How the 14-day program works
The program is built on two techniques with decades of evidence behind them: desensitization (exposing the dog to the cat at an intensity so low it barely reacts) and counter-conditioning (pairing the cat's presence with things the dog loves, until "cat appears" predicts "good things happen").
Why distance is the dial
Intensity is controlled mainly by distance. Day 1 starts around five meters with the cat behind a gate; by day 14 you are working at under two meters with the dog dragging a leash. Every reduction in distance is earned, never scheduled: the calendar suggests, your animals decide.
The three daily session types
Each program day contains three short sessions:
- Morning Calm Exposure — the dog on leash simply observes the cats at the current working distance. You reward calm glances and, best of all, voluntary disengagement (looking away from the cat back to you).
- Controlled Movement — the hard one. The cat moves, jumps or walks past while the dog practices staying calm. Movement is what flips a dog from watching to chasing, so it gets its own dedicated practice at a slightly larger distance.
- Evening Relaxation — the dog settles on a mat while the cats are visible. You reward relaxed posture: head down, hip rolled, slow breathing. This teaches that coexisting is boring, not thrilling.
Why sessions stay short
Sessions run roughly three to five minutes. Arousal is cumulative — a dog who was fine for ten minutes often explodes in minute eleven. Many short, successful sessions beat one long one every time. Always try to end while both animals are still succeeding.
Criteria for moving closer
Reduce distance (roughly half a meter at a time) only when all of these hold at the current distance:
- The dog keeps a soft body for the whole session.
- The dog can eat, respond to their name and voluntarily look away from the cat.
- The cat eats, moves naturally and chooses to stay in the room.
If any of these fail, stay at the current distance — or step back. Repeating a day is normal and costs you nothing; pushing ahead too early costs you the week.