Not sure what to do....dog/cat aggression

Josh's mom · 11-07-2011, 08:11 PM

So we have 2 dogs and 3 cats now. The cats are seniors now at 10, 9, and 8 yrs old. Josh has been raised with them since he was 8 weeks old, he will chase them occaisionally but it's usually so he can lick them to death once he gets them to stop. We have the house blocked off with baby gates into the dog and cat areas.
We have been working with Jenna (rescued in August) on not chasing the cats, she has such a huge prey drive it's been hard. Tonight our most dog-friendly cat Romeo (9yr old) was curious about her and was sniffing her through the gate. She sniffed him for a little while, then tried to take a chunk out of his face (our baby gates have small doors in them for the cats to get through). We were shocked. I don't know if this will ever get better. I don't think we could re-home the cats, they're too old now. Does anyone have any suggestions?? I'm totally discouraged.

zyppi · 11-07-2011, 08:25 PM

I use the invisible fence indoor solutions..

Invisible Fence® Brand - Indoor & Outdoor Troublespots - PetFree

they work and I don't worry about cats.

**MaggieRoseLee** · 11-08-2011, 07:49 AM

I think I'd be working on the 'leave it' command and not really allowing that GSD contact with the cats.

I know cause I step up and my dogs know I don't allow that snapping (whether it be at the cat, or a child, or a bunny or .....) they know snapping isn't tolerated BY ME. Just that I step in BEFORE the snapping (sniff is fine then MOVE ON) with the 'leave it'.

And if there is a snap then I'm loud, I'm blocking and in the way between the snapper and snappie, and will take the snapper calmly by the collar and remove it from the area (crating for an hour or so 'Time Out' works well).

It's important that my dog's know I don't think it's ok. So if they do it when I'm in the room watching, I have CLEARLY not made it clear that behavior isn't acceptable. And if they do it when I'm there, heaven help the cat when I'm not home (I'd only leave the home with that dog crated).

I'd also go back to dog classes/continue with dog classes. Cause there's a leadership role issue here. I need to learn how to make my dog understand something, and they need to understand when I do or do NOT want something then it better be a priority for them.

Plus, I'd be upping the exercise and fun activities OUTSIDE the home to take the general edge off my pup. This helps preventing the going from calm to ballistic with a cat that's not even moving (a running cat is a whole different issue).

LaRen616 · 11-08-2011, 07:59 AM

We have the same amount of animals, I also have 3 cats and 2 dogs.

Sinister is fine with the cats even though 2 of the cats hate him.

Malice tries to chase all of the cats, she doesn't harm them when she gets to them but we have been working on "leave it" and she has been getting alot better.

kiya · 11-08-2011, 08:49 AM

Right now I am trying to intergrade our new little kitty into the pack. Oh boy. I am reading "The Dog Listener" I just got it yesterday and you know when you hear someone say "it's like a light bulb went off in my head".
Anyway Lakota (2 in January) has an incredibly high prey drive, she loves to chase if the cat runs. For some reason I can have peace and quiet after dinner, the dogs settle down, usually around 8pm. Our 11 yr old cat Misty still hisses at the kitty, but for some reason Lakota is being "kind" to her. I put Lakota's leash on because she was starting to get hyped up and almost instantaneously she stopped acting up. I watched her and the baby kitty (who is crated in the livingroom) both watch the older cat strut across the floor, jump up on the counter to eat. All the while they were just laying there together. Lakota has been on leash walk only because of surgery on her pad so figure she's been "resting" for about a month because of lameness. I can't wait to start exercising her again.
I have plenty of special liver brownie treats and take turns with all 3 dogs getting closer to the kitten. My 7yr old female Kiya, has been tuff. She charges up to the crate, not always aggressively but sometimes demanding. Kiya is on seizure meds she's "off" so to speak. I have to leash her and tether her to me.
If you haven't tried tethering I would give it a try.

