puppy and cat interaction

Question
I have a new puppy that I got from the Humane Society. They told me he was about 3 months old and a labrador mix. He is neutered and I've had him for 1 week. I also have a 5 year old cat which is declawed in the front paws.
After I picked up the dog I noticed that the Humane Society had listed the puppy as a labrador/jack russel mix. That concerned me because I know Jack Russels are hunters and don't do well with cats. I'm trying to train the puppy to not chase the cat and am having some success. What I've been doing is when the cat enters the room I tell the puppy to "leave kitty" and I physically make him sit down. I stay beside him with my hand lightly on his shoulders and keep repeating "leave kitty". About 1/2 the time he does well--just sits still and quivers or whines. The other 1/2 he goes after the cat, barking and jumping. When I catch him I put him on his lead until he calms down. I think he knows what I want from him because he's started sitting down and looking at me when the cat enters the room--he's just not consistant. Just wonder--Am I going about this the right way? Are there things I should do differently? Right now he's the same size as the cat and just seems playful but he's growing quickly, and I want to teach him before he's big enough to hurt my cat. I've never had a puppy before and I've only had this one for a week. By the way, some Jack Russel owners have told me they don't believe this puppy can be a JR mix because he is too calm, so I'm not sure what he may be other than part lab. Thanks!

Answer
Sharon-

It sounds like you are on top of the situation. I would continue what you are doing, careful, monitored interactions with the cat and the puppy. The biggest problem you have is that since your cat is declawed, he can not "tell off" the puppy when the puppy gets too rough, so the puppy gets no natural training from the cat. Normally a few swipes of the claws and the puppy learns fast that the pointy-thing is not a good toy!

I would also set up an area that the dog is NOT allowed in, fence it off, and make that the cats area. A room, a closet with a cat door in it, the entire upstairs of the house.. whatever, just so that the cat always knows that if things get rough or he is being chased, he has a safe "time out zone".

Another tip is to try distractive therapy. When the cat walks into the room, instead of getting tense and immediately going to the dog and holding him tight (Which if over done can cause the puppy to thing "See.. I KNEW there was something not right here!") try using a squeaky toy or treats and distracting the dog into training or playing with you, and only say firmly, calmly "Leave the cat!" if he goes towards the kitty.

Please feel free to come back with more questions! Thanks for adopting, and congrats on your new puppy!