We will be bringing home an eight week old golden retriever at the end of the month. We have two cats that can be anxious. We have a plan to keep the puppy in the empty guest room upstairs with her crate toys, etc., and slowly introduce the cats by exchanging scents, allowing them to see each other through the gate, slow introduction.
My question is, I know that it’s a no no to have the dog and cat see each other outside of organized “meets”. But to potty train the puppy, we will need to bring the pup downstairs and into the backyard through the back door. Our cats have free range of the whole house and have always been that way and I dont love the idea of wrangling my cats and putting them away each time we bring the pup out to go potty so wanting to see if there are other options.
Does anyone have any tips tricks or maybe just anything to put my mind at ease that if they see the puppy while we quickly bring it downstairs and outside that will be OK or will that ruin the socialization training between them?
Sincerely, an overthinking puppy mum x
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