Cat Problem or Neurotic Newf

[shellyk]

We have 3 dogs and 3 cats. 1/2 half the house is for the 2 cats who are terrified of the dogs. The other 1/2 is for the dogs. There is 1 cat who thinks he is a dog and he moves freely between the two sides. He drinks out of the dogs water dishes, he uses their doggie door, he comes into the kitchen for a treat when they do. The dogs and that cat sleep in our bedroom each night.

The problem is that recently our male rescue Newf-McGee who is a little over 2 years old has started to freak out and chase this cat. He starts a high pitched keening and barking and will throw his 120 pounds around the room - over the couch to get at the cat. His excitement is starting to make the other dogs treat the cat as prey now too. The other 2 dogs will stop when corrected but McGee won't. We put McGee into the nearby bedroom and close the door for a minute until he cools down. Then he comes out and leaves the cat alone. Then repeat the next day...:grrr:

Any idea what might trigger this or any other ways to deal with it other than the time out?

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

A few thoughts:

Maggie always chased our cats when we first got her, just like you described. We put her in timeout EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. Literally she went in 5-10 times a day for several days. Then she got it and it started to decrease. Over the course of a week it got to be once a day. Then once every few days.

One thing I would do is watch carefully and use "leave it" before she had a chance to chase. She would watch them first so I could often catch it. Then for years we were fine.

However, her hearing got really bad as she got older and they would startle her when sleeping. Then she would chase them.

So if his hearing and sight are ok, and this is new, I would work a lot on "leave it" and "watch me" when the cat is around.

Mind you, this is not working with Ruby but she's been like this from day one and goes nuts over the cat. He stays upstairs now unless she's in her crate. It's a work in progress.

 

[Bailey Boy]

Does he mind when you use the leave it command? Sometimes ours will get wound up and if one of the cats runs well the chase is on. I used a water bottle when we first rescued Ginger, one little squirt to get her attention off the cat and on to me helped.

 

[shellyk]

Thanks for your thoughts and insight. "Leave it" is work in progress with this guy. Actually all obedience with this guy is work in progress. I have added an extra daily walk for him to make sure it's not excess energy. We are battling allergies/itchy skin with him too and I hope it's not that affecting his behavior. I will have to be more diligent in watching him. We will all be vegetating watching TV and he just snaps :shocker:. We will keep on the time outs. We have training scheduled next week on BAT so hopefully that will help us help him too.

 

[Jeannie]

T We are battling allergies/itchy skin with him too and I hope it's not that affecting his behavior.

Ask your vet about Apoquel. It is amazing and works wonders for Chase.
No itching, ears are clearing up as well as her eyes. And she has only been on it for 4 days. Unbelievable. Many of my customers use it with great results too.

 

[BLCOLE]

I have previous Newfs that have gone after cats. Usually, this behavior stops when the cat applies the claws of understanding to the Newf's backside of knowledge. In other words, the cat needs to give your rescue Newf a WHUPPIN' and the Newf should stop...

 

[Jeannie]

I have previous Newfs that have gone after cats. Usually, this behavior stops when the cat applies the claws of understanding to the Newf's backside of knowledge. In other words, the cat needs to give your rescue Newf a WHUPPIN' and the Newf should stop...

You are right Brad. Many people come to me because their dogs have a problem. Most times the people step in too soon and the dogs cannot establish what is what. Same with the cat. Now if it get too bad then step in.

 

[Finny]

You are right Brad. Many people come to me because their dogs have a problem. Most times the people step in too soon and the dogs cannot establish what is what. Same with the cat. Now if it get too bad then step in.

I agree with 90% of this. The 10% comes in when you don't have time to step in before serious damage or death occurs. Some dogs become wicked fast if/when that predatory switch gets turned on. I have a hard time imaging that in a newf but I would still be prepared with a rescue I didn't know well. I guess the OP has witnessed a few incidents already so perhaps can assess how serious the dog's intent is for now.

The flip side is the cat's temperament, which the OP should already know something of. Will the cat truly stand up for itself? Not all will. Ragdoll's for example are known for their lack of self preservation awareness. We have one and his response to danger is to flop onto his back and cry.

I do believe some dogs quite literally are cat killers. I'm sure there are breed tendencies. I come from a GSD world before newfs and I personally knew one GSD (not mine) who mostly ignored cats until one stuck a claw in his nose. The dog ended up with a bloody nose, the cat ended up dead, and that dog fervently wanted to kill every cat he met the rest of his life. The ones that stood their ground too long always died. Frequent any GSD forum much and you'll find lots of ugly cat and dog problems. The solutions usually revolve around making sure the cat always has places they can escape to and tight control of the dog with time out's and leave it.

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Thanks for your thoughts and insight. "Leave it" is work in progress with this guy. Actually all obedience with this guy is work in progress. I have added an extra daily walk for him to make sure it's not excess energy. We are battling allergies/itchy skin with him too and I hope it's not that affecting his behavior. I will have to be more diligent in watching him. We will all be vegetating watching TV and he just snaps :shocker:. We will keep on the time outs. We have training scheduled next week on BAT so hopefully that will help us help him too.

Since you say this, have his ears checked. If he's got buildup, inflammation, or an infection from allergies it could be affecting his hearing. Then the cat is sneaking up on him so to speak and he's startled, thus getting the response you are. This comes to mind since it's a new behavior and very very similar to what happened with Maggie.

 

[shellyk]

Thanks for more ideas!

I have been watching the posts about apoquel with great interest!

I am leaning more towards jealousy than the cat sneaking up on him but I will keep that in mind. There was an episode last night in the family room ...our Lab was already in the Newf's favorite spot on the couch next to me and the cat jumped up on the table behind the couch. He freaked out and got our other Newf excited and chasing the cat too. The cat ran under the desk where my husband was sitting and the two Newfs almost knocked him out of his chair. Luckily the cat will run but unfortunately he won't give the Newf a good smack on his nose. Then this morning they are all friends again...all 3 dogs laying on the kitchen floor waiting for their breakfast and the cat wanders in and rubs up against them all...no response. I am thinking that it may come to no animals on the couch

 

[shellyk]

I know I am beating this cat thing to death but I don't get it! Yesterday I took McGee on a 2nd walk. We were at the entrance to our yard. I let him go to carry his leash into the garage...not seeing Ducky the cat right at the entrance to the garage. McGee just walked up and sniffed him and kept going.

Then first thing this morning right after the alarm went off McGee wouldn't let Ducky off the bed. McGee jumped up on the bed to get at Ducky. That is no small feat with a really high bed and no room for a running start...that's how much he wanted/needed to get at the cat. I just can't figure out McGee's behavior.

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Jealousy or guarding a "spot" is definitely a possibility. The garage was probably neutral, as is the kitchen. But the couch and bed may be favorite places, thus he's resource guarding from the cat?

 

[shellyk]

I totally agree with you on the jealousy over the couch/bed. We may have to keep all dogs off the couch to deal with his jealousy My other option is to watch him like a hawk and reward every situation where he behaves well with the cat and hope he makes the connection.