dog chasing cats question?

Question

OK, here is my dog:
"OH BOY, THERE'S THE CATS! THEY ARE ONLY ACROSS THE ROOM! IF I CAN WALK VERRRRY SLOWLY AND KEEP MY EYES ON THEM THEY WON'T KNOW I AM GETTING CLOSER TO THEM! HERE I COME...NOW I AM ONLY A NOSE AWAY. OH BOY, OH BOY! I WILL BE ABLE TO STICK MY NOSE IN THEIR FUR AND LICK THEM AND MOUTH THEM AND IT'S GOING TO BE SO GREAT!! OOPS! THERE THEY GO! NOW I GET TO CHASE THEM! WOO HOO! THIS IS SO FUN!! WEEEEE!" ok, the cats tolerate the puppy but do swat back at her sometimes and i think it's starting to become a game for my one cat. kinda like "oh yeah doggie come on, come alittle closer, hahaha, yeah doggie...wappo!" the puppy seems to think this is like the most fun goin. what i do is sometimes be inbetween them to moniter the situation, sometimes i shout NO CATS to the dog, sometimes i let them do their thing. i know consistancy is key in training but is this kind of play ok? the cats (especially the one) still usually stays "open targets" in the house

the other cat actually will stick his head toward the pup to rub his head on the puppy. all seems well but is the chasing etc just a game or is it a dominance thing that i should be concerned about in the future? they all are such sweeties!

Answer 1

First off, your puppy is looking to play and of course, the cats are an easy target for play. Secondly, you are completely correct. Consistency is key in training a dog - or any animal. By not staying consistent with your training on the cats you're not doing your pup any good. Altho your cats don't seem to be upset by the play with the pup, you have to balance that with what will happen with the behavior if it continues as the pup grows. Not knowing the breed of the dog and the size he will be when he is grown, I would have to say that it's probably a good idea to stop the pup from viewing the cats as toys to play with. For example, a friend of mine had a similar situation with his rottie pup. The Rottie played well with the cat for a long time til one day he came home to a dead cat - the dog had simply 'played' with the cat til he had killed it - not out of meanness but simply had mauled it to death with his play. One of the unfortunate things about cats - even adult cats - is that if they are grabbed by the scruff of the neck - they go limp usually (mom cat picking up kitten etc etc) so if a dog grabs a cat by the neck, often times they'll go limp and not fight to get away - which doesn't help their ability to live in a situation like I just described.

In my mind it would probably be a good idea to teach your pup that cats are not toys and that they were off limits for 'rough play' now while you can. That way no further problems will arise. Your pup would probably not ever cause harm to your cats but better safe than sorry? Just my opinion. I know that I have always taught my dogs to respect my cats position in the household as an equal - it just worked out best that way. Good luck!!!

Answer 2

If they're only playing there shouldn't be any problem in the future, unless your dog gets too big and rough, then you should provide a place for the cats out of the dog's reach. That sounds really cute! Friendships between cats and dogs are very common.
I had a dog once that chased cats all the time(not playing), and then we got a kitten and they became friends. But they'd play in the weirdest way. My dog was very rough with the kitten but the kitten loved it! My dog would grab her over her head, and start dragging her across the floor, while my kitten was purring as loud as could be! And then of course she would get back at the dog by wrapping her paws around the dog's neck and hanging there. Then my dog wouldn't know what to do.
So as long as everyone's having fun, and you don't mind it, it won't be a problem for anyone. But you should decide one way or the other, because, yes consistancy is the key, and you don't want to confuse your dog by giving him a mixed message.

Answer 3

So far, it looks like just a game. My mother has trained a number of dogs not to chase the cats- but the dogs in question were large, rambunctious, and a bit clumsy- and the cats weren't really in the best of health. So that was the best thing to do.

Your little furry friends do look like they're enjoying themselves!

Answer 4

i replaced into instructed its a predatory element. the dogs see them as a sort of prey, yet maximum dogs quite do no longer look to renowned what to do with the cat while they get it, and different dogs won't bothercats in any respect. yet in asserting this.... My chum had 2 costly ragdoll cats that she consistently stored in doors. sometime, the older of the two have been given outdoors and replaced into mauled by using their dogs. i assume this is a territorial element

Answer 5

And no doubt it is probably a tad funny atm, but this needs to be nipped in the bud.
What about trying some water in a spray bottle? :)

Deb