Two years ago we got a half Rottweiler/half lab puppy in the winter. Because of the cold weather, she was not outside very much. When warm weather arrived we started letting her out for much of day in attached fenced area. When we eventually let her out of fenced area to run (we have 80 acres) she chased our 3 barn cats and acts vicious like she wants to kill them. So far they've been able to run into barn where we leave both doors open just far enough for the cats to escape into. She's a very gentle dog except for this aggressive behavior toward cats, and I'm afraid she will some day catch one and kill it. She's a great dog in all other ways. Does anyone know of a way to change this aggressive behavior toward cats?

-- Betty (Mich.) (brolffs@voyager.net), November 12, 2000

Answers

Betty, I'm not sure if one can train that behavior out 100%. My experience with dogs is that some just come by it natural. Where I work they have adopted several dog the last being a greyhound. And part of the screaning is exposing the dogs to cats (controled of course) to see the dogs reaction. Those who react negatively are not adopted because of the extremely high rate of failure in retraining. I hope I'm wrong and someone has a fool proof system for you. You may just end up with very nervous cats.

-- Del (dgrinolds@gvtel.com), November 12, 2000.

We have a Rott/Lab too, she is 2-1/2 but not "cat trained" we just got 2-8week old kittens 2 days ago, they are in the house andd we are letting the other dogs in to break the ice as it were but until these kittens take the high hand with the dogs, if they ever do, we will have to be aptient. I had a cat to 17 years who would take on any dog no matter how big and all the dogs that came around gave him plenty of room.

If you have a cat chasing dog you are not likely to re-train him/her.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), November 12, 2000.

had a dog that killed a chicken once,,, after I "retrained" it, it wouldnt even look at them, they would walk right under it, roost on him, and he wouldnt even move.

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), November 12, 2000.

Stan Ditto on dog & chicken - Mother taught me how to "retrain" a dog when I was little. She waled the bejeeses out of the dog with the dead chicken,duck,whatever.The dog never killed another domestic animal.I did the same with a lab/setter I had years back, when I came home to discover 4 chickens he had played with to death.Also broke Bobo of running deer by running him down(I was MUCH younger and much more fleet of feet!!!) and beating the bejeeses out of him. I would rather have to do that then have my dog shot for running deer.I won't abide by a deer chasing dog. Second best dog I ever had.

On the other hand we never could break our coonhound named Cherry that we had of killing ducks.Beating her with the dead white duck just made her hate anything white.Seriously. However I blame hubbie for not doing a proper waling.He didn't have the advantage of growing up watching the master, or mistress in this case.Mom taught me alot abt. handling animals ,just by watching her.This was one of those things.Broke her of running deer pretty easy tho.Go figure.

But coonhounds are HUNTERS epitiomized and are hard to train at certain things due to that one tracked mind, or rather nose,Still we were able to obedience train her. We also had a cat, that Cherry would slobber up something fierce, but never hurt,despite being murderous on coons.I just wouldn't let Cherry get carried away with her roughness, when both she and Spot(the cat) were younger, so the dog knew how far was OK, and what wasn't

Spot however was more like a dog and also knew NOT to fight back.That would have been deadly for her, with this particular dog.When attacked Cherry just got meaner.Kid gloves were required when working with her as a pup, or she would have turned out meaner than a rattlesnake.As it was, she was a big old softy......except with coons and bears.

So each dog has it's own personality quirks,and you work with that. My current mostly borber collie former pound puppy could learn anything I had the patience to teach her, including talking and eating with a fork, I do believe!!Best dog I ever had.

A big plug for going to the pound to find a good dog, after you've given them some TLC and workings,of course.Also a recommendation to obedience train any dog.It makes them listen better to you on other things, down the road.Most coonhunters did not obedience train their dogs, but we did.

Boy,I just loved being able to sit here and talk and remember my old dogs.Sorry to carry on, so. Any other dog lovers?

Most people have pictures of their grandkids in their "brag book' I have pictures of my old dogs, and my gardens.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 12, 2000.

