Advice re Cats

[leih merigian]

I have two adults cats. Zodi was an adult when I got the first one, and it was relatively easy (tho a chore) to teach her to leave the cat alone, and then when adding the second rescue cat, it wasn't even a blip on her radar. It's wonderful to have a solid "leave it" and etc.

However, I'm not positive how to procede with Geyser and the two kitties. For the cats' parts, they've lived in a dogless home for 18 months now. They have been quite freaked out (expected) but are gradually adjusting (it's only been a week ). They're indoor/outdoor cats.

OK, so what to do with Geyser about the cats? She is always under my control when in the house...either on a line, or in an Xpen or crate. Even outdoors, she's on a very light long line.

When she sees the cats outdoors, she'll stop and stare at them. She'd love to go up to them and greet, but then it would escalate (she'll play bow and want to play, which the cats want nothing to do with). Inside, when she's in her Xpen and sees one of them, she gets very excited. The cats are wary of her and stay pretty much away, tho one will have to walk by the Xpen to get to the backdoor.

So, how should I handle this with Geyser? It'll be a while before we have a leave it command. We don't have strong enough focus yet to be able to get her focused on me when she's focused on them.

(Interestingly, when I'm playing with Geyser outdoors, after dinner, often the cats will come and sit and watch from a distance. They're kind of interested in her...they just don't want her in their faces )

[Christie M]

I'm pretty fortunate. My cats have always been confident enough to train my dogs and puppies. They don't run, will tolerate a certain amount of sniffing and then give a bop on the nose if things go too far. As long as my pups always get the interaction as pups, then they stay respectful as adults. Some of the rescues however......well, we keep the cats well protected.

My advice (for what its worth) is to use your leash to break her focus and then reward her for the attentiveness you have already been teaching. If the cats will allow a brief greeting, allow that but pull her away if she starts to get to excited. Reward her for getting back under control and then re-allow the greet. Its the same kind of technique I use for dogs who get over stimulated when interacting with other dogs and loose their manners. I try to stop them before they go too far, but then put them back in the situation to be successful. The good thing about you always having her on a leash is that you can always physically remove her from the situation. It will also build the cats confidence because they know you will protect them, so they can be more confident and stay in the interaction longer.

I would probably do the same thing when they go by the x-pen or any other place she is. Break her concentration and reward focus. Cats = foucs on mom (cause I really have no choice) = reward.

[leih merigian]

Thanks a bunch, Christie. That makes total sense to me. I think the calm greets is a good idea, for both species.

In general, I am reinforcing any calmness around the cats, too.

[syzygy]

Hmm, if a partial message shows up somewhere, my post just disappeared out of the blue and I lost the link. I am still in Nowhere Wyoming, sitting in a parking lot stealing WIFI from the school library, since AT&T decided I was using too much of my "unlimited" coverage and cut me off.

To redo it...

cats...

Just for your information--it is always possible a dog will never be totally trustworthy with cats. I have been around sighthounds all my life. Some, no matter how well conditioned as puppies, can never be left unsupervised. You will know your dog better than any and how far you can go with risk.

One thing I have noticed in the coursing hounds; indoor cats are fine, once the dogs have been thoroughly trained to accept them. Outdoors--ALL the rules of the game change. In my experience, no loose outdoor cat is completely safe around a high-drive dog. So, just keep alert when outside with the kitties. "invaders" are especially at risk. Stray cats that wander into a yard full of Borzoi have no chance at all--even though those same dogs live comfortably with house cats.

I knew a family of whippets that lived peacefully with their cats for many years. Until one day...the owners came home. It was not pretty--nothing left but little kittybits. Just stay alert. DS are far more adaptable, biddable, trainable than sighthounds, whose purpose in life is to see--chase--catch--kill. With the training Christie outlined and careful attention, I think most DS will learn that cats are not to be grabbed and smooshed. Different dogs will have different triggers, too--running or confrontation would be the thing with each of my girls--running for one, confrontation for the other.

JMHO

Ellisa (who has a house/yard/life full of critters, including cats)

[leih merigian]

Thanks for your input, Ellisa.

I expect, in time, that my puppy will be fine with our cats. It just takes time<g>...and you're right, it'll depend a lot on who she is as an indviudual.

I could never live with a sighthound! Actually, I'm just stuck in the herding breed category. I think it's great that folks like you have dogs from many different groups.