Yes, you’re correct that a Hearing Dog will be a working partner and companion. In many cases, these dogs tend to be smaller size because they alert by jumping up--and a Great Dane would flatten most folks. I’m sure that the various placement organizations take into account the needs of the individuals applying for service animals. If they know that you have cats, they should partner you with an appropriate Hearing Dog that has been trained to ignore or at least get along with the cats, and that will be a huge plus in your favor.
Usually I recommend that the new pet be confined to one area/room of the home during initial introductions. That tells the cats that only a part of their territory has been invaded. The cats should meet the dog through paw-pats under the door, listening and sniffing the new smells, for at least a week or longer before a face-to-face meeting. You can also help the cats recognize a benefit to having the dog around by feeding them a very special treat on the outside of the doggy room. Help out the cats by providing them with lots of second-story places beyond nose-reach of the dog. They can observe the newcomer from on high once the dog has full run of the house. There are also many books with more tips to introducing and integrating cats and dogs.
Source: http://www.catchow.com
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