Hi Betty, I fear you might not be able to retrain her, unless she actually kills a cat and you can implement the "whaling the tar out of her" technique, I've heard of many people having good results with this with chickens, however, it did not work for me! We have 5 big dogs, 8 neutered barn cats that are also members of our "family", and much loved. Two of the dogs have killed former barn cats, the dogs knew full well that the cats were members of the family and not to be messed with, but it happened regardless. What was even worse, before I had even discovered the deed, the dog responsible was acting extremely guilty, so they knew they did wrong! The dogs in question are now tied up at all times if I am not in immediate attendence of them, and if they repeat the killing, I will have them put down, if I cannot find them a suitable home quickly. The dogs were raised with these same cats together, and if the killing behavoir/ instinct is stronger than their training, I question the safety of placing them anywhere, especailly around children. It is a great delimma with me, which life has more value, as I love them all equally. Our vet agreed, he also said the behavior sometimes cannot be "punished" out of them, it is too instinctual in dogs, so I realize the deaths are my fault, not the dogs. Please separate your dog from the cats in some manner, before the same fate befalls you too. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), November 12, 2000.

Betty, Our dogs and outdoor cats are in love. They always walk together and play together. I would try at least to teach her. Of course, it's always best when they are pups, but it might help. Just hold one of the cats on your lap (with heavy clothes) and have someone walk the dog up on a leash slow. If she wants to hurt it, tell her BE NICE. Make her behave. If she feels one of the cat's claws on her nose, she might think twice. Just be careful. Make her sit there untill she minds. Obedience training really helps. And then quit and take her away and praise her allot. Dogs like chasing cats because the cats run. And it's fun.

You can also use a long (like 20 ft.) lead, and lead her out there with the rope held short. Then when she sees a cat, drop the rest and stand still and hold on to just the end, and let her hit the end of that rope. Then pull her back and say HERE. This works real good and also teaches them to stay with you. When I want them at my side I say HERE. The first time they don't come when you call them back, use the rope again. I have to remind a couple of mine every so often. But always use the same words with her.

Our 6 month old Border wrestles with one of our cats, Boone. Boone the only cat allowed in the house. Zip is very aware of the paws. And Boone actually wants to wrestle with her. They are so funny. He will jump and put both front legs around her neck and hold on. They don't hurt each other, just play.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), November 12, 2000.

If the dog respects you and will stop on your voice command you can most likely be nice about and not hit her or scare her into not looking at the cats. Also, you have to work at and regularly!

If the dog literally loses it's mind over cats the waling the tar out of them augmented by a large caliber weapon blast following an equally large NO should take care of it. of course the dog might be afraid of guns afterwards, but it does work....usually.

A friend of mine had a lab mix that was impossible to break of cats. He was fixated. Didn't try the weapon with him as we were in the city, but no amount of yelling or whaling would break him. Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), November 12, 2000.

And when the Rot, moves on to kill larger stock for sport, please invite me over to see you wail the dog with the dead goat, sheep, calf........Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), November 13, 2000.

Betty, As long as the cats have an escape route, they should be o.k. Our Chow/Lab mix chased our cat.....until she "caught" him. After an attitude adjustment courtesy of Meow and sixty dollars worth of stiches, Annie gives the cat a wide pass now.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 13, 2000.

I have worked with all types of animals both domestic and wild. The thing to remember is each is different. Some cats hate dogs and some get along with any dog. The advantage is with the dog. Learn the proper way to train them and the rest will be easy. Don't listen to Vets on dog training. They fix them not train them. Go to a good dog trainer and listen to what they say. If an animal can not be trained, the animal is not too dumb, the trainer is not smart enough. good luck

-- Nick (wildheart@ekyol.com), November 14, 2000.

Prey drive is difficult to curb I have AmStaffs and some are good with other animals some not. Ihave not found beating them to be effective. The best result I have had is with electronic training collars.

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), November 17, 2000.

Hmmmmm.....our Maremma that lives with our goats actually likes cats. She will eat a couple every day if she can get them.;>) I know I'll "catch"it for that one

-- JT Sessions (gone2seed@hotmail.com), November 18, 2000.

I made a statement that if an animal can not be trained the animal is not stupid the trainer is not smart enough. My wife insisted that I was calling people stupid. I did not mean it that way I just could't remember the spelling of the word patience. It should be the trainer does not have enough patience. Hopefully I will have some peace now that i've corrected that slip up. Sorry about that to those of you that read it the way she did. I already told her I would have to leave countryside and find another forum. There isn't enough room for the both of us on this one. She is the nicer one.

-- Nick (wildheart@ekyol.com), November 22, 2000.

I hope you're joking, Nick. I, for one, want you to stay here, and Sharon too! Please! :-)

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), November 22, 2000.