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his target. Talk with your dog and lead by example. Be confident and stay in complete control of the situation.

Remember that while you might easily associate these signs with the correct emotion your animals may not. Young pets particularly may not recognize the difference between a playful bow and an aggressive sneer. It is vital that you pay attention to the physical cues from both animals and adjust your own behavior accordingly. If one animal is aggressive and the other playful consider the interaction as highly charged and immediately act to remove the tension between both animals. Never trust your animals to be friendly and never leave them alone together until you are certain both have adjusted. This usually takes weeks and should not be rushed.

Keep Together Time Short
In the beginning it is important to keep the animals stress to a minimum so never allow them more than fifteen minutes together at a time for the first few days. You should also remove them from each others company if either shows signs of discomfort. Pay attention to your animal's body language and listen carefully to their vocal noises. If your cat is hissing or wailing make sure you and your dog are not obstructing his escape to a safe place.

The Need For Food And Water
Make sure all of your animals needs are well met. They should have separate food and water bowls. Water should always be available for both animals.

Cats and Dogs should maintain separate diets. Cat food has a high fat content that is unhealthy for dogs so you should never allow your pets to share food. By feeding the animals separately, but at the same time, you will distract them both from each others food dishes and discourage sibling rivalry. Cats tend to take longer to eat so it is also important to provide their food in a safe place where they will not be disturbed by a dog while eating.

Make sure meal times are enjoyable for both pets. You do not want to cause either pet to associate food with a negative social experience. If either pet refuses to eat you may need to intervene. Separate the two animals completely and if this behavior continues speak to your vet.

The Need For Affection And Praise
Throughout this process you should offer strong and affectionate praise to both animals when they behave well. This introduction can be time consuming and in the first weeks you should never leave your animals unattended in each others company. Depending on the personality of your pets a new pack order will become established

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