Can You Teach And Old Dog New Tricks?

[Monsindara]

Is there a way to teach a dog not to attack cats if they have killed 2 already?

My friend has just rescued a cat and her dog has killed two cats, he does not eat or terrorize them he just jumps and bites and then walks off...

Her almost teenage daughter has fallen in love with the cat and keeps it in her bedroom at present.

I was thinking of either a muzzle and bringing the dog inside on a leash so the dog is out of its territory but would that work or would it make the dog want to kill the cat more?

[BrunoBella]

Welcome to the forum :D

We need a bit more information.

What sort of dog is this? Some breeds have a high prey instinct and are more likely to kill a cat.

Whatever sort of dog this is, I suggest your friend hires a professional dog behaviourist to solve this problem. In the meantime keeping the animals separated is a good idea.

[neatz]

this does not sound good, keep them seperated. if the dog had attacked two children would you then see if things would be different with a third child? no you wouldn't because it has a history of this behaviour. sorry to sound harsh but I wouldn't gamble with the cat's life. not only is the cat possibly in serious danger but there is the guilt to deal with if something happens, and also the child who has become attached will be devastated as well (and will then probably hate the dog). And if that doesn't put your friend off think of the vet bills which could run into hundreds of dollars if not more.

[Staranais]

Maybe.

When I adopted my current dog, he was predatory towards cats, and his last owner warned me that he'd killed a kitten by picking it up and shaking it.

Four years on, he's now safe with my own cats, and pretty darn trustworthy around strange cats (although I will still always watch him closely around strange cats, just in case).

But that's just my experience - I doubt all cat killing dogs could be rehabilitated that successfully.

I had the advantage in that I started retraining my dog the very first day that I adopted him. He's never been allowed to engage in any form of predatory behaviour around any cats, even staring at them in a predatory manner, since he's lived with me. If your friend's dog has been allowed to chase cats in the past, I imagine her chances of success might be lower?

If I were you, I'd tell her to try to find a good behaviourist, and ask for their help. They should be able to assess her likelihood of success, and give her a plan to follow. Perhaps someone on the forum can recommend one near you?

Trying to cure this problem by herself might work, but it might also result in an injured or dead cat.

Good luck.

Edited February 2, 2008 by Amhailte

[MarkS]

If you definitely want your dog to ignore cats.. SEEK one-on-one advice from a behaviourist first!

It maybe possible to extinguish this dogs prey drive for cats by using avoidance training methods. Most dogs by using avoidance training will adapt. I use avoidance training methods for snakes, dogs that chase livestock, and cats. So it can work, but it takes commitment.

Please don't test your dog with the cat... there is a big chance you will regret it.

[Staranais]

Will PM MarkS instead.

To the OP, I agree with MarkS that the best course for your friend is to consult a behaviourist, instead of risking the cat's safety by experimenting with internet theories.

Edited February 2, 2008 by Amhailte