Please Help !!!! - Page 1

 I can't stop my shepherd from chasing our cat, at first I thought it was the chase but it's not. She is trying to bite the cat, I think she'll kill him if she can.
The shepherd is 7 months old and we got her a month ago, the cat is 13 years old and we've had him 13 years. This is my 4th shepherd and I have never had this problem. If I can't stop her, I am afraid she may half to go. Maci is a great dog with this one problem, when she sees the cat she will lock her eyes on him and will not hear or see anything else, I half to cover her eyes to get her attention!!! Can this behavior be stopped????
The young couple we got her from thought it was funny when Maci chased there cat. When we picked Maci up they stated they didn't realize what kind of dog they got, they just wanted a german shepherd......shit puppies grow up!!!                                                                                                               We can close our house into 2 sections using french doors, cat in one end of the house dog in the other, but hate to live that way .

 I warn all my customers about buying a german shepherd with cats in the home or other small dogs..

I have one right now who didn't listen and I told her, the german shepherd will one day get tired of the Schnauzer nipping her and barking and acting like a prey ...and now they have to get rid of the Schnauzer who is  7 yrs old

They compounded it by getting a male pup given to them from Louisiana and that male has made the now 4 yrs old female completely change her attitude about a lot of things.

ALL these kinds of changes in your home with German Shepherds need to be discussed with a reputable Breeder BEFORE  you buy a shepherd..

I hope some one here can help you ..I know how but right now my body won't let me post much more..

Many a breeder here may be able to tell you how to stop your gsd..YES it can be done..BUT you may not want all the work and hours it will take to do it???

YR

Trust your cat. Find the cat a permanent, unassailable dog space. This combination of old cat and young dog does not have a good outcome.

This behavior probably can be stoped. Try putting a leash on the dog inside the house, get a bunch of treats ready, slowly reintroduce the cat and treat the dog when the cat is at a distance but before it reacts negatively. Your pup is getting into a teenage phase and you must let it know the cat is part of your pack. Control these meetings so as to give a positive association to the cat. Try this before resorting to harsher measures but remain calm and in charge. Good luck. Almost forgot, this is where you would use the watch me command if you and the dog already know it.

  Another command you need to teach the dog   immediately is the one   LEAVE IT......
  This command is very helpful for this and many more things..along the way..

YR

Good point YR

GWBrown,
Separate the two, it is really not fair to the cat that has lived there for 13 years. 

I'm sorry and I don't mean to be harsh but if you "have to cover the dog's eyes to get her attention" you have a serious problem already.  That type of approach and mentality is going to cause you lots of problems training this dog.  You need to take control of this situation and fast.  Covering the eyes of the dog to get it's attention is not doing anything.  Be firm, very firm and strong and make the dog focus on you. 

I agree with putting a leash on the dog and trying treats, I doubt that will be effective.  However, I would put a leash on the dog and correct strongly and end this behavior immediately if the dog goes after the cat or even thinks about going after the cat.  The correction needs to be strong enough that the dog never wants to chase that cat again for the rest of it's life for fear of another correction.  If you do not have the ability, skill or intestinal fortitude to deliver an effective correction you may need to find a new home for this dog.  My intention is not to offend or insult you, but express the reality of the situation. 

I would never leave the dog and cat alone together, the dog will more than likely kill the cat.  It is fairly easy for a dog to kill a cat, especially a cat that is 13 years old. 
 

Jim


 

Some dogs, no matter how much training you put into them will NEVER be cat reliable. I have had a few that were not. The 2 dogs
I have in the house right now treat the kitties like puppies and small furry sheep. Syd typically "grips" the cat lightly when kitty is
being naughty, but will otherwise be "mom" toward them. She has been rougher with her own puppies then even the naughtiest cat.
I have 2 right now that I would never trust with cats, ever. They can be around kitties under direct, firm supervision. That's it.

.02

Melissa

the cat thing if it wasent taught at a young age will be hard to correct my last litter our cats slept with momma dog and the puppies ( momma dog raised the cat aswell when he was a baby) and cat is declawed so my pups where around them since birth and knew not to bother them and that has to be kept up on my dogs will chase the cats but they are all good friends and sleep together. but i would say screw the treats if you are trying to fix the problem and you cannot get her attention i would put a prog on her in the house with a tab u see her go after the cat grab the tab give a hard correction and tell her to leave it. she should after a wile respond to the leave it but babying the situation will only prolong your prodicament 7 months she is more than able to take a prog for this situation i wouldent use one in training but this is different.

get tall cat house to give your cat a place to escape....and work on your dog...I agree that "Leave it" should be a must learn command, practice it with food, cat, toys..etc.

restrict your dogs space in the house...limit her to 1 room...this does not mean u have to close doors..u can teach a dog not to leave a room....this will give your cat space and safe locations...my dogs know any area that has a carpet if off limits they know "off carpet" so that limits them to living room/kitchen...do a search on here you will find many posts on cats and dogs.


also sometimes cats initiate the play, and your puppy being only 7 months can be put into place by a cat... puppies are smart, if they enjoy to play with a cat they will learn quickly how to do it gently otherwise cats leave...

here are a few snap shots...










and this is what happens after play gets too rough...she is left sitting by a door all by herself...