How to keep a dog from attacking a cat

You can resort to more radical methods of education. Use shock collars, slings and ultrasound devices that help teach the right attitude toward your companions, but only after consulting your dog handler or veterinarian. Stronger stimuli will help to teach the animal the proper behavioral skills and reflexes faster.

Dogs attacking cats – what to do?

The old movie "Cats vs. Dogs" reflected the hardened conflict between these two pets in a whole new light. And who hasn't heard the saying, "Living like a cat and a dog"?

Many dog owners would argue: in their families, the pets easily get along with each other and even demonstrate exceptional affection. Animals can sleep together, protect each other and take care of each other's offspring, regardless of species differences.

But just as often dog owners encounter a very different problem: when a dog's eyes light up with devilish fire at the sight of a cat, and he rushes out to attack with obvious unfriendly intentions.

Causes of attacks on cats

Cynologists and animal behaviorists identify several factors that motivate dogs to chase and attack:

To the dog, the cat is not interesting in and of itself – it appears as an object that responds to interest in itself, runs away and thereby triggers a string of fascinating events. What dog would refuse to chase, especially if it's completely natural and normal for a predator to react to sudden movements?

Most of all chase cats like excitable, hot-tempered and energetic cholerics. This will also include animals with a well-defined prey behavior. These are mainly hunting breeds: terriers, dachshunds, huskies (ZSL, REL, KFL etc.) and often Malinois and Dobermans. In their territory, a strange cat will not pass by a Central Asian or Caucasian cat, and neither will a German shepherd dog. The least interested in cats are phlegmatic dogs of the large heavy molosses: Saint Bernards, Mastiffs, Bordeaux and German Dogs.

A dog muzzle for cat safety

In serious cases where you're really worried about fur flying around, a muzzle for your pup may be the best and safest option.

A basket muzzle is a good way to keep your cat safe around a runaway puppy.

You will need to teach your dog how to wear the muzzle:

1. Show your dog the muzzle. Let him sniff the muzzle so it becomes a familiar object to the dog.
2. Put a favorite treat inside the muzzle and show it to the dog.
3. Hold the muzzle so that the puppy pokes his nose inside to get the treat.
4. Repeat feeding your puppy the treat from the muzzle dozens of times.
5. Finally, put the muzzle on and reward the dog with a few treats for being patient. Then remove the muzzle. Do not offer treats if the dog is not wearing the muzzle so the dog associates it with treats.

For dogs who salivate at the sight of a cat, be sure to wear a muzzle if you can't keep an eye on that extreme pair.

Carrying Techniques.

Most dogs don't want to hurt the cat; they just can't resist the lure of the chase. Trainers offer several approaches that can cure this behavior.

One way is to use a protective cat carrier while the puppy is on your leash.

Use this technique only if your cat is confident and not overly stressed. Cowardly cats should not be put in this situation.

So, proceed as follows:

1. Place the kitten in a protective carrier while the puppy is in another room. Give the cat a toy or catnip to calm him down.
2. Bring the puppy into the room and offer his favorite treats one by one to keep him focused on you and reward him for his calm behavior.
3. Ask your puppy to sit, lie down, follow you on a leash or play with him. Practice obedience to commands your puppy knows very well and reward him for his obedience.
4. Suggest the best treat for stepping away from the cat or looking away from it. The idea is to teach your puppy that he deserves more attention and encouragement when he ignores the cat, not when he picks on it.

A fight between four-legged friends in your own home

Dogs and cats aren't known to understand each other from the start. But with the right approach, you can also make your loved ones become one heart and soul.

Depending on your age and which animal was there first, you have different things to consider. However, in my experience, the best option is to is to keep the dog and cat together as young animals from the beginning.

Often this is not always easy and may not even have been planned from the beginning.

That's why I've put together some of the most helpful tips for you so you can keep your dog and cat together without the cat attacking the dog or vice versa.

