WAR AND PETS

How to end four-legged family squabbles: Think about possible triggers: “Think about toys or areas of your home

that an animal is particularly attached to,” say dog behaviour expert

Adem Fehmi. “For example, a dog may be very attached to a toy and a cat coming in may not

read the signs. So if it comes too near, the dog may react. This could then

promote a ‘chase’ style game in which the cats get nervous – and the dog gets into the habit of chasing it, stressing the cat out,

or worse.”

• Give your dog some extra exercise:

A dog is more likely to react excitedly to a new animal in the house if it’s got a lot of excess energy. Fehmi advises trying to wear the dog out with some extra walks, games and exploration to make it less reactive at home.

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Only introduce a dog to a new pet when both are showing relaxed behaviour, says Fehmi. “If your advances make your dog too excitable, take a step back and start again.”

Do introductions at a distance: