Long NRC and a good ending.

The cats are trying to teach Bandit some "cat manners". They don't necessarily make sense but they

were there first and even though they already "have" a dog, the new one is encroaching and "a dog is a dog" doesn't hold water for them.

Dogs and cats assimilate differently. Would have been good to separate them for the initial couple of days, then have introduced Bandit to the cats slowly.

Since you're past that stage, separating Bandit until THEY are interested in him, wouldn't be that bad an idea. Eventually they'll work it out unless one of them gets out of line. Good luck.

 
I know you probably don't want to think of this at this point,

but would you want to put more time into trying to locate his owners again? He seems like such a well-trained dog, that he may have belonged to someone and gotten lost somehow.

Your local humane society may be able to offer suggestions, but maybe you could start with local tv and/or radio station(s) - they usually have segments on the local news about missing or found animals, probably even on their website - ours does.

You'd be able to tell immediately if you had the right owner by the way he reacted (i.e. if you were suspicious that someone may reply answer the post with not-so-good intentions); although you'd think anyone who lost such a good dog would have tried to make more of an effort to find him, himself...

If you "re-decide" to keep him, I'm sure all the pets will eventually get along. They accepted him so easily at first. Good luck, and try to have patience with the situation... he seems like a sweet boy.

 
Yep, they're establishing behavior boundaries. A good swipe on the nose won't hurt the dog, & might

accelerate the learning process. smileys/smile.gif

 
Thanks for a good story, and a great thread! So happy to know that Bandit is in your care. I vol-

unteer at a new no-kill shelter. In less than a year, we have rescued over 300 dogs and cats from kill shelters, and have adopted out over half of them. Every time we adopt one out, we have room to take in a new one.

Story on the news yesterday, a dog hoarder had 80 dogs in a run-down trailer home (yes, rural redneck, Missy). Mobile AL SPCA talked her out of 30 of the most ill and diseased, all shih tzus, poodles or chihuahuas, made them whole and healthy again, and now they are ready for adoption. Here's a link to the TV story.

Dawn, you have earned your halo, and I know everyone will adjust. Just give it time.

http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2011/sep/29/2/hoarding-dogs-adoption-ar-2483534/

 
Dawn, your story made my day smileys/heart.gif. I have two dogs and are currently taking care of a third

who needs to be adopted. They are all lab-mix dogs, and even though we can't keep the third dog (not enough space), there is no way I'm letting anyone put him down or give him to a family that I don't trust 100 percent.

Your story brought tears to my eyes - happytears that is - and I hope "our" dog will find himself a home like yours smileys/smile.gif

 
Thanks everyone, we are making progress.

I keep him leashed when the cats are around and he just looks at them. He likes them, but get mad when they swat at him. If he would just ignore them, everything would be okay. I have to go to work tomorrow so I am concerned about them, but I can't miss anymore work. He sure loves to ride in the car with me. He gets up on the chaise lounges outside and lays on them. I will try and get a picture of him doing that and post it. Thanks again everyone.

 
I had a reply in there and started fiddling with editing just to see what this wonerful new site

could do. Anyway, I loved your story and am happy for your lucky new pooch Dawn.

 
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