At the shelter, I’m often asked whether or not a certain dog "gets along with cats." However, a better question is: "can this dog be trained to get along with cats?" Most dogs will chase virtually any moving object. That includes cats. Your job as an owner is to tell the dog that this particular object should not be chased. With the exception of a few dogs with a really strong prey drive, almost any dog can be trained to get along with the cats in your house.
To get started, all you need is a leash and a baby gate or piece of wood to block off a doorway. If your dog already knows basic commands such as "leave it" or "down" you may not even need a leash. If you see the dog chase the cat, tell him "no cat" and give him a "down" command. Praise him if he complies. If your dog doesn’t comply, put a leash on him and let him drag it around, so the next time he goes after the cat you can step on the end of the leash and stop him. When he turns to look at you, give him the "no cat" and "down" commands. Reinforce the good behavior with lots of praise.
The baby gate is more for the cat than the dog. It lets you block off area so the cat can get away from the dog to a safe place. Your cat will appreciate other dog-free areas such as a feeding place that’s up high or away from nasty canine snouts. Some people put a kitty door into a closet so their cats can have a private area for litterbox and feeding times.
With a little bit of effort on your part acting as intermediary, it’s easy to live a peaceful existence with both canines and felines.