kitty help files

don't know if you already had a space to post q&a about  our furbabies but i had a question, so i thought i would start one :)

so, i have been planning to adopt a kitten for my daughter for christmas. in so doing, i have been doing research about introducing a kitten to a home with a dog (4 year old 70 lb mixed breed... some lab, some bordercollie, some pit or other terrier) I have discovered that i didn't do a good job introducing him to our origional cat (who has now left us. i think she was disgusted with the dog) He is gentle, but like to jump at our previous cat. he would bow down to puppy-play pose at her. she would hiss and spit and bat him in the nose before retreating slowly to our room. he chases cats outside, but didn't chase her... but he really wanted her to play with him. he would sometimes lay down outside her room and whine for her attention, creeping forward on his belly untill she hit him in the nose... which he though was the begining of play time and woud bounce up to play... almost always frightening her. i now know i shouldn't have let him think that was ok. i figured casue he didn't hurt her and always let her get away it was fine. bad kitty mommy. so reading about how this should go, and contemplating this kitten (and possibly her brother... the foster home would like to keep them together) i am trying to work out a plan. i am going to give him a blanket i can then trade back and forth with the foster kitten... and maybe some plush toys too. that could be a couple of weeks. my husband is home during the day when my daughter is at work (and he is clearly the alpha dog in the house) so he may be able to bring the kitty(s?) over to visit and check out the house and dog a couple times the weeks before christmas. My dad has one of those large wire cat crates (4x3x5) that could be a safe haven for the kitties and i can get it from him this weekend. (i think this may also be a good way to present the kitties christmass morning... the dog can go straight from his bedroom to the back yard untill the kitties feel at home) I am really hoping this will go well and my daughter can have a sweet surprize on christmas morning. suggestions welcome!

well, none ov my complex introduction plans were used... I brought the kitties home (both of them) christmas eve and ensconced them in the Master bedroom while hubbie and daughter were ant SIL holiday party.  christmas morning, daughter found them in the cat taxi under the tree.  i kept the dog on a leash, and the kitties explored the house while presents were unwrapped.  the girl likes the dog well enough, but the boy hisses and spits still when he sees the dog.  the dog has progressed to off the leash when in the house with us and kitties, and the kitties have figured out he isn't alowed in bedrooms.  daughter loves them to distraction... and they are absolutly lovable (little girl is anyway... little boy is probably pretty lucky he had such a cute sister... he is a bit twichy and nervous, and not as aestetically pleasing as his sister.)  but i am super happy to have them both.  merry christmas!