A Golden in a Cat Family

I have two 5 year old cats. Just adopted a one year old male neutered golden retriever. He does not have a lot of training, so I see that I have to train him to walk on the leash. He seems to be a quick learner. How long can I plan before I can expect my two cats and dog to get along? I am trying to work slowly. He has not shown aggression to the cats and one is particularly interested. The dog loves to play with his toys -- will this encourage him to also want to play like this with the cats? I try to tell him that they are babies, so he will not associate them as toys. Lastly, I work all day, and do take some evening classes twice a week. Is it best to leave him in the house all day until I get home, making sure I walk him in the morning and evening?


Response from Golden Retriever Magic:

I am not at all surprised that your Golden is a fast learner--most are! As Goldens are typically very pet-friendly, I think it is just a matter of time before he starts to befriend the cats.

Golden generally have a excellent ability to distinguish living versus inanimate objects. While they will play with their plastic toys in a particular manner, they will usually not do the same with a living creature such as a cat.

The cats and your Golden need a lot of time together (preferably supervised by you) so they can get into a natural play rhythm. Too much time without supervision can be a problem so consider a dog/cat sitter when you are away.

Also, please do ensure that you are taking your Golden for a walk at least twice a day as you are doing.