Dog Chasing Cats: How to Handle It!
When dogs and cats don't get along
Dealing with the challenges of integrating dogs and cats can be a complex task. While some dogs and cats naturally get along, others may struggle to coexist due to misunderstandings and language barriers. However, understanding the underlying causes and taking proactive steps can help foster a harmonious relationship between these two beloved pets. Let Petli guide you in overcoming the obstacles and creating a peaceful environment for your furry companions. ㅤ
Finding the cause of cat hunting
As always, we need to examine the underlying cause of the problem: is it hunting instinct, fear, or culture clashes between two species? The most common scenario is that dogs view cats as targets for their hunting instinct, which in turn frightens the cats who runs of, creating a vicious cycle. A single cat chase can be so rewarding for a dog that she/he will seize every opportunity to experience it again.Therefore, it is important to try to ensure that your dog never gets the chance. It is much easier to teach a dog to behave appropriately around cats from the beginning than to try to reverse a strongly reinforced behaviour.A dog that chases cats should never be off-leash around them. Even if the dog only wants to play, the experience can be unpleasant from the cat's perspective. Only in a leashed and secure setting can you attempt to help the dog develop a considerate interaction with the cat.
What Can I Do?
Before Cat Chasing Becomes an Interest
Initially, keep a significant distance from the cat and praise the dog calmly every time he/she chooses to ignore the cat by turning her/his gaze, nose, or body away. Throw the reward away from the cat to clarify the desired direction. If a real cat is too tempting, simplify the situation. Play cat meowing sounds on your phone. Do this daily to help the dog become accustomed to and react less to the sound. Set up training scenarios with cat scent on a towel that has been placed in a cat bed, and place a stuffed cat toy or cat-shaped wooden cutouts along a walking route (upwind). Take walks with the dog on a leash towards the challenges. When the dog sniffs towards the temptation, stop, and wait while the dog sniffs the towel you've hung in a tree or looks at the displayed toy cat. Wait for the dog's gaze to shift towards you. Praise and reward generously with something valuable while backing away from the situation. Turn around and repeat, spread the training over several days if needed. Practise until the ability becomes second nature. Sustainable good results require practicing in different environments with various cat-related temptations. ㅤ
When the Interest Already Exists
Practice impulse control. Attach a furry material, such as rabbit fur, to a long line wrapped around a tree. It becomes a strong temptation when someone pulls on the line and the fur "runs off". Start from a distance and have a friend pull the long line slowly at first. Let the dog observe the movement and then ask your dog to lie down. Lying down lowers the heart rate. Do not nag, but motivate the dog to stay in the lying position with a treat. If the dog gets stressed, provide calming massages, and reward a composed dog with a treat search away from the lure. The foundation training of this kind prepares the dog for an acute situation. ㅤ
Dealing with misunderstandings between dogs and cats
Imagine an angry cat swishing its tail from side to side; a dog may interpret it as a friendly wagging tail. If the dog approaches in this situation, it may be smacked by an upset cat who's asked for distance rather than a greeting. Or imagine a cat walking briskly towards a dog and raising its tail straight up as a greeting gesture. In dog language, the same gesture signifies a threat. You can see the dilemma. A dog that is not accustomed to cats can also be confused by a cat's purring, which resembles growling. To ensure that dogs and cats thrive in each other's company, they need to learn to understand each other. That's where you come in. If you want to know more about how dogs communicate, check out Dog Language – Learn to Interpret and Communicate in “Dog”.
Socialize dogs and cats with short sessions
When socializing a dog and cat, short sessions are sufficient. The dog will benefit from knowing basic skills like sit, lie down, calmness, and impulse control as mentioned above. Keep the dog on a leash and practice calmness training in the presence of the cat. Start by training with the cat as the audience to emphasize that your team work applies in situations where cats are present. Practise easy trainings you dogs knows well and enjoys. Pay no attention to the cat; it is just part of the environment. Praise the dog if he/she looks at the cat with a composed gaze. Never allow the dog to interact roughly with the cat. Hold on to the leash and move away if the dog tries to lunge at the cat, increase the distance to resume practicing calmness. If the cat's tail starts swishing from side to side, tell the dog to "back away" and lead the dog out of the situation. This way, you teach the dog the appropriate response to the cat's signal. If your dog becomes stressed, barks at the cat, or fixates its gaze on the cat, you are too close. In such a scenario, there is no room for development or learning. ㅤ
When dogs and cats get curious about each other
When both the cat and dog show positive curiosity towards each other, you can lead the leashed dog towards the cat. Ask your dog to lie down a few meters away from the cat and wait for the cat to approach. If the cat backs away, show respect by also stepping back. Consideration is crucial in building relationships. If the cat hisses, quickly help your dog to back away by gently placing you palm on the dogs chest and guiding the dog back. Do not pull on the leash or raise your voice, as this will contribute to more stress in a situation that should be relaxed. ㅤ
Reinforce dog and cat signals
Your calm interaction demonstrates to the dog how to behave. If you have an insecure dog that signals her/his insecurity and the cat doesn't pick up on it, put up a stop hand signal towards the cat. If that's not enough, gently guide the cat away. Be proactive and reinforce each individual's signals by helping the receiver behave correctly.
Making training more difficult when it works
Before close contact occurs, the dog should be able to resist the impulse to chase if the cat moves suddenly. Let the dog sit close to a cat. Ask someone else to guide the cat into motion while you praise and reward your calmly sitting dog. Tactile massage can help calm the dog if she/he breathing increases. Make it more challenging by throwing treats to the cat so that it dashes away. Praise and reward the dog for staying in a sitting/lying position.
Avoid common mistakes when training
Common mistakes include starting too close or with a cat that is afraid of dogs. Usually, the cat is the vulnerable one in this situation, so observe how the cat handles the training. If it feels cornered, it will likely want to flee, hiss, or even scratch. Avoid this by keeping the training short and regular. It takes time to develop trust, which is the foundation of all relationships.
Set realistic goals for dog and cat relationships
If your dog is a chronic cat chaser, it is unlikely that you will be able to have a cat or allow the dog off-leash where there are cats. Many dogs are forced to live with prey animals in their vicinity, and the instinct is triggered repeatedly without an outlet. This can result in stress-related problems. Dogs are hunters and carnivores, we should never forget that. However, it is difficult to generalize about dog-cat relationships because, ultimately, it all depends on individual chemistry. Some dogs and cats become best friends, while others remain skeptical despite training. The latter may never sleep together or play together, but living (not just surviving) in the same space at the same time can be a significant training result for them. For more information, read Unwanted Hunting Behavior – Managing Dogs Who Chase Wildlife.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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