If you own smaller pets such as cats, rabbits or guinea pigs, introduce your dog slowly and make certain you always have control over him. Remember that dogs are meat eaters who still have the drive to pursue, catch, and kill prey animals. What counts as a prey animal will vary from dog to dog. Being predatory (predation) differs from other forms of aggression and has different signs. A dog who wants to catch and kill a cat will not growl or curl his lip as he might do if posturing to another dog. If he’s hunting something, he will be quiet and quick. Predation isn’t about gaining or losing status; it’s about food.

Separate to Start: When you bring a new dog home, keep your smaller pet(s) and you new dog separate. Let your dog sniff under the door if she likes, and let your other pets do the same other the other side. Place small towels or rags on each pet’s sleeping area and, after a day, switch the towels. This gives each animal the time to get uses to the other’s smell before they meet face to face.

Watch for Signs of Predation: A predatory dog may freeze and become very stiff when he sees a cat or other small animal. He may crouch low to the ground and begin to stalk. Some dogs will strain to get towards the other animal while emitting a high-pitched whine or a shrill bark. Others will begin salivating. Some may stand stiff over the smaller animal. These are all signs of predation.

Keep Your Dog Confined: When you first allow your dog and your other pets to meet face to face, keep your dog on a leash, a tie down, or crated. Give your other pet freedom of movement, but have a second person in the room just in case. Reward your dog with food treats for being calm and relaxed around your other pet. Don’t force the two to meet. Move at you smaller pet’s pace. As your pets become relaxed around each other, begin to let go of you dog’s leash, but leave it on her to grab if necessary. Full introductions can take weeks or months.

Never Leave Pets Together Unattended: When you’re out of the house, crate your dog or keep your other animals in a separate room.

Have Reasonable Expectations: Some dogs become best friends with cats. Other dogs and smaller pets co-exist and ignore each other. Some animals split the house, the cat living upstairs and the dog living downstairs (or the cat taking countertops, the dog taking the floor). Some dogs and small pets will always have to be managed closely. While not every dog will become fast friends with other animals, most can learn to peaceably co-exist.