http://www.loucastle.com/critter.htm
if you want to try the shock collar, instructions for doing it RIGHT are at the link above. This protocol worked really well on my dogs to keep them from chasing deer (which is a good way for a dog to end up dead). I haven’t tried it with cats, cause I don’t own cats, and really want my dogs to keep the pests out of my yard.
Feather River- I think we might be able to share a drink or 2! 
'nuff bout that.
I am charging the collar and trying to figure out how to handle things- I don’t want to have either the cats or dogs inside all the time. The JRT hates pain- think the thought of a newspaper on her butt sends her yowling. We got her to stop chasing deer and horses that way. Then, we added invisible fence- that solved THAT.
I am going to try to condition them to not chase. Usually, if they were running away from the dogs, they could get past the fence and they’d be fine. Not that that is an excuse…
Luna is still at the vet, on a warm IV drip, drugs, and a heating pad and blanket. She is still not able to regulate her body temp- nor is she her normal, hissy self. The vet is still hopeful, but I don’t have that same sense for some reason. Perhaps its my pissed-off-ness. Perhaps it’s knowing that she has never let us pick her up since I rescued her as a 5 week old kitten. She is not a cuddly cat unless its on her terms. Her name is Luna for 2 reasons- found her the night of the lunar eclipse and she is a lunatic. But she still is one of the family and we are all very sad.
Annika–I’m sorry to hear about your cat.
Here are the things that have worked for cat chasing dogs in my experience.
The shock collars can be great too…but you still have to do a pretty sufficient amount of training even with that. It’s really best if they can be kept on leash.
When a good “leave it” command is established, you still have to supervise, but you have a little bit more room to move about without a dog tied to you.
I’m sorry about Luna.
Just a few quick thoughts on the dogs.
Three dogs is a pack.
It’s also a fairly new pack having just been made late last year, so behavior may not have stabilized.
Often the family dog(s) are fine with the cats indoors - outdoors it can be a whole different game especially if the cat runs (see #1).
I hope Luna recovers and you can find a working solution that’s good for everyone concerned.
I had the opposite problem with a Cocker Spaniel. He was raised with a kitten that my then-roommate got at the same time I acquired the puppy. They were buddies within a couple of days, and they played HARD. The cat gave as good as she got.
Fast forward three years. New roommates, two new cats. Dog does NOT understand why the cats don’t WANT to play at being professional wrestlers. After all, “his” cat had been his best playmate. He eventually got the message, but sometimes I did see him looking wistfully at the cats, like, “why won’t they play with me?”
Current dogs have learned that trying to chase after a cat will result in some very unpleasant sensations from the Gentle Leaders. They don’t even look now.
I’m going to pester you about the shock collar- it takes a lot of work. You don’t just go out and shock the dog whenever he tries to eat the cat, that’s cruel and ineffective. It is very human nature to want to reach out and punish the dog for going after a cat, but if you just shock the dog the dog hasn’t the slightest idea why he is suddenly in pain. Many dogs will just run frantically away; others will think “the ground got me” and avoid that location forever, practically zero will ever understand “chasing cat= pain”. If you keep shocking the confused dog you may end up with displaced aggression, nervous breakdowns, etc. The mis-use of the shock collar is why it has a bad reputation. If you want the dog to not-chase even when you are not present you need to follow the instructions at the link I posted. No commands are issued to the dog, but a lot of time is required to get a reliable “ignore the animal”.
Would the dog think, “That D**m Cat SHOCKED me!!!”
And become even more cat-aggressive?
While you can get the dog to the point of ignoring a cat, you’ll never be able to trust the dog around one un supervised. doesn’t matter how good of a trainer you are.
Sad but true. i had found a skinny lost GSD a while back with full intent of keeping him, but he lunged at my cat, and i knew that even though in 30 minutes of working with him i got him to walk past the cat and leave it… i’d never be able to leave them alone together… and it wasnt worth the risk
i found the gsd a wonderful home with another dog (with people that hate cats). i am sure you can do the same for your found doggy
I have used shock collars with dogs, and my main concern is just that- I have seen with some that it does the opposite of intended result, and also, if not used at exactly the right moment, you can really ruin the trainability of the dog. I believe that one of the dogs was trained with a shock collar- in an incorrect way. She knows heel, and basic commands, but she will NOT lay down and despises getting her collar on. She was my concern- the JRT? She is smart and would “get it” pretty quickly.
I have not used it yet- only because I need the time to do it right. THe bigger cats know how to get away, but it still makes me sad that I even have to think about it. I have a couple of options, one being changing the invisible fence to a smaller area, and not allowing the dogs access to under the house- a way for the cats to get away. I am sure they could get away. I am currently crating the dogs when we are not home- sad but deserved.
It is a pack- and I thought it was an okay pack. Guess not.
On a sad update, Luna died last night at the vets. I am upset with me, as I knew that she was not okay- and should have just had the vet put her down on Tuesday. But, the vet was hopeful. I need to trust me more. I knew- the vet said she never had that sense- but, darn it…I did. So lots of money later, and poor Luna died rather then being given the benefit of being PTS.
