Puppy Barking/chasing Cats

[Keira&Phoenix]

Hi,

My puppy Phoenix is an 18 week old Amstaff X who I have now had for 9 weeks. Phoenix was introduced to our 4 cats pretty much as soon as she moved in. At first she was quite cautious around them ie: wouldn't get to close etc. As she grew more confident and familiar with them she has started to bark at them when they are laying around the house (I think this is mostly trying to get them to play with her because she is down on her front legs with her butt wiggling in the air) and sometimes will chase them when she first sees them, sometimes she gets up in their face licking and carrying on and just seems very excited to see them, the cats will give her a smack (no claws) when she is too in their face and yowl at her but sometimes this seems to spur her on. She hasn't bitten them or hurt them in anyway. My question is do you think that this precipitates her chasing them and not getting along with them as she gets older or do you think the longer she is with them the more she will calm down and eventually they won't be exciting anymore? If its the 1st choice, what should I do to counteract this?

I really really don't want another dog who chases cats (Keira chases cats) and cannot get on with them as where I am currently living has cats when I move out I wont have any but that is then this is now, and I like to take her places with me like my Mum's and it will be hard if she wants to chase everyone's cats

Thanks in advance.

*EDIT*

Just thought I would add that although this is her usual response to the cats Mum has told me that she has also seen her once just lying on the grass in the backyard with one of the cats.

Edited December 21, 2010 by Keira&Phoenix

[Fleuri]

I don't think this means she will hate cats forever. She may only be testing them or she may just want them to play.

It may just take her some time to realise that the cats don't care for romping/play.

I would still distract her away from the cats so she doesn't get use to annoying or chasing them for fun.

If the other dog does the chasing then maybe she maybe learning the behavior from the other dog.

Good luck

[Keira&Phoenix]

I don't think this means she will hate cats forever. She may only be testing them or she may just want them to play.

It may just take her some time to realise that the cats don't care for romping/play.

I would still distract her away from the cats so she doesn't get use to annoying or chasing them for fun.

If the other dog does the chasing then maybe she maybe learning the behavior from the other dog.

Good luck

Yeah that was my thoughts. When I see her doing it I redirect so hopefully that will catch on. Yeah I think it is partly she wants them to play and they just don't care for her type of play lol, they are quite happy to play/romp with each other.

I don't think so, if we are letting the cats out to go toilet etc Keira goes on the chain to stop her from chasing and frightening them, so she has never seen Keira chase the cats. Also whenever Puppy is outside she is either supervised or in a play pen so she can't just do whatever she pleases.

Edited December 21, 2010 by Keira&Phoenix