You can read more about these tips in What to do if your cat attacks your puppy.

The hardest part is accustoming an adult cat to a puppy, as a cat can quickly see a puppy as an intruder on its territory.

What to do if a cat attacks a puppy is described in the next section.

Dogs are pack animals, so even if your dog is an adult, in most cases he will accept a cat and kitten without much trouble. The only important thing is to give both animals the privacy they need so they can "sniff" each other in a safe environment and also get away.

To prevent the cat from attacking the dog or the dog from attacking the cat, I recommend always approaching introductions under supervision.

It is very important to stay calm because your nervousness can spread to the animals as well.

I like to give both of them treats when they are together so that the cat and dog associate their neighborhood with the treats and get used to each other.

The cat attacks the puppy – what is the right thing to do in this situation

Especially if you want to accustom an adult cat to a puppy, and your cat has already had negative experiences with dogs, it may be that the cat will attack the puppy.

Puppies are often especially clumsy and don't yet know how to handle these situations.

Ideally, the adult cat does not perceive the puppy as an intruder, so it is especially important that the cat has freedom from the start and that both animals have the opportunity to retreat.

If the cat attacks the puppy, of course you should intervene and postpone the encounter to another time. This takes the tension out of the situation and the animals can gradually get used to each other.

It's also better if the puppy and cat have different places to drink and eat so they both don't feel jealous or that something is being taken from them.

To keep the cat from attacking the puppy, both should also have their own toys if they don't want to share them willingly.

I recommend that you approach the habituation process with a lot of patience and confidence, as this will prevent tensions from developing and territorial fighting from occurring.

With a lot of patience and mutually accepted freedom, cat and puppy soon become one heart and one soul.

How to accustom a kitten to the apartment: to the litter box, scratching post, toilet, dog

The third method – using a clicker

Wean the dog off the cat is sometimes possible with the help of a clicker. It can be specially purchased for the education of your pet. The device plays a clicking sound when you press a special button. The dog begins to respond to the click and associates it with the "correct" behavior. You can buy this device online or at any pet store. How to train?

1. The pet must get used to the clicker. The clicker should be made immediately when the pet performs the command correctly. A calm attitude towards the cat should also be accompanied by the clicker signal;
2. After the clicker, be sure to give your pet a piece of treat. The dog should understand and remember the connection between exemplary behavior and the clicker, and then between the clicker signal and encouragement;
3. Mimic the cat's movements during training. This makes training more difficult, but it allows your pet to get used to being with other animals;
4. Sit your dog in front of you, say "sit," and begin to retreat quickly. Stop. If the dog stays where he is, flick the clicker, praise him and give him food.

You can't teach him not to react to his new "neighbor" in one day. But gradually he'll remember which behavior deserves praise. Include a "yuck" command if he starts chasing the cat. Praise your dog constantly if he follows commands clearly. While running after a "striped" cat, stop him with the "yuck" command. If he stopped chasing, click the clicker, and then give him a "yummy treat".

Method four – wean her off the reaction to the neighbor's cats

1. Take your pet out into the yard on a leash. If he tries to chase the cat, use the "yuck" command. When the pet is on a leash, it is easier to stop him. However, you must ensure that you don't have to hold a tearing dog back, but that he stops on his own after your command.
2. So that the dog does not feel threatened by your cats, try to draw his attention to you. Behave calmly and reward your dog for paying attention only to you, without distractions from the presence of other animals.
3. Make sure he follows you at all times, even when you let him off leash. Practice the "next to you" command with a clicker or treat. Praise him for good behavior and also for obeying commands.
4. If you do not live in an apartment building, but in a private home, try to enclose your yard with a fence. This will greatly reduce the risk of unwanted "tailed" guests on your territory.

Accustom the dog not to react to the appearance of street cats. Whenever your dog tries to be aggressive, use the "yuck" or "sit" command. Be sure to encourage good behavior with a treat or affectionate words.

