting one of our dogs to leave the cat in peace. He followed the “Leave It” command for everything except the poor cat. Quite by accident I found out “That’l Do” worked perfect.
Yes, Raven will learn. LOL I remember when Parker first came to live with us. He took to Riley right away (after our stressful day long introduction session) and learned quickly how to live with a dog that chases after anything that moves too fast. It’s been different with Anya. She is much more jumpy and it’s taken her a longer. She’s learning though. She loves to play with Riley and will try to engage him. He mostly just glances at her and looks back at me expectantly, “You gonna throw me that ball or what?”
It’s funny, too, how differently I react. When Parker and Riley would roughhouse early one in their relationship, I would panic, thinking they would hurt each other. Now when Anya and Riley roughhouse, I chuckle and go about my business.
“Leave it” is a tough one, but once they get it, it’s one of the best commands ever! I use it daily.
Lezlie
Vasilly: Raven is so driven, I don’t even think she would mind a scratch! But…I don’t want her to get one anyway!
Les: Thanks
Amy: *laughs* I keep telling myself that…time and time again, as I constantly peel Raven away from the cats!
Kathy: Yup – all the time!
Kailana: They are A LOT of work – but oh so cute!
Joanne: Thanks for that tip – I was just thinking maybe we need a totally different command when it comes to the cats! It is so hard for Raven because it means she has to go against her instinct.
WendyCat: *laughs* you are so right. I used to cringe, run, scoop her up as soon as she went anywhere near the cats. Now I am a bit more relaxed. I have a feeling things will eventually work themselves out.
Lezlie: I agree – that and “Don’t touch” which I connect to food (and which Raven has already got down 100%). Oh, and “come” is a most important one too!!
Wendy ~ “Come” is definitely the #1 command! Our instructor has drilled that into our heads for certain!
Lezlie
She’ll learn eventually!! My dog hated cats, until we rescued a kitten from the ditch. The first 3 days he was terrified of her, now they sleep in the chair together, eat together, play tag…they’re too funny!!
I can almost hear the yapping in that last photo! “HEY YOU HEY YOU HEY YOU PLAY PLAY PLAY?” Nature makes them cute so we won’t velcro them to the wall, eh?
Lezlie: I agree!!!
Staci: I know that eventually peace will come back to our home…just time!!
Tui: *laughing* and can you imagine what is going on inside the cat’s head?!?!? I agree – they have to be cute or we would not survive their puppy days!
my dog finally learned to leave the cats alone when my mother’s cat scratched his eyelid. It was not a pretty sight at all.
I know pups can be hard work, but I’m sure he’ll grow up to be a fine young “man”! He has Kip, Argus, the cats, and you to learn from.
Serena: That is what I am afraid of happening here – we are CLOSELY supervising Raven’s interactions with the cats and so far, no blood!
Teddy: I hope she doesn’t grow into a male *laughing* But I knew what you meant!