How to avoid problems between dogs and other pets

If you already have other pets in the house you should consider getting a puppy because they are more willing to learn to accept other pets in their territories. At a young age, puppies are more into playing rather than hunting, and it's likely they will turn the other pet into a play mate. Be careful in the case of adult cats though, they sometimes get aggravated with the way puppies play and can attack them. Cats that are shy and run off can also set off the hunting instincts of a dog. Nervous cats tend to do the same, so in these cases a solution could be for you to have them in separate places in the house and block them off from being together by putting up a fence if necessary. When introducing a puppy to a cat, make sure the puppy has been fed, gotten exercise and is quite. Hold the puppy in your lap, and let the cat observe the dog from its corner or bed. If the dog stays quiet and sits while the cat watches him, praise him and give him a treat. Continue to do this many times so that the cat learns to trust the dog and you will see how little by little the dog's presence will not bother the cat anymore. If your dog is no longer a puppy, you will need to have a bit more patience to teach them to get along with each other. The way to achieve this is the same way would you introduce a puppy to a cat, however, you will need to take more time at it. If your dog is a natural predator, get help from a professional to change the dog's conduct.

Questions and answers
Q: Our family has a rabbit that is used to running around the house freely. We would really like to get a puppy, but we are afraid he will attack or hurt the rabbit. What should we do?
A: Its fine to get a puppy, but you should pick a puppy that has a quiet conduct and avoid getting a hunting dog. Two of the breeds you want to avoid are King Charles spaniels, and terriers.
Introduce the rabbit and the dog gradually and never allow the dog to see the rabbit running before he has become used to it. You could start out by introducing the two by putting them on a leash for safety.