Your two greatest pleasures…how can you combine them? The good news is that with the proper care and attention, dogs and cats cannot only be happy with you, but with each other. The key is proper planning, training, and consistency!

It is a good idea to review basic commands with your dog like stay and "DROP IT" in preparation for bringing a kitty home.

You should plan on a dog-free cat area (a bathroom is fine) and a means to keep the cat food and litter out of dog reach. A closet with a cat door and a high shelf might be a solution. Cat food is too high in fat for dogs and "litterbox cookies", though attractive to dogs, are quite unhealthy. Also, a cat should be able to eat and eliminate without fear of being disturbed.

You should walk through your home and be certain that each room provides an escape route for the cat to easily get beyond dog reach if need be.

For introductions, start the kitty off in their own safe room with food, water, and litter. Give them some time to make use of all these facilities before you attempt any introductions; the first day at least.

Then, put the cat in a carrier and have the dog on lead, perferably with two humans to intervene if need be. This will allow the two to meet in a protected manner without the cat being able to run and trigger the dog's chase instinct. Being chased is more terrifying than being trapped in a crate. Allow the dog to approach slowly, maintaining a hold on his collar or near it on the lead. A few sniffs are fine, do not allow any lunges, and of course reward good behavior. If the dog lunges, then start AND stop from further away to avoid the lunge, and reward. Gradually work closer.

If that is successful, then try dog-on-lead / cat-on-high-perch-beyond-dog-reach. Reward the pup for good behavior. If that goes well, then try cat on ground, dog on lead. Be sure to keep the dog BEYOND eye-swipe range. As their peaceful co-existence proves itself, gradually progress to dog dragging lead and finally dog off lead.

Do not leave the two together unattended until long after there haven't been any incidents during supervised visits.

If there is a squabble, separate them until their calm or - if they're hurt - until they're healed. Then repeat the introduction process with more practice to ensure proper behavior.