Training dog to coexist/leave cat alone
Hey everyone, my girlfriend just moved in with me and has a 3 year old female cattle dog/beagle mix. I have a 3 year old male cat. The cat has full access to the upstairs of my house, with a gate at the top of the stairs to protect him, he has everything he needs up here (food, water, litter box, toys, etc.) I'm hoping i can get the two to coexist but I feel stuck. I've been trying to get the two to meet at the gate, allowing the cat to approach when he wants. We've had several interactions where they'll stare at each other quietly, but if my cat approaches any closer or moves closer into the dog's view, she barks at him and he runs away. The cat is not scared, he seems content knowing she is around, but he does get startled when she barks. Any advice on how to train away this behavior and help distract her from that prey drive? Any help is appreciated.