Cat Chasing
- Thread starter AubreyMo
- Start date
Jake does this to our Lab Barkley...he actually lays in wait and pounces on him...we use "no play" when it becomes too much and that does seem to stop the terror...I am not sure what I would do with the poor cat though...maybe Moose needs re-training around the cat? I tethered Jake to myself for a couple of days to get past some unwanted behavior and it worked, maybe you could try that...whenever he feels the urge to stalk he couldn't since he is tied to your hip??
Brandie&Maggie
New member
Maggie used to chase our cats CONSTANTLY and really growl and be rude about it when she first came home.
The thing that worked best was a 3-step approach:
1. A very good "leave it" command. I learned to watch and as soon as she would look at a cat, I would use the leave it command and praise her when she looked away from cat.
2. Lots of praise and treats for good behavior when cats were around.
3. When cat-chasing did happen, immediate placement into timeout. Basically we say "time-out" in a stern voice, take her collar, and lead her into timeout. She goes to a room where there are no people or toys and stays there for about 5 minutes. If she barks, she doesn't come out until she stops.
With the time-out, consistency was key. At first, we did it 1-2 times a night. After a few days, it was twice a week, then within a few weeks it was occasionally. Now it happens only about once in a few months - but she still gets time-out.
The thing that worked best was a 3-step approach:
1. A very good "leave it" command. I learned to watch and as soon as she would look at a cat, I would use the leave it command and praise her when she looked away from cat.
2. Lots of praise and treats for good behavior when cats were around.
3. When cat-chasing did happen, immediate placement into timeout. Basically we say "time-out" in a stern voice, take her collar, and lead her into timeout. She goes to a room where there are no people or toys and stays there for about 5 minutes. If she barks, she doesn't come out until she stops.
With the time-out, consistency was key. At first, we did it 1-2 times a night. After a few days, it was twice a week, then within a few weeks it was occasionally. Now it happens only about once in a few months - but she still gets time-out.
AubreyMo
Inactive User
Didn't think of time outs. Brilliant. We will give them a try. Most of the time a firm "LEAVE IT" will work - until the cat bolts out of the room! Thanks guys!
Puppypeoplenj
New member
I'm curious, since we have a cat, what happens if the dog is chasing the cat and you have difficulty catching him/her (the dog)? I can see this becoming a fiasco in my house, if only because I'm not a very fast runner! 
Brandie&Maggie
New member
Well, I've never had that problem. I can catch Maggie even outside off leash when she is running full-out. And I'm slowI'm curious, since we have a cat, what happens if the dog is chasing the cat and you have difficulty catching him/her (the dog)? I can see this becoming a fiasco in my house, if only because I'm not a very fast runner!
The neighbor's lab on the other had, is a different story. There is no way I could catch her.
jm513
New member
In our house, the cats usually manage to get high enough where the dog can't reach. Or they do the mega swipe and you hear a loud YELP from a dog that just got swatted on the nose (all of my cats wear the plastic tips on their front claws so I'm not sure what all the drama from the dog is about! :crazy: ). I've never tried chasing after the dog who is chasing the cat, but I imagine it would make for a funny moment! Our cats have always handled those matters themselves. As a general rule - if there is chasing involved in our house, a cat started it anyway!!I'm curious, since we have a cat, what happens if the dog is chasing the cat and you have difficulty catching him/her (the dog)? I can see this becoming a fiasco in my house, if only because I'm not a very fast runner!
AubreyMo
Inactive User
Hahah good kitties! My Ginger is a scaredy cat and declawed - so she usually tries to be invisible - but Moose has this recent FIXATION on her that is driving us nuts! thankfully Ging has the whole basement and all the beds to herself, but I feel bad that she feels like she can't get past Moose and come spend time with us in the front room.
jm513
New member
One of our cats hid from Jedi for over a year. This sounds completely crazy - but I swear she heard a conversation we were having and gave up her hiding place! My husband is not a cat person (to say the least) and he is always talking about getting rid of a cat or 3. So, joking around with him I told him that we could send China to my mom's (I would never actually do that!), we'd see her as much there as we do at home because she hides under our bed 23 and a half hours a day and is terrified of the dog. No kidding - she came downstairs THAT NIGHT and started playing with Jedi and has been at my feet since - and she now gets along better with him that the other 2!
Will she tolerate being held? If so, maybe you can put her in your lap and let Moose sniff and lick her from the safety of your lap - just so that she knows he won't eat her? As a general rule, when Jedi chases one of the cats, once he gets a good slobbery kiss on them he leaves them alone. Now, after saying that - I did find a cat claw sticking out of his muzzle yesterday!! :lol: Apparently Baggins need to have his tips re-done!
I don't have any words of wisdom really. Leave It is the best thing that I've found. And honestly - it may take time - but I've always found that they work it all out themselves.
Will she tolerate being held? If so, maybe you can put her in your lap and let Moose sniff and lick her from the safety of your lap - just so that she knows he won't eat her? As a general rule, when Jedi chases one of the cats, once he gets a good slobbery kiss on them he leaves them alone. Now, after saying that - I did find a cat claw sticking out of his muzzle yesterday!! :lol: Apparently Baggins need to have his tips re-done!
