[Mozi]

Hello!

My Rex is 8.5 months.

We did our walk leashed at night. After the walk, I go into a deserted all fenced yard where we play fetch and some tug unleashed.

It was somewhat dark. I unleashed Rex and started playing with him. After about 10 minutes, a cat appeared at the other end of the yard and Rex bolted, full sprint chasing the cat who started spriting herself in circles and Rex unrelentlessly trying to catch her.

Tried to shout , No, Come, whatever. He was on her chasing. I even tried to hold him on the dashing coming back but it would have been a collision. The cat was able to slide under a small hole in the fence; I guess where she went in and she escaped. Ouuuf.

For 10 minutes, Rex went on patrolling the yard trotting from end to end looking for her. Tried to call him for treats. Zero focus. So I let him do his thing for 10 minutes. He calmed down. Leashed him and went out. He was on the outlook when we went out but did not pull on the leash and walked calmly next to me.

My questions:

1. What could I have done to stop the chase? If I was able to grab his collar and run with him and slow him down, would that have been a good idea? What about jumping at him ? What about trying to come between him and the cat? What should have I done? Just let it play out?

2. Poor cat I felt there was nothing I could do. What are the chances that after catching up to her , it would just be play? Or would he have killed her? Rex is super well socialised with small dogs and has no problems at all with dog aggression.

Thanks!

 

[McGloomy]

Before I ever let my dog roamed free off leash in an insecure (no fence) area, first of all a strong recall is in order.

But when a German Shepherd dog has its prey drive set on something, and he is not within reach, that would be a problem.

What I can recommend is E-collar training. My dog has been training with E-collar for almost 2 months now. So far, it's been a super, highly useful tool in trying to get a hold of him from a distance, off leash. Now with the E-collar, I'm a lot more confident having him off leash for example at the dog park or at the beach. I can't recommend E collar enough for high-prey dogs that go off leash.

 

[Jenny720]

Unless you are fast as the flash, have a firehose nearby or really good with the lasso- just kidding that would hurt the dogs neck- it would be hard to stop a dog who is blowing you off and in prey drive. At that age is when they will test you. I had same issues with max chasing deer, cats etc. and since my favorite thing to do would exercise my dogs off leash it was important they listen. Important your dog does not get to practice chasing wildlife/ cats. Continue to play engagement games and focus exercises. Recall without distractions needs to be strong - Susan Garrett had good videos for that. Then moving to engagement with distractions on Lead then recall on lead with distractions then on a long lead-being able to use leash corrections/collar pops which then only lead to “leave it.”I proofed with an ecollar as very easy I have many wildlife and feral cats around my home. I used an instructor to help me with the use of an ecollar it just gave me more confidence in using one. Larry krohn also has a really good book on using ecollars. I liked learning on the garmin sport collar and like the dogtra collars.
https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2010/06/recall-collapse/
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=asVQYYSWPJc&feature=youtu.be
https://www.amazon.com/Everything-need-about-Collar-Training-ebook/dp/B0724YXF9T

 

[Orphan Heidi]

Hard to say what would have happened if Rex caught the cat. My son's 2 Huskys have killed numerous neighborhood

cats who ventured into his fenced back yard. Cats jump over the fence and meet their demise.

Keep working hard on recall and getting and keeping his attention. McGloomy's advice sounds good.

It's taken me 2-3 weeks to acclimate my new rescue female to my 2 cats. And that's with almost constant work.

Do you know anyone with a cat that you can visit (only ON leash) and work with him? Some dogs learn quickly, some

are more stubborn. My last GSD female took about a week of daily training before she was OK w/ my cat.