Any advice on how to get two young dogs to get along with a new kitten?

I have 2 Shelties (one just turned 1 years old and the other is 1 and half years old, so they are still very puppy like). I have 3 older cats (13, 14, and 18). The older cats preety much put the dogs in their place. In otherwords, the dogs know better than to mess with the cats. My older Sheltie (Emma) is very assertive and not shy at all (rare for a Sheltie). She also is unfortunately favored probably because she came first. She is very spoiled and knows how to get her way. She will not let Toby (the younger one) be pet or held if she's around. She will literally push him off your lap or squeeze her way in front of him. Emma is very protective of her treats (rawhide bones) and some toys. She will often get into fights with Toby which she starts. Toby has recently learned how to stick up for himself. On the otherhand, the two are the best of buddies and will cuddle and kiss each other. They love playing together. Emma can be preety violent with stuffed animals (cont'd)Any advice on how to get two young dogs to get along with a new kitten?
I haven't seen your continuation, but I already see some problems. While your dogs may still be ';puppy like'; Emma does not recognize YOU as Alpha Pack Leader. You need to train her on this. Dogs become demanding, offensive, BAD citizens in the pack if the human is not Alpha Pack Leader. Dogs are Pack Animals and YOU must be the Leader!!!





Emma should NOT be able to prevent YOU from giving your younger pup attention. If she's secure in her position as alpha dog, I would not expect her to be starting fights with Toby. If Toby is now standing up for himself, then be prepared as he's getting ready to challenge her for the position of Alpha Dog. Your dogs will fight until they determine which dog is Alpha over the other one.





Your initial question was how to get them to get along with the new kitten. Since the older cats know how to put the dogs in their place, I'd let them continue to deal with the dogs in their own way. Take the new kitten and hold it to let it know it is safe. Present it to the dogs rear end first. Dogs and cats are scent oriented and the senior animal should be respected as senior by having the newcomer presented rear first so the senior animal can sniff at will. This is how animals meet %26amp; greet. Senior animals get to sniff rears of less senior animals first.





As to your addendum:


If you present the kitten the way I suggested, YOU are there to protect the kitten. Don't allow the dogs free access to the kitten till they have accepted the kit. I always plan on it taking a while, possibly as long as a week or two with Emma. Toby should accept the kit faster.





Emma doesn't sound like she's a good citizen. If that's the case, she should not be bred as she'd give her pups an aggressive attitude and that's not something you want to be breeding into pups. Her protective instincts as a new mother would make her MORE aggressive towards other Pack Members! If Emma as a new mother is agressive towards the cats, that's what the pups will learn.





Have you done the OFA and other testing that should be done to ensure you're not going to breed pups with genetic health problems? There's a lot you need to learn, if you have not yet done the research into what testing should be done before you consider breeding, and what care the mother and pups require.





If the other cats have not yet met the kit, you need to introduce it to them rear end first just as well, to indicate that you recognize them as senior to this new pack member. They won't take to the kit if they are jealous and see it as an intruder. My first cat took 2 years to accept my newer kitten.





If the Bengal you asked about is the exotic cat from the forests, I'd avoid adding that to the mix.Any advice on how to get two young dogs to get along with a new kitten?
get rid of the cat..
Train them to like each other. That's what I would do.