My dog is going to kill the cats

gsdlover91 · 02-09-2013, 09:44 PM

I am sure of this now. I am in tears over the situation that just occurred. I don't know what to do anymore, I feel like an absolute failure as a dog owner. I did everything right with introductions, and they never got along...doesnt help that my cats are complete idiots either. Ever since Berlin got scratched in the eye, he's been out for BLOOD. I have baby gates up, the cats have a 'safe haven' etc, I keep Berlin by me when he is upstairs, BUT these incidents still occur, because he literally is a psychopath when he sees/smells/knows where the cats are. They hide under the couch, and he frantically digs at the couch, whines, goes and checks all their spots that they might be in, he literally looks crazy.

Well tonight, I walk upstairs, and one of the cats must have been in the kitchen hiding....Berlin was right by me, and literally in a SPLIT SECOND he is gone, into the frontroom and has chased (and apparently cornered the cat). Well, THIS time he got the cat, and really good, I had to pry the cat from his jaws, and smack berlin on the snout to stun him so he would release the cat (I feel like a monster

.....) Well I get the cat, and go to take it upstairs to the gated off area, and the OTHER cat goes running out of the room and jumps OVER the gate and literally INTO the jaws of my dog. WHAT is their problems?!! He got her, but she escaped and ran to under the couch. This all happened in about 2 minutes.

He knows THIS behavior is NOT acceptable. I seriously am at my wits end, I have tried the prong, tried to desensitize, everything, NOTHING works....

And I know tonight was my fault ultimately, for not tethering the dog to me, even though I had only planned to go upstairs for a minute....the cats never come down until we go to sleep. Even if I tether him to me, he will pull me down to chase these cats. After witnessing his behavior toward them tonight, I know he is not trying to play anymore, he wants to kill them.

Ultimately, this cannot go on like this anymore, I cannot tether an adult GSD to me forever whenever I want to go do anything in the house. I also cannot lock him in his crate and keep him away from everyone. I can't control the cats, and confine them to one room (my mothers bedroom) because their food is in the kitchen (although they do eat at night) and their litterbox is downstairs as well. They come and go as they please, but Berlin is relentless in his attempts to get them.

I am seriously afraid I am going to have to re-home him, as my mother WILL not give the cats up.

Any advice, is truly appreciated.

msvette2u · 02-09-2013, 09:46 PM

Doesn't your breeder require the dog back there??

**Lauri & The Gang** · 02-09-2013, 09:46 PM

I would look into getting an electronic collar and training on how to use it.

This type of situation is a very good use for those collars.

gsdlover91 · 02-09-2013, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msvette2u

Doesn't your breeder require the dog back there??

Yes, by re-home thats what I meant. He would go back to her. I really really really do not want that to be the case though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lauri & The Gang

I would look into getting an electronic collar and training on how to use it.

This type of situation is a very good use for those collars.

Does he wear an e-collar all the time in the house..? Does it have any adverse effects on his behavior?

Jax08 · 02-09-2013, 09:53 PM

Look up Lou Castle's site and find his page on "Crittering".

harmony · 02-09-2013, 10:03 PM

Sometimes we have problems because we let things happen in the first place right. It can be fixed and a dog can take down a cat. Can you get a trainer to help you?

gsdlover91 · 02-09-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jax08

Look up Lou Castle's site and find his page on "Crittering".

Great article, thanks. Very informative about what I need to do.

gsdlover91 · 02-09-2013, 10:10 PM

The trainer that my dog works with does not like any use of prong/ecollars. She had me try the leave it command/desensitizing etc. It hasnt been working because I cant tell WHEN he smells or sees a cat, so I cant snap him out of it before he gets to such an intense level.

zivagirl · 02-09-2013, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsdlover91

The trainer that my dog works with does not like any use of prong/ecollars. She had me try the leave it command/desensitizing etc. It hasnt been working because I cant tell WHEN he smells or sees a cat, so I cant snap him out of it before he gets to such an intense level.

