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Help! Dog HATES cats

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  • 01-09-2010 9:18pm
    #1
    Jennypops
    Registered Users Posts: 184 ✭✭


    Hi,

    Just looking for others advice/experience on this..we got a rescue dog there about 2 months ago and he is an angel in every regard asides from when walking (well apart from the separation anxiety but working on that!!)
    Basically when we are out, if he sees a cat he goes bananas. Now I know some people have told me thats normal etc but I am concerned with how agitated he gets. There are loads of cats in my estate so we generally see one at the end of my road and that sets the tone then for the whole walk where he is just all crazy and appears to be on the hunt for another cat, trying to get in under cars and scoping out everywhere (I keep him on the lead as we are still training him with recall)
    He makes so much noise and leaps around like a maniac, I have tried just keep going no matter what hes doing, distraction with keeping his focus on me with salami etc but everything goes out the window once he sees a cat and I cant seem to get him under control again.
    Now in fairness to him he used to be the same with other dogs and would pull and pull on his lead to get over to them, I did obedience training with him and learned a great number of things like turning in the other direction etc once he pulls or getting him to sit etc, basically he doesnt get to greet the dog unless he is behaving. I also have him in daycare a day a week for socialisation to further help with his training.

    Any tips or advice on how to get him somewhat calmer about cats?


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    #2
    Stella2010
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35 ✭Stella2010


    What kind of dog is it ?
    My old terrier is obsessed with cats. She goes mental when she sees one.
    I've had her 8 years and always known she hated them and nothing I have ever tried like introducing her to cats etc works.
    Like your dog she tries to go under cars when on walks etc and if she sees one and she is off lead - she will chase it and will NOT come back - We've given up at this stage trying to change her - sadly some dogs just do not get on with cats.

    Try lookin on Daily Dog Star website to see if there are any good tips.
    I also recommend Dog Training Ireland if you need advice on methods of safely trying to get her used to our feline friends.
    Best of luck with the task !


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    #3
    Jennypops
    Registered Users Posts: 184 ✭✭Jennypops


    Stella2010 wrote: »
    What kind of dog is it ?
    My old terrier is obsessed with cats. She goes mental when she sees one.
    I've had her 8 years and always known she hated them and nothing I have ever tried like introducing her to cats etc works.
    Like your dog she tries to go under cars when on walks etc and if she sees one and she is off lead - she will chase it and will NOT come back - We've given up at this stage trying to change her - sadly some dogs just do not get on with cats.

    Try lookin on Daily Dog Star website to see if there are any good tips.
    I also recommend Dog Training Ireland if you need advice on methods of safely trying to get her used to our feline friends.
    Best of luck with the task !

    Thanks Stella,

    I am starting to think that perhaps he will always hate cats so will always have this reaction. I just hope he is not getting to stressed out when this happens. He is a cavalier/cocker cross and is about 10-12 months old, beautiful fella and very friendly and good natured. Because he was a rescue I dont know his history but he was found straying and was in bad shape but is as healthy as anything now, perhaps there was a few run ins with cats and thats why he dislikes them so much!! He does show other traits which lead me to think that he did not have the best of starts in life.

    I done obedience classes with him at dti and am still working on him with recall, but he done great at everything else, asides from when he gets cat crazy- then it all is forgotten!!
    Hes going to doggy daycare for a day a week for a few weeks to get him socialised with other pups so will ask the girls there what they reckon about cats...


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    #4
    demonspawn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭demonspawn


    Have you thought about actually getting a cat? I know a lot of dog folks don't like cats but if you're not that bothered it might be worth a shot.

    Maybe you could borrow a friends cat and introduce them slowly inside your home. If your dog in only 1 year old then I reckon there's still a bit of time to try something like this. Having a cat around might show him that they're nothing special and he shouldn't have to worry about them on the outside. Just make sure he doesn't try to have your friends cat for lunch. :D

    A neighbor has a border collie/shepherd cross and would go mental whenever she saw a cat. I started bringing my cat around when visiting and the collie's calmed down quite a bit now. She still won't go near my cat but she doesn't seem to see them as a threat anymore so stopped chasing them on the street.


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    #5
    Jennypops
    Registered Users Posts: 184 ✭✭Jennypops


    hubby hates cats so thats a no go but good idea about introducing him to one...all my friends are doggy people though. i just know from the way hes fighting to get at the cats that he doesnt just want to sniff them or play!! and of course the cats just stand there making themselves look bigger before darting off! one of my neighbours cats is, lets just say, not the nicest cat whereas the rest of cats from the area are all friendly, but this one cat just comes across as sly and horrible! that cat sits outside my front door looking in the glass panel, like hes taunting my dog! cat can see the dog is going mad and i swear he has a little smirk on his face...and whats worse is the fact that i want to give it a boot up the arse!!


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    #6
    demonspawn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,460 ✭✭✭demonspawn


    Jennypops wrote: »
    hubby hates cats so thats a no go but good idea about introducing him to one...all my friends are doggy people though. i just know from the way hes fighting to get at the cats that he doesnt just want to sniff them or play!! and of course the cats just stand there making themselves look bigger before darting off! one of my neighbours cats is, lets just say, not the nicest cat whereas the rest of cats from the area are all friendly, but this one cat just comes across as sly and horrible! that cat sits outside my front door looking in the glass panel, like hes taunting my dog! cat can see the dog is going mad and i swear he has a little smirk on his face...and whats worse is the fact that i want to give it a boot up the arse!!

    Well, hopefully it's just an age thing and he'll grow out of it. You mentioned it was part spaniel though which could be the problem. My aunt had a purebred spaniel and it was a complete basket case until it was too old to really run around anymore. It would bark at it's own shadow on the wall for hours. :(

    And yes, cats really are that sly and arrogant. They'll knock over your favorite vase then look at you like it was your own fault for leaving it on the mantle. :D I think that's why I like them, they have attitude (usually a bad one).


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    #7
    barbiegirl
    Registered Users Posts: 1,846 ✭✭✭barbiegirl


    If you find out how let us know, cause like our dog Sindy hates cats. I've tried everything but like you if she sees a cat she goes mad. Therefore I can't walk her off lead in the estate, I can't trust we won't see a cat. She's also a Spaniel cross.
    I have tried introducing her to my brothers kitten, neither liked the look of the other and paws went up. We can't get a cat ourselves as the hubbie is seriously allergic otherwise that would be a done deal.


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