I'm curious... I have 2 cats each 13 weeks old, and today I rescued a Boxer from a kill shelter knowing that it's not a cat friendly dog... I decided to leave my cats in one room while the dog is in the house and when the dog is outside during the day to let the cats roam the house. I won't put them together, knowing that this dog will chase them, I don't want anyone getting hurt, but this dog is a GREAT and AWESOME beautiful dog, and she's fitting in very nicely. I refuse to get rid of her OR my cats... has anyone ever retrained a dog to get along with cats... and how'd you do it? I know that cats and puppies when raised and socialized together get along fine, I have 2 other dogs that are well socialized with cats. My boxer however, is 5 years old and the previous owners didn't socialize her with cats. I adopted her, knowing this, but I took her in anyway to save her life, and I won't give her up now, and I don't regret it, but I want my cats to be safe as well. Help anyone?
2007-11-29 16:59:26 · 4 answers · asked by Corgis4Life 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Honestly, a dog with a strong prey drive is almost impossible to train out of it. They can and will learn to leave the cats alone in your presence but I would NEVER risk leaving them alone together no matter how well you think they are doing when your alone. All it takes is one mistake or urge and you will have a dead cat. Take it slowly with the kitties, put them in a wire crate where the dog can see them and they cant run (running will incite the prey drive) if the dog gets excited, calm her down and reprimand her. Personally I would get a pinch or e-collar for this and have a professional show you how to use them correctly. An e-collar will also help when you actually let the cats out and you aren't able to catch your dog in time, as will a long line on a pinch. Anyway, try this several times and then put the dog in a quiet place after each time to calm down. Do this for a few days or a week until she no longer gets excited at all and the cats are more comfortable around her, then take ONE of the cats, preferable the calmer one, out and let her sniff close up, if she gets excited or the cat reacts, put the cat back and the dog away until everyone is calm again. Then continue to try until they can meet without any excited/aggressive reactions. Then progress to letting the cat wander around (while the dog is on leash) until the dog is calm with the cat out and about. If she gets excited resort back to step one and put the dog in her quiet place again... do this until the dog has NO reaction to the cats. You may even startle the kitties or something to get them to run and then make the dog be calm when they do this. Continue to do this until everyone is calm and comfortable around each other in your presence. Again, I would NEVER EVER EVER EVER leave them alone together. You can never guarantee a dogs behavior when you arent around. and it's asking for an accident. It will take some time, and will be a ridiculously slow process but if you refuse to get rid of any of them this is what your going to have to do. You also might want to seek professional help in this. I would. If you cant ever get any results, try thinking about contacting a boxer rescue. They will definitely take a dog that is a potential cat killer and find her a good home. Thats what they're there for. Some dogs are never able to get over this instinct and some cats can never get over running away. But please do your best for everyone to stay safe.
And DEFINITELY DONT declaw your cats, it is their only means of defense if your dog does catch up to them.
2007-11-29 17:21:42 · answer #1 · answered by Jordie0587 *Diesel's Momma* 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We trained out Beagle to be Parakeet friendly using a muzzle. It can't physically stop the dog from chasing, but can keep the cats from getting hurt if they won't or can't defend themselves. Our dog is very smart and hated the muzzle. It didn't take him long to get the idea... the bird was "off limits". Best investment we ever made and now I don't even have to use it anymore.
2007-11-30 01:12:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We adopted a black lab last year and he was nice to the cats at his old house but all of a sudden he attacked the cats randomly. We seperated them and are starting to introduce them to eachother very slowly and from a distance at first.
2007-11-30 01:15:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does the dog want to eat the cats or just lick them? My dog loves to chance the cat and licks it when she gets it. I guess you have to figure out what it is going to do. Are the cats declawed.
2007-11-30 01:11:06 · answer #4 · answered by Peggy Pirate 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