Don’t Miss Our Free Workshop For Struggling Puppy Parents
Has your puppys hyper bitey behavior got you thinking either I adopted the worst puppy in the world or Im just not cut out for this, because this was supposed to be fun but its ACTUALLY TERRIBLE?
Then oh boy, do I have just the free virtual workshop for you!
And you wont even have to learn a single frustrating stop biting training exercise.
How To Prevent Your Dog From Chasing Cats
In order to stop a dog from chasing cats, it’s important to combine several strategies to increase the chances for success. Owning a dog equipped with a very strong prey drive may make it almost impossible for him/her to successfully co-habitat with cats. This is where human intervention is key to stop this unpleasant and unwanted behavior.
Chasing cats is a very undesirable hobby that may cause a cat to become terrorized, injured and even potentially killed by a dog. Dogs, on the other hand, risk getting scratched and even bitten by a very scared cat.
If you recently added a dog to your cat’s household, consider that this may be very stressful for your cat. Cats don’t like their routines and daily habits to be disrupted. On top of that, cats have a strong sense of belonging to their territory, and having it “invaded” by a dog may cause them significant anxiety.
More often than not, dog owners may be clueless on how to redirect the dog’s behavior and stop him from chasing poor kitty. Dogs seem so fixated on chasing the cat that nothing seems to work. Some non-cat-friendly dog breeds can be particularly challenging to train around cats.
Give Your Cat Confidence
The best way to help your cat get confident with your dog is to make it impossible for your dog to chase the cat. Give them ways to feel safe and comfortable in the house and even in the same room. Baby gate sections of the house where they can leave and separate themselves if they start to feel uncomfortable, and put cat towers or shelves that they can climb to get away from the dog. When you let the cat into the same room, feed them a high-value treat anytime they show confidence approaching the dog. The less nervous and jumpy the cat is around the dog, the less they might trigger the dogs instincts to chase them.
Don’t Miss: How Do You Stop Cats From Peeing On The Carpet
You May Need To Put Your Cat In A Cage
The thing that will trigger a dog quicker than anything is if your cat runs away. This will get a quick reaction out of your dog. Dogs love the chase. They love it more than treats or your praise. Its best to not get in this chasing hunting down trigger. In a case where your cat runs away quickly, you may need to keep your cat in a cage.If you use this technic be sure your cat is calm before bringing in your dog. Start far enough away so your cat doesnt go into a panic. You want to start with your cat in one room and bring your dog in from another room slowly so as to not allow your dog to attack the cage.
If you need to start from outside of the room. Just so your dog can barely see the cat. Go through all the behavior training, sit, lay down, or give attention, and reward for following your commands and diverting their attention form your cat to you.
Now Wed Like To Hear From You
Now its your turn! Which one of these approaches are you going to implement to stop your dog from chasing cats? Do you have any additional advice?
If you have any questions, let us know in the comments!
That Mutt is a participant in Amazons affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, That Mutt earns money from qualifying purchases.
Barbara Rivers writes regularly for That Mutt. She is certified in raw dog food nutrition from Dogs Naturally Magazine and the author of three ebooks about balanced raw dog food. She is a blogger at K9s Over Coffee.
Also Check: My Cat Got Hit By A Car
Understanding Your Dogs Prey Drive
A dogs prey drive is a normal part of his genetic makeup, but its more active in some dogs than others. The prey drive is what kicks in when a dog sees other animals move quickly, especially smaller ones like cats, rabbits or squirrels, and entices them to chase after them.
A dog whos about to start chasing his prey might do some or all of the following:
- Keep his eyes fixated on the prey
- Crouch down low to the ground
- Very slowly move closer to the prey
- His body will appear stiff right before he starts the chase
Note that some dogs may only want to chase after the cat in play. Other dogs may not be trying to hurt the cat originally but in the middle of the excitement the dog could become aggressive. And then there are some dogs that definitely do have the intention to catch and harm the cat.
Meet & Greets On Neutral Territory
Consider taking your cat in a safe carrier or kennel to meet your puppy outside of the home for the first time.
Keep the interaction short, though, as your cat will likely already be a bit nervous being outside of the house.
Let the puppy and cat sniff each other through the crate doors, using a howdy crate technique, described below.
You May Like: How To Tell If A Cat Is Blind
How To Stop Cat From Pooping On Carpet
If your cat has been pooping on your carpet, then you should try to find out why he/she is doing this. The first thing you need to do is to clean up all the poop. Then, you should put down some food for your cat. This way, your cat will be less likely to go outside to defecate. Finally, you should keep your cat inside at night.