The dog is torturing the cat

At home we have a cat and a dog.The cat is 1.5 years old, lives long ago, about a month ago took a dog, a girl 4 months, mongrel dog.Problem in their behavior together.At first the cat was afraid of the puppy, but after a month relationships have changed dramatically.Now the puppy does not give a pass cat, rushes, starts chewing on the neck, playing. Because of these games the cat's chest is bald, the dog chewed out all the hair, and it began to roll up on the chest and fall out. The cat is indulgent to such games, and if it is really a dog gets to him, then he will paw at his face. Recently, an unpleasant incident occurred, the cat apparently very badly wanted to go to the bathroom and sat in the room, and the corridor was cornered by a dog, as it turned out he felt and went to the bed on the bed linen. I just feel sorry for the cat, the dog is 4 times bigger than him and constantly drags him by the withers, though he plays, but the cat hurts.

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Most likely, the problem behavior (dog attacking the cat and not hearing your commands) is due to dominance.

What is dominance?
Any dog, regardless of size or breed, has wolf behavior. A dog that lives in a family considers it his pack. In a pack, there is a hierarchy where one representative is superior to the others, in other words, he is the leader of the pack. The higher the animal's position in the hierarchy, the more rights and advantages it has.
Usually the leader sets the rules and demands their fulfillment (dominates). He always goes first, forcing the others to follow him. The leader eats first. He can take food from other members of the pack. He is the initiator of all pack activities, whether playing or hunting. He sleeps on high places. In the well-known cartoon about Mowgli, the leader Akella was always lying on a high rock.
This behavior is inherent in dogs from birth; it determines how viable their pack will be in the wild. The desire to lead the pack and become the leader is in every dog. Therefore, in order to reduce a dog's dominance, you must not allow him to behave like a pack leader. You need to behave that way yourself, that is, by following the rules described below.

Why a dog reacts inappropriately to other dogs in the street

The behavior of our smaller brothers depends largely on proper socialization, systematic training. An uncontrolled, aggressive dog, regardless of its age, breed, size, is a real problem not only for the owners, but also for other animals and people.

If a dog is throwing himself at his relatives, before you choose any method of correcting the behavior of the pet, you need to find out the reasons. There are no dogs that cannot be trained. There are no dogs that cannot be taught to respond appropriately to other dogs. There are improperly chosen methods of correcting behavioral manners.

Tip! Analyze how your dog treats other animals or fellow dogs. At what moments the dog shows aggression, what provokes such behavior.

• Inconsistencies in training;
• improper adaptation, socialization;
• lack of contact with congeners, other animals;
• psychological trauma;
• dominance, emotional overexcitement;
• insufficient physical, mental load;
• sexual competition;
• physical discomfort, severe pain syndrome;
• breed peculiarities (hunting, fighting, guard breeds).

Such dog behavior may be caused by territorial aggression. Following their natural instincts, dogs can protect their territory from the introduction of strangers. And it can be not only a private yard, enclosed areas, but also ordinary playgrounds for walking or adjacent areas. Dogs behave aggressively towards congeners, feeling that they are masters of certain territories.

Aggression may be a manifestation of dominance. Difficulties and problems in communicating with congeners in the street are most often noted in animals with a pronounced dominant behavior. Strong individuals suppress weak ones, showing their advantage and strength. In addition, such dogs often strive to take the place of the leader in the family, which they consider their pack.

How to teach your puppy to lash out at dogs

No matter what breed or size of dog you have, he must adequately assess the situation and not show aggression without cause. Therefore, from an early age, we need to properly socialize the pet and immediately stop any inappropriate behavior.. Unfortunately, you may notice that owners of decorative breeds walk their pets only on a leash, all because the dog barks or attacks other dogs.

Once quarantine is over, gradually train your puppy to react appropriately to outdoor stimuli. He shouldn't be interested in people, birds or other animals.

