How to safely introduce a new kitten to a dog with high prey drive?

Question

How do i introduce my new kitten to our dogs? One of our dogs is very aggresive around small animals (birds, squirrrels, rabbits,etc.) I dont want our new kitten to get hurt or killed! He is 4 months old so hes really small. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Bringing a kitten into a home with a dog that has high prey drive, especially if that dog has a history of killing small animals like squirrels, etc. can be very dangerous - because of this, I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate your dog in person and help you do this as safely as possible. You will likely need to keep your dog on-leash at all times around the kitten for quite a while, so that you can prevent any chasing and reward calm behavior with treats and praise. The kitten and dog should never be loose together when you aren't home, or when you aren't able to supervise. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who can help you in person here: www.dacvb.org

How to safely introduce a new kitten to a dog with high prey drive?

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