cats and dogs

Question
I recently adopted an 11 month old Pekingese male.  He's very laid back most of the time.  I have a 6 year old cat named Cassie who was here before Picasso (the dog) arrived.  The cat has now taken to staying in the back office all day, it's her safe place.  How can I train my dog that this one room including the cats food is off limits to him?  I don't want to close Cassie Cat inside all day because of the dog.  She given up a lot of territory already since he arrived.

Answer
Hi Michelle,
Through consistent training this is possible. At the beginning, I would put a baby gate up that the cat can get over but Picasso can't. Then, during training sessions, you are going to work on perimeter training. Put Picasso on leash, walk him near the door treating him for anything but going in the off-limits room. If he steps in the room, say, "Eh! Eh!" and gently move him out of the room. Then, treat him for anything appropriate again. One more warning and then the third time, say, "Timeout" and gently put him in a bathroom or another room or his crate.

Leave him there for 5-30 seconds and then take him out (only if he is calm) and continue the exercise treating him heavily for the CORRECT decisions and timing him out for walking in the room.

Eventually he will learn that the room is off-limits.

You can see this in action at my website http://www.watchandtrain.com by watching the Counter Surfing video. This explains how to teach a dog to stay away from a coffee table with food on it and the same exact principle applies to a room.

Good luck!