The first walks should be short. Walk your puppy on a leash in quiet, quiet places, away from common dog-walking areas. Gradually increase the amount of time you spend walking and as the puppy gets used to the outdoors and the new surroundings, gradually train him to socialize with his kinsmen. Constantly monitor your dog's behavior, environment and surroundings. Avoid contact with stray animals or aggressive littermates.

It's best if your puppy first starts with dogs his own age or with calm, peaceful individuals. Gradually take your puppy for walks in a private area, but don't let him react to or bark at dogs who are behind the fence. Reject such behavior with a stern tone and forbidden commands. If he is obedient and obeys commands, praise or treats.

Notice when he wants to chase other dogs or animals. If he pricks his ears, extends his neck forward, extends one leg, stiffens or waits, pull his leash tighter and give the command "Stay close" or "Don't. Divert your dog's attention and take him away from the object of interest. Praise him for his obedience.

How do I keep a dog from attacking cats?

Dogs are hunters by nature. If you've noticed, they'll chase a running cat and barely notice a stationary one. The best way is to use the dog's behavior, not the dog itself. the best way is to use the dog's leash, the dog's leash, the dog's leash, the dog's leash, the dog's leash, the dog's leash. But remember – you need to influence the behavior of the dog, not the dog. the best way is the method of "carrot and stick". all is done on the leash. dog rushed for a cat, the command voice and jerk, the dog did not understand what's wrong, but the cat has not looked urgently her a treat and praise, praise.

But it's a long process. then without a leash but with a pulse collar. but only under the control of a dog handler or break the dog's psyche.

You know all this advice such as a muzzle, a leash, jerk jerk-absolute nonsense! If the dog is trained specifically to kill a cat, then nothing will help. How much effort and time it took me to wean a seven-month-old ambul puppy from aggression towards cats you can't even imagine! What only did not try! Usually an ideal obedient dog became completely insane at the sight of a cat. His attention was impossible to distract neither food nor play, no commands or threats! And when it was almost possible (after 2 weeks of painstaking labor and harsh training) dog seized the moment when I was not watching them and grabbed the cat dead grip. The cat defended himself as much as he could. But he was not helped by his teeth or claws. The dog just snapped him in half and let his insides out. So the fact that the cat against the dog can stand is also complete nonsense. This is written by those who have never seen dogs tear up cats or those smaller than them. The cat was buried. And to the "cute" dog I changed my attitude irrevocably. I am used to the fact that my dogs (and they are not a few: Rottweiler, Alabay, Spanish Mastiff, Staff) unconditionally perform the commands and I am sure of them, if not 100 then 99%. And with this ambul just do not know what to expect. I have a lot of experience in training. But here apparently nothing can be done. Even the electronic collar does not react in any way at the sight of a cat. Complete f. Ц! And he's only seven months old. And you're advising all this nonsense! Any muzzle the dog takes off in half a turn if he wants, and even if he doesn't take it off, he'll maim the poor cat with it (this applies to metal and combined muzzles). So we have to go for walks in the unknown where there are no cats and all the time keep an eye out! That's all advice!

How do you wean a dog from hunting a cat?

There is a grown up big dog in the house, since puppy he lived with a cowardly cat that would not let him anywhere near, running away and growling, so all absolutely cats the dog started chasing. Chased, tried to catch. Then we had a change of scenery, we lived in a house where there were a lot of adequate cats, I used to wean him in every way, I scolded him, and he got used to it a little, although it was not once for all. Now the dog at least does not throw like before. At the moment the dog is mostly in the same room with a small kitten, the kitten is not afraid, lets him in, but the dog still sometimes jumps up when the kitten moves, runs, corners it, etc. Although sometimes they coexist peacefully, the cat sleeps on the edge of the bed, the dog under it – no one touch. But I'm afraid for the kitten, isolate them from each other can not. How to wean the dog from this terrible habit of hunting for a cat, how to suppress this instinct? As soon as the kitten backs up against the wall or starts to respond, the dog goes into a frenzy.

