Whether you’re looking to add a Maine Coon to your home or to add a dog when you already have this cat breed, you need to ensure that you’re not creating problems by putting the two animals together.
Fortunately, Maine Coons generally get along great with dogs. Remember, though, that they’re only half of the equation. We highlighted everything that you need to know here, and we have the tips that you should follow anytime you’re introducing a cat and a dog for the first time.
Do Maine Coons Get Along With Dogs?
While Maine Coons typically get along with dogs just fine because of their docile and loving nature, they’re only one part of the interaction. The other half that you’ll need to focus on is the dog. Canines that are incessant and won’t leave felines alone aren’t a good fit, even if the cat does have a docile temperament.
Moreover, dogs with strong herding instincts don’t get along great with cats, as they will try to chase them around the home. In short, if you have a Maine Coon, they usually won’t be the problem, but that doesn’t mean you can pair them with any dog out there!
The 6 Tips for Introducing Your Maine Coon to Dogs
Just because you shouldn’t have any issues introducing a Maine Coon to a dog doesn’t mean you want to take this benefit for granted. So, we highlighted several tips that you should follow to help ensure a smooth integration between your Maine Coon and your cat.
1. Start Slow
While we understand the temptation to just try to introduce your dog to your Maine Coon right away and see how it goes, one bad interaction can be extremely challenging to overcome. Therefore, we highly recommend starting out slowly.
This means taking it one step at a time and allowing both your Maine Coon and your dog to fully adjust before moving on to the next phase!
2. Introduce Scents
Before you introduce your dog and your cat directly to each other, we recommend introducing them to each other’s scents and getting comfortable with that first. To do this, simply leave both pets in separate rooms for a set amount of time, then switch the pets.
This gives them time to explore the scent of the other animal and get comfortable with it before they meet for the first time.
3. Teach Basic Commands
This is something that’s much easier to teach the dog simply because they’re usually a bit more compliant. Having the ability to get a quick recall, to get them to sit, or to stop barking can go a long way toward a smooth interaction.
It’ll depend on the individual dog for how long this training takes, but most dogs can master these basic commands in 2 or 3 weeks if you work at it consistently.
4. Give Them Their Own Space
When your pets start to feel a bit overwhelmed with each other, they should have somewhere they can get away. While it’s not always the easiest to set up, take the time to find the perfect locations for each pet.
5. Monitor Interactions
No matter how you expect the introduction to go, you need to be there as the supervisor for not only the first interaction between the two animals but also all their other interactions for a while. It doesn’t take long for things to go south, so monitor these engagements so you can step in before things get to that point.
6. Stay Vigilant
It’s really easy to let down your guard when things are going well, but just because things are going well now doesn’t mean they always will. Because of this, you need to keep your guard up and stay vigilant when your Maine Coon is interacting with your dog.
It might be a bit more work, but if it stops a bad interaction from happening, it’s more than worth it.
Final Thoughts
If you already have a Maine Coon and you want to get a dog, you’re in luck. These cats generally get along great with canines, especially if you take the time to introduce them properly. But don’t take it for granted! Take your time with the introductions and ensure that you get the right type of dog that won’t try to terrorize your cat and create problems for everyone.
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