Zisso · 11-08-2011, 11:09 AM

Good advice from MLR as always

11-07-2011, 08:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Josh's mom Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 211	Not sure what to do....dog/cat aggression So we have 2 dogs and 3 cats now. The cats are seniors now at 10, 9, and 8 yrs old. Josh has been raised with them since he was 8 weeks old, he will chase them occaisionally but it's usually so he can lick them to death once he gets them to stop. We have the house blocked off with baby gates into the dog and cat areas. We have been working with Jenna (rescued in August) on not chasing the cats, she has such a huge prey drive it's been hard. Tonight our most dog-friendly cat Romeo (9yr old) was curious about her and was sniffing her through the gate. She sniffed him for a little while, then tried to take a chunk out of his face (our baby gates have small doors in them for the cats to get through). We were shocked. I don't know if this will ever get better. I don't think we could re-home the cats, they're too old now. Does anyone have any suggestions?? I'm totally discouraged. __________________ Judy Josh (GSD)- 8/10/10 Daisy (ragdoll cat) 10 yrs old Romeo (ragdoll cat) 9 yrs old Caspurr (ragdoll/snowshoe mix) 8 yrs old

11-07-2011, 08:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
zyppi Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Back home to Louisiana! Posts: 4,940	I use the invisible fence indoor solutions.. Invisible Fence® Brand - Indoor & Outdoor Troublespots - PetFree they work and I don't worry about cats. __________________ Anne Nothing is as simple as it seems or as complicated as we make it~ Attitude is everything -- Pick a good one! Sofie AKA Ussina vom Haus Brezel Jack von Jagenstadt Tatty - Burmese bad cat

11-08-2011, 07:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,198	I think I'd be working on the 'leave it' command and not really allowing that GSD contact with the cats. I know cause I step up and my dogs know I don't allow that snapping (whether it be at the cat, or a child, or a bunny or .....) they know snapping isn't tolerated BY ME. Just that I step in BEFORE the snapping (sniff is fine then MOVE ON) with the 'leave it'. And if there is a snap then I'm loud, I'm blocking and in the way between the snapper and snappie, and will take the snapper calmly by the collar and remove it from the area (crating for an hour or so 'Time Out' works well). It's important that my dog's know I don't think it's ok. So if they do it when I'm in the room watching, I have CLEARLY not made it clear that behavior isn't acceptable. And if they do it when I'm there, heaven help the cat when I'm not home (I'd only leave the home with that dog crated). I'd also go back to dog classes/continue with dog classes. Cause there's a leadership role issue here. I need to learn how to make my dog understand something, and they need to understand when I do or do NOT want something then it better be a priority for them. Plus, I'd be upping the exercise and fun activities OUTSIDE the home to take the general edge off my pup. This helps preventing the going from calm to ballistic with a cat that's not even moving (a running cat is a whole different issue). __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

11-08-2011, 07:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
LaRen616 Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 10,582	We have the same amount of animals, I also have 3 cats and 2 dogs. Sinister is fine with the cats even though 2 of the cats hate him. Malice tries to chase all of the cats, she doesn't harm them when she gets to them but we have been working on "leave it" and she has been getting alot better. __________________ ~ Sinister 3 yr old black male GSD 3.11.09 ~ Malice 9 mth old black female GSD 6.19.11 Cats: Chaos, Monster, Wicked

11-08-2011, 08:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
kiya Elite Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,900	Right now I am trying to intergrade our new little kitty into the pack. Oh boy. I am reading "The Dog Listener" I just got it yesterday and you know when you hear someone say "it's like a light bulb went off in my head". Anyway Lakota (2 in January) has an incredibly high prey drive, she loves to chase if the cat runs. For some reason I can have peace and quiet after dinner, the dogs settle down, usually around 8pm. Our 11 yr old cat Misty still hisses at the kitty, but for some reason Lakota is being "kind" to her. I put Lakota's leash on because she was starting to get hyped up and almost instantaneously she stopped acting up. I watched her and the baby kitty (who is crated in the livingroom) both watch the older cat strut across the floor, jump up on the counter to eat. All the while they were just laying there together. Lakota has been on leash walk only because of surgery on her pad so figure she's been "resting" for about a month because of lameness. I can't wait to start exercising her again. I have plenty of special liver brownie treats and take turns with all 3 dogs getting closer to the kitten. My 7yr old female Kiya, has been tuff. She charges up to the crate, not always aggressively but sometimes demanding. Kiya is on seizure meds she's "off" so to speak. I have to leash her and tether her to me. If you haven't tried tethering I would give it a try. __________________ Carolyn Apache - Shiloh Shepherd 12/15/02 Kiya - Shiloh Shepherd 5/15/04 Lakota - WGSD 1/13/10

11-08-2011, 11:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
Zisso Knighted Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 3,001	Good advice from MLR as always __________________ Nadia - GSD -DOB 12-29-07 Zisso - GSD- DOB 9-16-07 Pepe & Kiki`my sweet kitties Zisso is my heart~Nadia is my Love~My kitties bring me everything in between~Together they bring me Joy!

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