There are tragic cases when a kitten and a dog are neighbors, especially if the kitten gets the urge to eat from the dog's bowl. Unfortunately, some dogs have a pronounced hunting instinct. If you don't want to part with your kitten or dog, then you have to watch them all the time. I think you have to use the carrot and stick method here.

1) Be very strict with the dog at the slightest aggression towards the kitten. Not only say "Ew!" and "No!", but also punish the dog with a slap, reprimand him. Never leave them alone when you leave the house, isolate the dog from the kitten, and separate them.

2) Try to make friends with the animals. Take the kitten in your arms and at the same time pet the dog, encourage them to sleep and play together in your presence, make it clear that you love the dog and that you care about the kitten too.

I had a long time ago when I brought a teenage Russian blue kitten to my country house and I adored her. The neighbors had a small red Vesta who hated cats and crows and chased them away all the time. I was very afraid for my kitten. The dog and I were friendly, she even slept with me once at the cottage – she treated me for sciatica.

How to Teach an Adult Dog to Chase Cats

Adult dogs aren't as easy to wean as puppies, so be patient. You can use the same methods you use for puppies. If you got your adult dog from a shelter and he's not very obedient or well-mannered, see a dog trainer for help. Do what the dog handler tells you and keep him on the trainer's block at home and on walks. Over time, systematic training will help your dog to wean him off bad manners and bad habits.

• Correct his behavior with encouragement and reprimand. If your dog overreacts to cats or other animals, use sternness and enforce the commands "Come here", "Ew", "No". Dogs should come to you instantly at the first call, despite the presence of other stimuli. If your pet shows no interest in cats from a distance, always praise and pet them and give them a treat.

Important! Do not scold the pet for being intemperate. A ban only heightens interest, and if physical force is used in addition to the reprimand, the dog may spite you.

• Learn how to behave properly with your dog. Try not to encourage him at all and every time he's naughty or about to go chasing after a moving object, use a stern tone or a light slap on the bottom to reprimand him. You can also use unpleasant sounds, like Fisher's disks, that he doesn't like to hear.

• If the dog is out of control and cannot suppress his hunting instinct, drive the dog on a strict collar. It is better to have one strong action than constant tugging on the collar.

• You can use special devices, for example, ultrasound, electric pulse. The last option is very effective and efficient, but quite painful for dogs.

How to train a dog to get along with a cat at home

An equally serious problem is when the dog, living in the same territory as the cat, in the house, the apartment does not allow the animal to exist in peace. If the dog reacts inadequately to the cat, the animal's nervous system suffers. Fluffy is forced to constantly sit on high places and move around the house stealthily.

It is best if the animals were taken at the same time, and they get used to each other from a young age. But if you got a cat after a dog, in any case do not allow conflicts between the animals or the development of hatred. If a cat chases a puppy or dog, spray it with a water gun, a spray gun. Cats are afraid of water.

Do not let the cat eat or drink from the dog's bowls, sleep in the dog house or on the dog bed. Cheeky cat behavior will sooner or later provoke conflict.

If the first dog came into the house, and then the kitten, accustom the animals to each other gradually.

• Do not leave them unsupervised at first.
• Separate the animals in different rooms.
• Resist aggression and don't let your dog have his hunting instinct. Punish the dog for disobedience, inappropriate reactions to the cat at home and outside.
• Don't let the dog lunge at a kitten or cat if the animal comes to the bowl.
• Make sure the dog does not disturb the cat when it is at the litter box.

If you don't trust your dog, when you leave home, don't leave the animals in the same area or make a place for the cat on a higher ground so the fluffy one feels relatively safe.Treat and give equal attention to all pets in the home so that no one feels hurt or left out.

Many factors play a role in the relationship between dogs and cats and other animals. So if you have not been able to deal with the problem and the dog continues to harass cats in the street or at home, seek help from a canine professional.