Teach Your Dog To Resist The Chase
Once your dog has mastered the sit, Dr. Yin suggests that you teach him to resist chasing the cat by mimicking her movements. Youll start by standing stationary, then suddenly moving backward in a straight line fast enough for your dog to trot quickly after you, she says. Then youll suddenly stop and reward your dog when he automatically sits in front of you. Moving back and away from the dog lets the canine understand the required behavior is to follow, and it makes the scenario interesting and fun for the dog. This is high-energy work in order for the training to be successful, its essential that you be as exciting and engaging as the running cat.
Begin by rewarding the dog for sitting automatically. Treat for the initial sit and then randomly treat one or two more times while the dog is still sitting and looking at you before swiftly moving off in another direction either backward or to the side. Your dog should follow you as you move away as soon as you stop, he should sit. Immediately reward the sit with a treat. The game becomes follow me, then hurry up and sit, says Dr. Yin. Its like a game of red light, green light.
Recommended Reading: Humane Society Kittens For Adoption
How Do I Get My Dog To Calm Down Around Strangers
One way to get your dog to calm down around strangers is to use positive reinforcement such as treats or praise when their behavior is calm. Some basic commands that may help include “sit,””stay,” and “come.” Site a family member or friend near your dog, but do not pet them. If the stranger approaches your dog, have them wait until your dog is sitting in a sit spot before offering any interaction. If the stranger does something that makes your dog nervous, calmly call him or her over and ask them to repeat what they did. If the situation becomes too volatile, remove your dog from the area and seek professional assistance.
Option : Look At That
If the quick introduction did not work and your dog is not becoming desensitized to the cat, you might need to try some more structured training. By playing Look at That with your dog, you can help to teach her not to fixate on the cat. Youll be teaching her to look at the cat and then look back at you for a treat. Essentially, shell learn that it is more rewarding to not pay attention to the cat.
To start working on LAT, you need to figure out the dogs threshold while on leash: At what point does she notice the cat, but still respond to you when you say her name? That is her threshold. Each dog has a different threshold. For one dog, five feet away from the cat might be her threshold for another dog, it might be 25 feet. Youll know you have gone past the threshold when she starts barking or lunging at the cat. Another sign that youre getting too close to the cat is if she starts moving more slowly, staring and stiffening her body. If you call her name and she doesnt respond to you, move a few feet away from the cat.
Once youve figured out the dogs threshold, grab a clicker and some really delicious, pea-sized treats. If you dont have a clicker, a verbal marker will work just fine. Put 10 treats in your hand and keep the bag close by for later.
Also Check: How Do Cats Know How To Get Home
Never Let Your Guard Down
An important disclaimer is warranted here. Dogs and cats may seem to get along at times, but accidents can always happen at a moment’s notice. Always supervise your pets and make safety your top priority. Continue practicing caution even when your pup appears reliable and grows up. Sadly there are stories of dogs suddenly attacking cats and stories of dogs killing cats even if by accident. Caution is always needed.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authorâs knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
© 2022 Adrienne Farricelli
Manage Distance Distraction & Duration
With pup on a leash, and a lot of treats, manage the interaction and try and keep your pup from barking or trying to chase, this often means create some distance, and try and encourage your pup to settle.
The goal is to get them to relax. Ask for a sit, or a lay down, and you can even give a kong to redirect their attention when theyre relaxed.
It make mean sitting on the floor with pup in a weird spot in your house but the distance is something that is critical to the success of this.
Try short durations to start, reward frequently, praise often but curb your excitement here, soft goods, and well dones will really help your pup to relax and know theyre doing the right thing.
This is teaching that we are calm in the presence of the cat and even better rewards will come.
And remember! Always high value treats when you start a training session like this!!
Repeat this every day and these are the only interactions pup and kitty are allowed whilst this training is going on.
As you progress, you can give pup a little more leash, you can give them a little less time between rewards, and a little less distance between them and the cat.
Read Also: Homemade Cat Food For Cats With Allergies
Wanting To Play With The Cat
Once in your home, with no more puppies to play with, the urge to play bite is very strong. Puppies need to play just as children do, but who will they play bite with?
It is totally natural for your puppy to perceive your cat as a fun playmate. He’ll want to engage the cat in play as he did with his playmates. He, therefore, finds chasing your cat irresistible and would love to just play, play, play.