Thanks for all your ideas and support. Think of Luna- she was a nice, independent kitty. She’s only let us touch her at night, when SHE decided- and she was all over us then. The night before, we had a long cuddle- her throwing herself at me, being just so affectionate. So, at least she had that.
Sad, now…
[QUOTE=wendy;4121415]
http://www.loucastle.com/critter.htm
if you want to try the shock collar, instructions for doing it RIGHT are at the link above. This protocol worked really well on my dogs to keep them from chasing deer (which is a good way for a dog to end up dead). I haven’t tried it with cats, cause I don’t own cats, and really want my dogs to keep the pests out of my yard.[/QUOTE]
SUPER link and was our plan to use this method- hence why I have not started yet…
Honestly I wouldn’t have a dog that would kill a cat- I would either give dog away to a non-cat home or have the dog put down
[QUOTE=tabula rashah;4126473]
Honestly I wouldn’t have a dog that would kill a cat- I would either give dog away to a non-cat home or have the dog put down[/QUOTE]
I’m suffering thru that right now…really hard decision. I really like these dogs a lot.
[QUOTE=wendy;4121293]
and this is why I know- I also encourage my dogs to chase and kill if possible trespassing cats. Can’t stand them. Keep your cat on your own property. So my cat- and marmot- killing great dane is a big sweet cuddlebug with anything not small and furry. Not an aggressive bone in his body.[/QUOTE]
I WISH I could train mine to chase the cats off of my property! We’ve a fairly sizeable feral population around here, and of course one of my bleeding-heart neighbors feeds them. Never mind the rabies risks. And how much fun to be doing a little gardening and stick your hand right in a pile of catshit! I have nothing at all against a nice, indoor (we’re suburban) kitty, but I hate these feral cats with a passion.
But if I teach the dogs to chase them out of the yard, the dogs won’t be able to understand why it isn’t okay to chase them when we are out walking. I am fond of my arms, don’t really want them ripped from their sockets. So it’s the hose for now.
[QUOTE=tabula rashah;4126473]
Honestly I wouldn’t have a dog that would kill a cat- I would either give dog away to a non-cat home or have the dog put down[/QUOTE]
It is not the dog’s fault. Sounds like you just shouldn’t own a prey driven dog. They are programed [hard wired] to go after small animals. They have to be taught how to herd the animal and not kill it. They don’t automatically know that.:eek:
[QUOTE=Mara;4126737]
I WISH I could train mine to chase the cats off of my property! We’ve a fairly sizeable feral population around here, and of course one of my bleeding-heart neighbors feeds them. Never mind the rabies risks. And how much fun to be doing a little gardening and stick your hand right in a pile of catshit! I have nothing at all against a nice, indoor (we’re suburban) kitty, but I hate these feral cats with a passion.
But if I teach the dogs to chase them out of the yard, the dogs won’t be able to understand why it isn’t okay to chase them when we are out walking. I am fond of my arms, don’t really want them ripped from their sockets. So it’s the hose for now.[/QUOTE]
I could come over with my two Bouviers and we could clear them out for you!
where’s there’s cats there’s cat food–famous Bouvier saying
I have a 120 pound Pit Bull Terrier, Stuart. He would never harm a cat but was horrible around wild things around the farm. My fear was that it would escalate. I used a shock collar 3 times. After that, we went strictly on the bell mode on the collar. He now completely stops dead in his tracks if I say “leave it.” I don’t even raise my voice. He just knows. I hated using the shock collar but I would have had him pts had he not stopped. I have had huge success.
[QUOTE=feather river;4128066]
It is not the dog’s fault. Sounds like you just shouldn’t own a prey driven dog. They are programed [hard wired] to go after small animals. They have to be taught how to herd the animal and not kill it. They don’t automatically know that.:eek:[/QUOTE]
Actually I’m not a big fan of any dogs. We do have a dog at my house (belongs to my in-laws who live with us) and six cats. The dog definitely knows who the bosses are and if he hurt a cat, he’d be gone.
OP I’m sorry you lost your cat. That’s just a sad situation.
We find a dog or two a year on our property, dumped, and a few fail QUICK on the cat-reliability factor- that earns them a same day one way to the county pound. That death stare was a warning. I’m not about to change my life in any perceptible way to accommodate a dog that wants to kill a cat, or is obsessive about anything, period. Be a reasonable dog or live elsewhere or go to the pound.
I’m really, really sorry you lost Luna.
Thank you-
The humane society called me right back- we are playing telephone tag, but that’s okay. I know I will reach them. the dogs are certainly aware that they are not on the most loved list. From being allowed to sleep curled next to me, to “I think you’d better sleep on the floor, dear puppy…”
I love these dogs, but there lies the paradox- I love them, but hate dogs that kill cats.
[QUOTE=katarine;4129122]
OP I’m sorry you lost your cat. That’s just a sad situation.
We find a dog or two a year on our property, dumped, and a few fail QUICK on the cat-reliability factor- that earns them a same day one way to the county pound. That death stare was a warning. I’m not about to change my life in any perceptible way to accommodate a dog that wants to kill a cat, or is obsessive about anything, period. Be a reasonable dog or live elsewhere or go to the pound.
I’m really, really sorry you lost Luna.[/QUOTE]
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