dogs and cats living together....

Question
We just got a Doberman whos previous family had cats.  I have two cats that are generally calm and lazy, but the second the dog walked in, my home has been a battle zone.  The dog chases the cats, which is what started it. I am particularly concered about one of my cats who is pregnant.  How can I keep the new dog from chasing them and barking at them.  Please Help!  Thanks.  

Answer
That Dobe probably was used to romping with his/her cat brothers and sisters.
Your cats are not used to the dog, so they don't care for it.
Are the cats and dog fighting, or just chasing?
They may be playing.If the cats are not hissing and hitting the dog, and the dog is not trying to bite the cats, they may be just playing.
Last December, my sister died. A pregnent cat had come to my sister's house, and she took her in. when she had her kittens, my sister found good homes for them, but she kept one of the kitens and the mother. the mother just didn't thrive. The vet said there was no disease, she was just sickly and probably would not live long. I guess the poor little thing had been a stray for so long, or was just neglected, and didn't get good nourishment when she was growing.She did die soon She never let the kitten out of the house, for fear the bigger stray cats would hurt her. All the dogs she ever saw were through the windows.
I have 4 dogs, An English Setter, a Sheltie, a Lhasa mix, and an Australian shepherd mix. They adore that cat, and she adores them. There is a lot of smooching. It gets pretty sickening sometimes.LOL.
They like to romp too, and she gives as good as she gets.
There is a train of running animals. sometimes the kitten is in back, sometimes she is in front.
She was about 7 months old when I brought her here. We made a safe house for her, with some plastic covered shelving,from Home Depot,under the vanity in my bathroom.  She could see the dogs, and they could see her. They could get right up to the cage, so she could sniff them and see they werent going to harm her. The opening was just big enough for her to get in and out, and none of the dogs could get through. It took about 2 days, and she was coming out and eating with the dogs, and rubbing on them. She only went into her house when the grandkids came over, and she got tired of being held.
If you could make such a place for your cats, where they could go, but the dog couldn't, and they would feel safe, they would be able to get used to the dog, and know it is not going to hurt them.
If the cats and dog are just romping, it is not going to hurt the pregnant one. In fact, the exercise will do her good.The only thing that might hurt her is being traumatized from fear, or romping and rolling around too much. If the romping is too rough, better to watch out for her, and make her stop and be still when it gets really heavy.
Dobies take a long time to grow out of their puppy ways, and dogs bark when they play, just like when they are chasing off burglars. Dogs just bark! That's the way they talk.
Do you ever see the cats just walking around, when the dog is present, and the dog not chasing?
If they are not staying out of the dog's site all the time, it is just play when they are running and chasing.
If the barking and chasing occurs every time the dog sees the cats, then a caged area the cats can come and go out of when they please, and the dog can only get to the cage front, and a lot of 'NO, Don't bark!" training for the dog.I would go to a good obedience class with him/her. You would learn how to properly give the commands to turn this little wild one into a lady.gentleman.
Hope this helps . If you think I can help further, feel free to write anytime.
Charlotte