Cat vs. dog training. Attempt #56478365

This is a rather shaky photo of a new "project".

My dog wants to eat* my cat. I've been trying to get dog used to cat since I got dog 9 months ago. I keep trying different methods (including calling in a dog trainer) but haven't seen any progress. I have to keep them separated all the time. Giving either of them up (as has been suggested repeatedly by many people) is completely out of the question.

So this is the beginning of a new attempt (not the first day - I was far too stressed to take a photo for the first few days!). I have bought a big cage, in which to put the cat, so that he a) is safe and b) can't run away. I then let dog sniff cat through bars, and give him amazing treats every time he turns away (for a split second) or is quiet (for a split second). I also hope a little bit that cat will take a swipe at dog through the bars to let him know he's dangerous and shouldn't be hunted. I will do this for brief periods as often as possible.

This may sound like torture for the cat but with lots of tuna/sardines I'm sure it'll all be fine and he won't be left with lasting emotional damage**.


* I'm not sure if he wants to eat him or just play with him. But play could mean shake him to death as he does with some of his toys, so I don't really want to take the risk either way :/

** I'm actually backblipping this and it's now 9 April 2013. The dog has calmed down a lot and will sit next to me quite calmly while the cat is in the cage, but I still have to keep them separate (admittedly I've lapsed on the training a lot, hence why it's going so slowly, but there's definite progress). Those of you who are worried for the cat's sanity, rest assured he's completely used to this process now. I've now put cushioning in the cage and he even curled up and fell asleep in it the other day. He never took a swipe at the dog. Everyone's fine. The training continues.