On Monday, December 18, a fur dad shared an adorable featuring his cat, Dave, and new dog named Sunny. In the clip, his new Golden Retriever puppy is eager and excited to make friends with the cat, though this feline doesn’t feel the same way.
Despite the cat’s displeasure about his new sibling, Sunny didn’t let this deter him. In fact, the pup seemed to double down on his quest for friendship with Dave, much to the cat’s dismay. Sunny is just irresistible!
@sunnyanddave Dave isnt quite too sure about the new pup
Ummm, Dave and Sunny are simply too amusing! Dave was pretty unhappy to find himself face to face with Sunny and as a result, attempted to escape to another room. However, this excitable puppy merely followed behind. This Golden Retriever doesn’t even seem to register that Dave has a grudge against him—the wagging tail tells us Sunny thinks this is a fun game they’re playing!
Related: Bengal Cat Is Completely Confused By Hyper Dog and It’s a Hoot
Dave eventually escaped upstairs thanks to Sunny’s little legs slowing him down on the steps, but not before Dave directed a few hisses in the puppy’s direction. The good news is that Dave clearly has some curiosity about his new sibling, otherwise he would not have stuck around downstairs for as long as he did!
Introducing New Pets to Each Other Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful
While Dave could definitely be more open minded about Sunny, change can be scary and nerve-wracking. Pets need the time and space to adjust to big changes on their own. Once Dave accepts that Sunny is here to stay, we know this duo will be inseparable in no time!
However, there are a few things that fur parents can do smooth out the pet introduction process and increase the chances of your pets getting along.
First, fur parents should be taking the introductions very slow. Swap their beds or toys while the pets are separated so they can become familiar with each other’s scent to start. Rushing into an introduction and forcing your pets on each other will only stress them out and hinder their chances of becoming friends. Animals need ample time to adjust to new changes in their home and routine!
Additionally, the first time your pets meet each other, it should be done in a neutral area. It’s an animal instinct to exhibit territorial tendencies and defend their space if they think it’s being encroached upon by another animal. On the other hand, using a neutral space removes the potential for conflict by preventing territorial aggression.
Lastly, most pets respond extremely well to positive reinforcement, so pet parents should reward good behavior during their supervised interactions. If your cat begins to understand that being kind to the new puppy makes them happy, your cat may attempt to make friends with the new comer, just for your sake.
While Sunny and Dave have started their friendship out a bit rocky, we can sense that they have a long and deep bond brewing just under the surface. Once Dave accepts his new fur brother, they’ll all be happier!
