Free Member Webinar

Presented by Lennea Bower

CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1

We all have a vision of our multi-species home as a peaceable kingdom, but how do we make that dream a reality? First impressions do matter, and the initial "introduction" of dogs and cats can make a huge difference in establishing successful dog-cat households. This webinar will review strategies for successfully integrating new dog to a household with a resident cat and vice versa. This process starts prior to the animals' first meeting and may continue for days, weeks, or months before stabilizing.

In addition, it will cover pain points and possible solutions for building a successful relationship that can endure the test of time. For professionals, it will also review important areas to discuss with your clients. These include helping your client set realistic expectations for process, expectations and timeline. We will also touch on factors, such as physical home set up, family composition, and lifestyle that can also affect this process. In addition, we will address issues related to the animals' past experience and personalities that may help or hinder the integration process, as well as the importance of meeting the basic needs of all household members throughout the integration process.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the basic process for integrating a dog-cat multi-species household.

• Identify human and animal factors that may delay or impede the integration process.
• Be prepared to discuss potential issues with non-animal professionals.

About the Presenter

Lennea “Linny” Bower, MA, CPDT-KA grew up in a multi-species household that included both dogs and cats. She began volunteering in animal shelters in 2004 and has worked and volunteered in shelters in metro-DC, Massachusetts, and Costa Rica. She became interested in force-free training while working in animal shelters. She began teaching group classes at a local shelter in 2010, and founded her business, Next Best Pet, in 2013. She currently teaches group classes at the Animal Resource Foundation in Chester, MD, and offers private training in Maryland's Prince George's and Queen Anne's counties.

Lennea has a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Spanish Studies and a master’s degree in Psychology, all from American University. She earned her CPDT-KA certification in 2014. She has previously presented on topics including multi-species households and adopting a new dog. She has also worked with animal shelter staff and volunteers behavior and training topics.