Dog going after cats

[Toonces]

We got our new foster a 7 yr old male gsd, his name is Wally and he is a wonderful sweet boy, will lick your whole face and then some. He walks nice on a lead, knows sit and down and my 2 females have no problem with him and he loves all other dogs but he hates the cats and I know by the way he acts he would hurt them givin the chance. I am making him sit for everything, meals walks, treats, toys ect and he does very nicely.

Any suggestions on how to get him used to the cats.

[StaceyB]

Can you describe what he is doing when he sees them.

[Toonces]

He lunges, snaps and growls, he has put his head right through the screen door trying to get them, I tried him with a muzzle on and he was on lead and we let them out just so he could see them and they could walk around but he didn't care that he was muzzled he wanted those kitties, I tried telling him no and get him in a sit but no way was he going to do that, I am going to have to make him understand that I am the most important thing to him and he needs to ignore everything else so we are doing the nothing in life is free approach with him. I know some dogs just have a very high prey drive and he may never like them but we are willing to try whatever it takes.

[StaceyB]

It is quite possible that he has never been around them. The more focus you put on this the worse he may be. How well does he get along with other animals.
If you have a cat carrier or a crate, I would start by putting the crate in the middle of a room with the cats inside. Let the dog check them out. You may need to do this several times until the cats are not as much of an interest to him.

[chico2]

WoW,Toonces you already have another foster??I suppose there are tons to go around,never a short supply of needy dogs :sad:
I certainly have no expertise introducing dogs to cats,but if a dog is very aggressive towards cats,I don't think that will change very easily.
If you put the cats in a crate,for him to sniff them,it might scare the beejesus out of the cats,as he would more than likely grab for the crate...I would not take that chance with my cats.
But then again you are a foster and you can probably work this out somehow,I hope,seeing this dog needs to be looked after.
Just please,be very,very careful...
Hopefully someone else can jump in here and give you some more advice.

[Toonces]

He gets along great with my 2 girls and male dogs too, he loves all people and so far has not barked at anyone who comes over but he has only been here a few days so he probably dosn't feel the need to protect the house, my 2 do enough barking. We have some guys working out back today and he has paid no mind to them what so ever .

It's just the cats but they are safe from harm just a bit confused

[Lucky Rescue]

If you put the cats in a crate,for him to sniff them,it might scare the beejesus out of the cats,as he would more than likely grab for the crate...

Agree with Chico. Please don't do this - the cats will be trapped and terrorized. He doesn't need to sniff them - he already knows what they are and wants to get them.

Since this is a 7 year old dog who is so highly aggressive to cats, I suggest you adopt him out only to a home with no small animals. He sounds like a wonderful dog and homes with no cats aren't too hard to find.

In the meantime, you can teach him to behave when he sees cats, but you must keep him on leash and be very firm with the "Leave it". He may have killed cats in the past and intends to continue doing so.

[StaceyB]

From what I understand these cats are already used to dogs. It would be much safer to allow him to get used to them in a way that he can't physically get to them. What happens when the cats slip out from where they are being kept and the dog is left with full access.
Did you get any history about him.

[Toonces]

Thanks for the advise guys,

I would never do that to Toonces and Emma they would feel trapped with no place to jump or hide. He will definatly have to go to a home with no cats, so for now they will have to be seperated and when we are at work and he is in his room they can have the run of the house.

He really is a darling, very smart and listens well I don't think this will stop him from getting a good home cat free of course.

[Toonces]

My cats are used to dogs, my 2 are very good with them and we have had 4 fosters and have been very fortunate that none of them had any issues with cats. Unfortunalty this guy was a stray so there is no history on him. There is no way they can get out of where they are and in the daytime when we are at work he will be in a crate in the garage and they can have the run of the house.

I have tried him with a muzzle and theres just no way around it he would harm them, I can't imagine putting them in a cage and letting him freak them out like that. My oldest cat has never backed down from a dog before but he knows his limits with this one.

[Lucky Rescue]

From what I understand these cats are already used to dogs.

They are not used to dogs who try to kill them. My cats are all used to dogs too - nice dogs who don't approach them. If I put them in a cage and brought in a dog like the one Toonces has, they would die of fright.

Even cats who love dogs and have no fear of them would be terrified trapped in a cage with a strange dog lunging and snarling at them.

Some dogs just cannot ever be trusted with cats, but are still wonderful pets!!

[Toonces]

I agree Lucky our little Emma thinks she is a dog, when I get the treats out she is right in line with them meowing over top of their excited barks, she loves to play and be chased but this is something totally different and I would never put my cats in any kind of harmfull situation.

[chico2]

Thank's Toonces that is good to hear,I did not honestly believe you would put your cats in such a scary situation.
Chances are this beautiful dog will never adjust to living with cats at 7 yrs of age.Just do the best you can,to keep these kitties safe :love:

[Toonces]

He really is quite the dog, very alert, smart and willing to please and wants nothing more than to be with you and lick your face every chance he can get it's just the cats but that happens alot they can't help they have a strong prey drive thats just the way it is.

As for Toonces and Emma they are quite ticked at me I even got them some new toys and favorite treats yesterday, tomorrow they will have the house back for 9 hrs and can lay in their favorite spots, we are looking to move him to a spot with no cats but for now he is here till we find a solution, better than being in a pound, he needed out and would have been PTS he was there quite some time :sad:

[chico2]

Toonces,I don't blame you or the dog,he is probably doing what he has always done and other than with the cats,sounds like a wonderful dog.
He certainly needs a good home,to feel loved and appreciated,especially at his age,maybe your home is just not right for him,because of the cats.
It would probably cause stress for both you and the cats and of course Wally.

[Lucky Rescue]

they can't help they have a strong prey drive thats just the way it is.

Exactly! It's not really a problem, any more than it's a problem if a cat wants to kill birds. It's just their nature and you can't force them to be buddies!

[Toonces]

Originally Posted by LuckyRescue

. It's just their nature and you can't force them to be buddies!

I know this is something I can't control (that drives me nuts lol) with the other fosters it was a trip to the vet and everything was all right but this I can't change so for now we will do the best we can untill we find a spot for him that is kitty free.

[happycats]

Here is something that may be helpful for you .


http://www.canismajor.com/dog/dogscats.html

[Toonces]

Just wanted to give an update,

Wally can now see the cats through the patio door when he is outside and when he starts to carry on we give him a correction and make him lay down, he is very submissive when givin a correction and rolls over and exposes his belly, he wants to please really bad but ohhh those cats are tempting. I still would never trust him to be off leash with them so they are never free in the house at the same time but to me this is progress.

We are working on his obedience and he is very smart, sit and stay are coming along nicley and we are working on lead with coming when called. He greets everyone that comes over with a big sloppy kiss, if at first he barks when they pull in the driveway I say quiet and he stops. Such a good boy!

[chico2]

Thank's for the up-date,I guess he probably will never like cats,but it's hardly his fault...he sounds like a wonderful dog and is certainly beautiful :love:
I think there probably are more dogs out there,who would chase cats than there are dogs ok with cats.
My sons JRT,would certainly go after my cats,if we ever put them together,but I am not so sure who would win