Can you stop dogs chasing cats

As soon as the dog starts staring at the cat, you should click and the dog should be given a treat. In order to work, the treat should come right as soon as the click sound is produced. Let too many seconds pass by and the dog no longer knows why you are clicking him for not chasing the cat. If the dog does not respond to the click it could be because the cat is too close.

Try to repeat with the cat at a farther distance. Then as the dog appears to respond to the click, try to allow the cat to get closer. After several days, the dog should have learned that the clicker is a much more interesting device than paying attention to the cat. Success occurs when the dog is no longer interested in chasing the cat and no longer stares at the cat as prey.

The great part of clicker training is that the dog will be gradually conditioned to repeat a determined action in this case, refraining from chasing the cat in order to get a reward. The dog's collaboration, in intentionally making this decision in exchange for a reward that is reinforcing, is known as ''operant conditioning''. The dog will be basically avoiding the cat because he or she has a specific purpose in mind: obtaining the reward.

Your dog at this point will become very collaborative, confident and even enthusiastic because it is at his advantage whereas you will have successfully solved the problem. It is ultimately overall a win-win situation where, dog, owner and the cats get to succeed.

Another method for stopping dogs from chasing cats is to train a very solid response to a smacking sound made with my mouth that tells the dog to pay attention to me. This can work well with dogs with intense predatory drive because many dogs seem to respond better to a sound we make rather than voice. You can then practice this exercise in more and more distracting areas such as in the yard, then watching triggers pass by the window. Here's how to train a dog to look into your eyes.

Once you have a nice response, you will have work around the cat, but with your dog on leash and at a distance from the cat. This is to keep the dog under threshold. Go back a few steps, increasing distance temporarily, and try increasing the value of the treats if your dog seems disinterested. All dogs can be trained to go lie on a mat at specific times when you perhaps may want your cat to be around a bit and you want to keep your dogs all in an area and engaged in some other activity.

In this case, you can give your dogs something tasty to enjoy on their mats. Ensure your cat though never goes near them as many dog will resource guard food from cats. Also, keep the mats at a distance from each other to prevent food guarding between your dogs. Below is a video on how to train a dog to lie on a mat. In a household of several dogs and a cat, things can be quite challenging because multiple dogs loose together will form a sort of "group mentality" and they'll all want to join in the fun of chase.

Most importantly, with group chasing, there are higher chances for mishaps such as risks for injury or predatory drift. Just this past summer I had to work on a case with a beagle who pestered the household cat, he never really hurt the cat, but the poor cat was terrorized of moving freely around the home. She would have to check when he was around to just use her litter box or go to eat.

She moved very slowly and lived most of her life walking on shelves, tables and tall chairs. Any time the beagle saw her, he would chase her and try to mount her. I really felt for the poor cat! Many cats can become stressed when living with dogs. If your cat is stressed, you may also want to provide some calming aids. There are several pheromone--based products such as Feliway or Comfort Zone, which are products that mimic a chemical that cats are known to emit through special glands on their faces when they are feeling calm.

Examples are products containing l-theanine. A disclaimer is warranted here. Dogs and cats may seem to get along at times, but accidents can always happen at a moment's notice. Always supervise your pets and make safety your top priority. Even among dogs, fights may occur in presence of a cat due to redirected aggression. It's a good idea to have plan to separate dogs in case of a fight keep an air horn handy, two pot lids to slam together for a startling effect,a bucket of water, etc.

If your dogs guard food from one another or show other types of aggression, please consult with a behavior professional for safety and correct implementation of behavior modification. Not all dogs will respond to training easily as some dogs have very strong prey drives.

Generally, these are breeds that have been bred throughout the years to hunt prey, therefore prey drive is inherited deep in their genes. Use muzzles and leashes for better control and safety. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.

Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. I have bookmarked this for future use! One of my roommates has a cat andy dogs always try to chase him. The only time boy dog has ever really encountered a cat, the dog left bleeding, but that hasn't stopped him from repeating the behavior. I will have to see what I can do with your advice! Voted up and useful. I think they will eventually decide it's not worth all the effort, but they are very determined and have to try out everything in their bag of tricks first.

A good idea would be to hide somewhere and catch these sneaky guys in the act. If you hide often enough, they will learn that even when it looks like you are not there, you are there.. My neighbor's little dachshunds come over for a play date with my dogs every afternoon because they have to stay tied up all the time. Those smart, sneaky little devils know they aren't supposed to chase my cats, and they don't do if when I'm looking at them, but if I step into the house for a few seconds they zone in on one of my older cats.

They have even learned to do it without barking. Of course the answer is, never take my eyes off them, and that's what I do. It is unbelievable how smart and clever these little guys are! And provide your cat with a permanent dog-free space using baby gates or a cat door.

Let them use shelves or tall cat trees to escape any unwanted canine attention. If you take time with the introductions, train your dog to behave appropriately around your cat, and give your cat a dog-free area, your two pets should be able to co-exist. Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration.

Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes. Like Cats and Dogs?

Jan 28, 4 Minutes. In Partnership with. Find Your Perfect Home. Share a few contact details to get your FREE e-book. AKC Privacy Policy. Management means arranging the environment to prevent the behavior. Prevention of the inappropriate behavior is very important, since cat-chasing is a self-reinforcing behavior i.

If at any time during the introduction process, the dog barks, fixates on the cat or tries to chase the cat, remove the dog from the situation so he cannot continue practicing inappropriate behavior.

This also works with a dog who already has a tendency to chase the cat. Have a quiet area a crate or a bathroom, for instance , a place that your dog already associates with good things, where you can take him.

The instant your dog starts to behave inappropriately toward your cat chasing the cat, whining or simply becoming fixated , calmly lead or lure him away from the cat to the pre-designated area. You should act calmly to avoid arousing the dog even more and you should avoid speaking to your dog. After a minute or two, release your dog in an equally low-key manner.

To increase the chances of success, reward your dog for desired behavior. Reinforcing appropriate behavior teaches your dog what you want him to do i. Prepare a ready supply of great tasting training treats — small bits of whatever food your dog finds most enticing. As soon as your dog looks away from the cat, praise him profusely and give him a treat.