My 6.5 lab puppy always slept through the night on my bed with her sister lab 3 year old. Unfortunately I have a 16 year old cat who comes in and out in the night and miaows now when he comes in. Rosie (puppy) chases him but he (cat) teases her and last night i was up at 12am 2 am and 5 am. I have a stair gate so puppy can't go down but the cat can jump it and if i shut him downstairs or outside bedroom he scratches the door and we can hear him miaow so thats not an option. Im happy with Rosie on my bed as she would normally sleep through but the cat is being a pain - its like he torments her to play or chase him by miaowing. I can't crate Rosie as she is used to being with me since she was 8 weeks old? Not sure if there is any solution?
Hi @carolyn04 Awkward problem. Does the cat behave so during the day? If so train the puppy to stay in a down when the cat meows. How? Teach the puppy the down stay first, and use reverse luring as the teaching method. If the puppy gets up from the stay, then the supply of treats stop. Teach a verbal cue for drop stay. Once you've trained that do it for distractions. Finally allow the cat in a training session. When the cat meows, if the puppy gets up the treats stop. If successful take the routine to the bedroom. Teach the puppy that drop on the bed is permissible. And then do it at night. I can't think of a quick fix. It will take a bit of time.
Thanks Michael, There is no way my cat at 16 who is so strong willed will do anything I want him to. I think he sleeps most of the day so at night he wants to either play or just go out and puppy thinks what fun to chase him. I think eventually she will grow out of it as my older lab did the same. I will try what you suggested tho.
Well at least your puppy will learn a reliable stay. So we need a way of keeping the cat awake during the day, and the problem would be quickly solved. Anyone know how to keep cats awake during the day? All I can think of is bringing out cat toys such as cat nip only during the day. Extra strong!