Beth has a tell. She perks her ears so far forward, she wrinkles around her eyes.

harmony · 02-09-2013, 10:27 PM

what about body language, you don't have to do much to see that part. stop it, protect and serve

02-09-2013, 09:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
gsdlover91 Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,153	My dog is going to kill the cats I am sure of this now. I am in tears over the situation that just occurred. I don't know what to do anymore, I feel like an absolute failure as a dog owner. I did everything right with introductions, and they never got along...doesnt help that my cats are complete idiots either. Ever since Berlin got scratched in the eye, he's been out for BLOOD. I have baby gates up, the cats have a 'safe haven' etc, I keep Berlin by me when he is upstairs, BUT these incidents still occur, because he literally is a psychopath when he sees/smells/knows where the cats are. They hide under the couch, and he frantically digs at the couch, whines, goes and checks all their spots that they might be in, he literally looks crazy. Well tonight, I walk upstairs, and one of the cats must have been in the kitchen hiding....Berlin was right by me, and literally in a SPLIT SECOND he is gone, into the frontroom and has chased (and apparently cornered the cat). Well, THIS time he got the cat, and really good, I had to pry the cat from his jaws, and smack berlin on the snout to stun him so he would release the cat (I feel like a monster .....) Well I get the cat, and go to take it upstairs to the gated off area, and the OTHER cat goes running out of the room and jumps OVER the gate and literally INTO the jaws of my dog. WHAT is their problems?!! He got her, but she escaped and ran to under the couch. This all happened in about 2 minutes. He knows THIS behavior is NOT acceptable. I seriously am at my wits end, I have tried the prong, tried to desensitize, everything, NOTHING works.... And I know tonight was my fault ultimately, for not tethering the dog to me, even though I had only planned to go upstairs for a minute....the cats never come down until we go to sleep. Even if I tether him to me, he will pull me down to chase these cats. After witnessing his behavior toward them tonight, I know he is not trying to play anymore, he wants to kill them. Ultimately, this cannot go on like this anymore, I cannot tether an adult GSD to me forever whenever I want to go do anything in the house. I also cannot lock him in his crate and keep him away from everyone. I can't control the cats, and confine them to one room (my mothers bedroom) because their food is in the kitchen (although they do eat at night) and their litterbox is downstairs as well. They come and go as they please, but Berlin is relentless in his attempts to get them. I am seriously afraid I am going to have to re-home him, as my mother WILL not give the cats up. Any advice, is truly appreciated. __________________ Berlin vom Hokschhaus "The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can be."

02-09-2013, 09:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lauri & The Gang Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: SouthEastern WI Posts: 13,758	I would look into getting an electronic collar and training on how to use it. This type of situation is a very good use for those collars. __________________ Lauri & The Raw Fed Gang Raw Dog Ranch Winnie CGC - Corgi Mix Chimanes Spice it Up Piquin (Kaynya) - Chinese Crested Nator von Triton HIC CGC (Mauser) - LC GSD Piquins Some Like it Hot (Spike) – Chinese Crested Piquins Too Hot To Handle - (Fuego) - Chinese Crested Piquins Wasabi (Sabi) - Chinese Crested Piquins Super Hot (Clark) - Chinese Crested Banzai, Cloe, Mocha - Felines Extraordinaire Neke, Tessa, Remi, Sadie, Riggs, Sasha, Tazer - DK, Mozart, Zoe - Gone but not forgotten

02-09-2013, 09:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 19,045	Look up Lou Castle's site and find his page on "Crittering". __________________ Michelle _________________________________________ Jax Von Monkeybutt, CGC Queen Banshee Boo Sierra the Undecided Cracker, The Great Shedder Rich N Handsome, "Red"

02-09-2013, 10:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
gsdlover91 Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,153	The trainer that my dog works with does not like any use of prong/ecollars. She had me try the leave it command/desensitizing etc. It hasnt been working because I cant tell WHEN he smells or sees a cat, so I cant snap him out of it before he gets to such an intense level. __________________ Berlin vom Hokschhaus "The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can be."

02-09-2013, 09:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
msvette2u Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 11,005	Doesn't your breeder require the dog back there??

02-09-2013, 10:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
harmony Knighted Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 2,145	Sometimes we have problems because we let things happen in the first place right. It can be fixed and a dog can take down a cat. Can you get a trainer to help you?

02-09-2013, 10:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
harmony Knighted Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 2,145	what about body language, you don't have to do much to see that part. stop it, protect and serve

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