Cats rule and dogs drool. Cats know this and some dogs begrudgingly admit this. It/s the hard truth that for dogs and cats to live together peacefully, dogs must always respect the cat. Dogs must respect them as the royal beings all cats believe themselves to be.

So how do you know if your dog respects your cat? There are a few key behaviors your dog should demonstrate in your cat/s presence.

The most important is to back off at the cat/s request. If your cat hisses, growls, or swats your dog, he should back away, walk in an arc around the cat, or look away with utter disgrace at his transgression.

That/s not to say he did transgress, but the cat is always right.

My sister has a cat who is a dog trainer. This little 12-pound black beauty can hold two 60-pound dogs at the bottom of the stairs with a stare. Sometimes she will swat them, claws retracted, for sport.

Although this seems harsh, the dogs go out of their way to avoid disturbing her majesty.

Another important element in keeping your cat safe is your dog/s ability to be calm in her presence.

If he/s not calm, encourage him to lie on a mat with a yummy toy while you play with your cat. Praise him for ignoring the cat and staying on his mat.

If he starts to get excited, move your play session further away and tie his leash to something heavy. Keep your play session short and reward him for being a good boy.

If he/s easily aroused by your cat or has a history of arousal with her, enlist a friend or family member to work with him during your play sessions.

Finally, your dog should never be allowed to chase your cat. Dogs are predators and a running cat is prey. Chasing is instinctive, triggers the predatory drive, and should never be allowed, even in play.

Until you can train him, keep him leashed in the presence of the cat. Reward him for looking away and being calm when the cat saunters through the room.

To train him, put the cat away and practice calling the dog to you. Start adding small distractions, and work up to calling him when the cat is sitting quietly in the same room.

Progress to calling him when your cat is walking, and then running. Use a long leash for safety and to prevent him from ignoring your request.

If he starts to chase, call him. If he doesn/t come, step on the leash to stop him in his tracks, then call him again when the cat is standing still or out of sight.

If he loves to play ball, call his name and throw the ball in the opposite direction from the cat. Give him something better to chase. Reward him for moving away from the cat.

Should your dog and cat be grooming buddies, licking is OK, but tasting is not. Never allow your dog to put his mouth around any part of your cat, especially her head. He is practicing a potentially dangerous behavior. Cats and dogs can be good friends, as long as we teach the dog who really runs the house.

Training Tip: When using a long leash, put knots in it to keep it from sliding under your foot.

* Barbara Burgess owns and operates Happy Tails to You, a dog-training and behavioral counseling center specializing in positive-reinforcement training. She lectures on bite prevention and understanding dog behavior. You can reach her by calling 938-5600 or visiting Hap pyTailsToYou.com.

Jan. 22, 2005