I don't have any words of wisdom really. Leave It is the best thing that I've found. And honestly - it may take time - but I've always found that they work it all out themselves.
AubreyMo
Inactive User
No, that's a ton of great advice! So funny about her bonding with your husband. I suggested giving my cat up to my sister...and suddenly Kevin was like, "no, she's fine! keep her!" who knew, he actually LIKES her!
I'll try the holding/sniffing. She's not a fan of being held but she has no claws so it'll be fine. I agree if Moose gets a few good smooches in he might feel like she's less interesting. I'll let you know how it goes!
TerriW
Active member
I've heard the dogs think you're psychic when you can predict their intentions, and thus, very intelligent and worthy of heeding!
ElvisTheNewf
Active member
We've never stopped Elvis from chasing our cats. He was never around them until we moved last year, and now they're all together on the main floor (before we hung out in the basement and the cats weren't allowed down there). The cats do have the top floor - where their litterboxes and food are - that's safe from Elvis since we block it off with his invisible fence pod. They know he can't get there, but they all hang out around him. Every once in awhile he may notice one and lunge for it, but they have several escape routes and (let's be honest), Elvis could never, ever catch them.
He has gotten boxed a few times by the one who fights back, but we figure it's the best way for Elvis to learn that the cats have sharp things and aren't afraid to use them.
He has gotten boxed a few times by the one who fights back, but we figure it's the best way for Elvis to learn that the cats have sharp things and aren't afraid to use them.
YorkvilleNewfie
New member
"Leave It"; time-outs; body-blocking if necessary.
Also, leave a short leash on him so you have more control over him in the instances that he won't listen to you.
Also, leave a short leash on him so you have more control over him in the instances that he won't listen to you.
YorkvilleNewfie
New member
this.
R Taft
Active member
I suggest "time out too".....And for a few minutes at the time and as often as it takes in one day, even if it is 50 times in a few hours, they do get it....I say nothing initially. I do not intereact with the dog at all. I take the dog, no talking, no eye contact, to the area I use. When I let them out I say nothing. If they again chase they go immediatly back and so on. If the dog is hard to catch leave a open ended rope (long) on the dog and just reel them in..I always say that it is important to say nothing and not to interact or be angry. Also if you catch her being good withthe cat in sight, reward heavily.say good kitty or words of your choice and reward........So many people forget to reward the good. I used to train using the "leave it", but the words are too angry for me...So now I use Puppy when we see a dog and it might be an issue or kitty...The dogs have got so used to being rewarded when they are good withthose word (mostly aggressive dogs i train and Annabelle in the past) that now it has a good positive almost innate reaction from them. I like to use clicker or "yes training when they are good..Do not forget to reward the good.
I have retrained quite a few stock/chicken/duck/cat/ferret chasing dogs this way in different environments. And it even works with the aggressive ones like Annabelle used to be. Puppy/kitty means reward to her, so if she is slightly elevatd when she sees one and I mention the word, she looks to me for a treat and I smile, lick my lips (Turid Rugaas) and treat sort of all at ones. Aslo try to observe your dog and get the thought before the action...distract before it happens, with a happy positive.
If you want some more detail, look up BAT system.....It works in many different situations, from nervous, aggression, silly and anxious.
Doing lots of obdience and taking on a better leadership role will also help in the environment the dog lives in.they follow your reaction/action.
Happy training Ronnie
I have retrained quite a few stock/chicken/duck/cat/ferret chasing dogs this way in different environments. And it even works with the aggressive ones like Annabelle used to be. Puppy/kitty means reward to her, so if she is slightly elevatd when she sees one and I mention the word, she looks to me for a treat and I smile, lick my lips (Turid Rugaas) and treat sort of all at ones. Aslo try to observe your dog and get the thought before the action...distract before it happens, with a happy positive.
If you want some more detail, look up BAT system.....It works in many different situations, from nervous, aggression, silly and anxious.
Doing lots of obdience and taking on a better leadership role will also help in the environment the dog lives in.they follow your reaction/action.
Happy training Ronnie
AubreyMo
Inactive User
Thanks all!
Ging doesn't have claws, so she can't "hurt" him, which is a double-edged sword since I think claws could get the message across more clearly.
We'll look up bat training. He's great with leave it - until Ging BOLTS and of cooooourse it's always when he's out of my reach. I have a long training leash I can leave on him when we're in the same room, I'll give that and positive training a go. He LOVES Ging. It's just not reciprocated. I don't think he wants to do anything but kiss her to death, and I know he can't catch her - but it's driving us nuts, and I want the cat to feel like she can spend time with us too. Ya'll are awesome!
Ging doesn't have claws, so she can't "hurt" him, which is a double-edged sword since I think claws could get the message across more clearly.
We'll look up bat training. He's great with leave it - until Ging BOLTS and of cooooourse it's always when he's out of my reach. I have a long training leash I can leave on him when we're in the same room, I'll give that and positive training a go. He LOVES Ging. It's just not reciprocated. I don't think he wants to do anything but kiss her to death, and I know he can't catch her - but it's driving us nuts, and I want the cat to feel like she can spend time with us too. Ya'll are awesome!