How To Train Your Puppy To Stop Chasing Cats
Techniques to Help Your Puppy and Cat Coexist
Dr. Bartley Harrison is a veterinarian with more than 15 years of professional veterinary experience treating dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds, and small mammals, with a specific focus on Emergency Medicine. Dr. Harrison is part of The Spruce Pets veterinary review board.
The Spruce / Lisa Fasol
Puppies and kittens raised together often get along famously. Even dogs and cats that meet later in life can learn to live together if they are introduced properly. But, between these two species, there is a common catch: Dogs enjoy chasing cats.
Read Also: Why Is My Cat So Cuddly
How To Train Your Dog To Get Along With Other Pets
First, be sure to introduce your dog to the other pet in a calm and non-aggressive manner. When your dog is comfortable being near the other animal, start training. Use positive reinforcement when your pup follows commands and stays away from the other pet. Be consistent with your training and make sure to limit distractions during outings so that both pets can learn what is expected of them.
Rule #1 To Prevent Your Dog From Chasing Catsdont Let It Start
It is really important to do all you can to prevent your dog from chasing a cat. Once they feel the thrill of the chase, they may have a higher urge to repeat it. Cats seem like natural prey to most dogs, especially hunting and cattle dog breeds. So, just know that given the opportunity, your dog most likely will chase after your neighbors cat! See this interesting article from Readers Digest about a dogs instinct to chase cats.
Always be wary of cats hiding behind bushes or under a car as you are out for your daily stroll. Your dog will sense that cat lurking in the shrubbery long before you do and might rip the leash right out of your hand if you are not prepared. I am always amazed how strong and willful my dogs become when they suddenly notice Henry the Cat who lives on the next street over. Even with a head halter on, they can sometimes be very challenging to hold onto when they see Henry.
Read Also: Where To Surrender My Cat
How To Stop A Dog From Chasing Cats Outside
Dog Chasing cat How do I stop my dog chasing after cats when outside?
Dog Chasing Cats what can I do?
When my 15 year old daughter is walking her 3 year old Staffordshire bull terrier cody she get pulled right over whenever she sees a cat she has never been around any cats. whenever we mention cats she puts her ears up and looks out the window. Whenever cody sees a cat she gets really aggressive and doesnt stop until she is far away from where she seen the cat this is a huge problem as were we stay is surrounded with cats. can you help me?
How Do You Train A Greyhound To Live A Cat
Greyhounds should always be first introduced to an indoor cat that is calm and not running about, or a cat that is willing to stand its ground and growl/hiss/ swipe. Only introduce your cat to the greyhound when the dog is calm. They should be on a secure lead, and wear a cat safe muzzle.
Read Also: What Are The Signs Of A Uti In A Cat
Why Do Dogs Chase Cats
When a dog chases a cat, it is usually because they are following their instincts particularly if your dog is a breed originally used for chasing or herding. Other times, when a dog chases cats, they might just want to play, and they will chase a cat a little like they will chase a ball that has been thrown for them.
Dogs chase cats because they have a strong chase instinct and that movement can trigger this instinct. However, there are instances of dogs living with cats for years without chasing them before suddenly developing this instinct.
It is important to stop dogs chasing cats as soon as you see this behaviour in your own pets. Dogs should see cats as their companions, and not as toys.
Why Does My Dog Keep Chasing My Cat
When a dog chases a cat, it is usually because they are following their instincts particularly if your dog is a breed originally used for chasing or herding. Other times, when a dog chases cats, they might just want to play, and they will chase a cat a little like they will chase a ball that has been thrown for them.
You May Like: Where Can I Buy Advantage For Cats
And The Balance Of Cat & Puppy Is Restored
Your house is a happy house once again.
We want everyone in your home happy, and it can be that way. Its not that hard, it just involved a lot of dedication to the cause.
One thing I can say? Is that this isnt a problem that goes away, and if it begins to escalate? Its much, much harder to deal with.
Keep Your Pets Entertained And Busy
A dog that has too much energy is more likely to chase a cat.4 Take your dog for walks every day and throw in some games of fetch, training sessions, and even agility courses. The more you engage his mind and body, the less likely he will expend his extra energy on your cat.
The same goes for your cat. A cat with too much energy is more likely to pounce on a dog and possibly trigger his prey drive. So play with your cat a lot and try clicker training or interactive toys to engage her mind.
Give your cat a safe space where she can relax away from your dog. Keep a Comfort Zone Calming Diffuser in the room to help her manage any stress she feels. This drug-free solution mimics a cat’s natural pheromones helping her feel relaxed and happy.
Read Also: When Should You Get A Female Cat Fixed