My wife and I were married just over 3 years ago. I brought a 100 pound black lab into the picture (Buddy) and she had a tuxedo cat (Oreo). I adopted Buddy from a Lab Rescue about 3 years before the marriage and my wife adopted Oreo about 2 years before the marriage. Both animals are alpha males, and we are living in what was my wife's home. The cat and dog act as though they want to kill each other, so we've been afraid to introduce them beyond a couple of very brief attempts from a distance. The cat is living in the master bedroom, and the dog is inside the house when we're home.
I had trained the dog with a professional, and I have to admit that I need to revisit some of that, as I let things get lax. I am now starting to work with the dog on basic obedience training. Lately the dog is spending more time at the bedroom door, and aggressively rushes the door, trying to nose under it or open it. The pattern is pretty disturbing, the dog used to have the complete run of my house before the marriage, and now can't go into the bedroom at night. The cat used to have the complete run of his house, but now is almost permanently in the bedroom. I feel horrible about this arrangement, but I'm really afraid that one or both of the animals will be seriously hurt if I just let them roam the house together. I've had friends suggest that I just put them together and let them sort it out, but I've seen both animals act very aggressive at the site of the other.
It seems to me that the key is to get the dog under complete control with obedience training, but I'm not sure how to begin permanently introducing them, or if I should even try. Any help would be appreciated.
I had trained the dog with a professional, and I have to admit that I need to revisit some of that, as I let things get lax. I am now starting to work with the dog on basic obedience training. Lately the dog is spending more time at the bedroom door, and aggressively rushes the door, trying to nose under it or open it. The pattern is pretty disturbing, the dog used to have the complete run of my house before the marriage, and now can't go into the bedroom at night. The cat used to have the complete run of his house, but now is almost permanently in the bedroom. I feel horrible about this arrangement, but I'm really afraid that one or both of the animals will be seriously hurt if I just let them roam the house together. I've had friends suggest that I just put them together and let them sort it out, but I've seen both animals act very aggressive at the site of the other.
It seems to me that the key is to get the dog under complete control with obedience training, but I'm not sure how to begin permanently introducing them, or if I should even try. Any help would be appreciated.