Need Help, my new dog is after my cats

[Internette]

I wonder if his sudden aggressiveness towards the cats may be related to his settling in & feeling more a member of the family now. As he comes along, he may get a bit territorial. Please continue working with him, I also think with some training & adjustments to the household setup, he may be able to live with the cats. Your recent post shows a lot of promise.


Our 2 Shelties pretty much ignore our 2 cats. But when the mailman comes, or they're excited for a walk, etc, the dogs almost always bark loudly & ferociously chase the cats, whichever cat is nearer. The poor cats run for the hills! We always discourage this behavior, and give a scolding. they don't seem to be bothered by it, and just do it again the next day . The cats can go to 2 safe places easily-the basement, which has a half door so the dogs can't go down there, and a back bedroom, where there's a baby gate with about 8 inches that the cats can scoot under. They have litter & food in both places, it's very helpful for everyone to give the cats a private secure place to eat & use litter pans.


Don't give up on your new friend yet, I think he's testing his limits & maybe went overboard. Give Chauncey a chance!

I was wondering if there was a bit of jealously that caused it. The last home he was locked in a room all day while they were at work and put in a fenced yard when they came home. He wont get on the furniture, wont step in the kitchen, when the fridge is open he runs, when the microwave was turned on he ran. He has not barked once, we dont know if he has a voice. He has growled when he was going for the cats. The first day the littliest one the kitten was pawing his ears on the sofa over his head and he paid no attention, he slept at my feet on the floor and the cat on my legs on top of the covers so he could have gotten her much sooner. Every day since I brought him home, he has at least 2 long walks, it is 6/10 a mile I was told around our place if I dont walk the center of the lake and down and just the edges. We walk just the edges. I took him in the car on 2 errands out and he rides the back seat like a champ on a blanket with his leash hooked on the seat belt. He had free rein of the house since I brought him home and he really only stays in the family room area and hasnt ventured to any other rooms on his own. I took him out on the patio and one night left him there when we went out without him in the screen enclosure. The 2 attacks came when I opened the patio and Liza my 12 year old siamese was sunbathing out there, he ran for the patio full speed growling and knocking furniture over to get her, she got back inside and he ran after her to the front formal living room till I yelling and he stopped. Then little bit the rescue I got last christmas in my back wooded area ( this little sweety knew no fear and was the most boucy happy go lucky little kitty every) she came up on my lap and I was sitting on the recliner and was loving her up and he just jumped mid air over the floor into my lap full growl as I jumped up with her in my hands up high, she got free and ran. The cats now dont leave the bedroom and I had to set up water and another litter box for them as they are afraid to use their box on the patio or come to their food bowl even with the dog restrained. I thought it might have been jealously with little bit but liza was all alone on the patio and I wasnt paying any attention to her so that wasnt the reason there.
The kitten sadly lost her little spirit of no fear and I am broken hearted her happy nothing bothers me attitude is now crouching and she never crouched and slinked every before.
The leave it is working well. He is great with the neighborhood dogs. I live in a 55 community and there are dogs at nearly every other house here. He has met about 15 dogs so far and was friendly to them all and the owners all love chauncey already, he is like a local celebrity. The neighbor across the street I met for the first time since moving in in july here, she brought chauncey treats to give him.
Tonight he gave me a kiss when I asked for it. He had a long walk, treats, and so on but he is back to restraint for the night. His cage I think is too small, so tomorrow we are getting a larger one. I got a medium and it is doesnt look tall enough to me. I also got rescue remedy and added that to both cat and dogs water.
I appreciate all the advice, I will be looking at the aspca web site. I am watching so any videos and I am using the atttt attt sounds instead of no or his name or anything negative. It is working for making him stop and give me attention. He knew sit, lie down and paw when I picked him up and I wasnt using them and now he ignores me when I tell him so were reinforcing the behavior I am asking and he is back to using them most of the time I ask. I dont think he had many choices in treats etc. He was fine with plain dog biscuit now it has to be chicken, salmon, steak etc. Good thing I bought liver last week I see I need to cook that too. I guess the weight loss wont only be from walks but from him eating all my groceries. LOL
Thank you every one I will keep trying all the advice and keep you informed. I am clueless what the trigger was that set it off so I just have to work at it.

 

[mcemily]

I was wondering if there was a bit of jealously that caused it.

I took him out on the patio and one night left him there when we went out without him in the screen enclosure. The 2 attacks came when I opened the patio and Liza my 12 year old siamese was sunbathing out there, he ran for the patio full speed ... Then little bit the rescue I got last christmas in my back wooded area... she came up on my lap and I was sitting on the recliner and was loving her up and he just jumped mid air over the floor into my lap full growl as I jumped up with her in my hands up high, she got free and ran.
Thank you every one I will keep trying all the advice and keep you informed. I am clueless what the trigger was that set it off so I just have to work at it.

Actually, both these attacks sound to me like they could stem from the same jealous/territorial behavior. With the attack on the patio, you had shut Chauncey on the patio when you went out once, and then that cat was out there sunbathing on HIS patio (from his point of view). Likewise, the kitten was encroaching on HIS human.

You've already gotten some great advice, and I'm relieved to see that Chauncey is already making some progress. Hopefully you'll be able to have peace in your household soon. The cats will eventually stop being scared, so don't lose heart. They'll stop slinking around and will go back to normal eventually. I have two cats, one of whom is very easily frightened, and then is scared for several days, but even she gets over it eventually.

Hang in there!

 

[Internette]

Actually, both these attacks sound to me like they could stem from the same jealous/territorial behavior. With the attack on the patio, you had shut Chauncey on the patio when you went out once, and then that cat was out there sunbathing on HIS patio (from his point of view). Likewise, the kitten was encroaching on HIS human.

You've already gotten some great advice, and I'm relieved to see that Chauncey is already making some progress. Hopefully you'll be able to have peace in your household soon. The cats will eventually stop being scared, so don't lose heart. They'll stop slinking around and will go back to normal eventually. I have two cats, one of whom is very easily frightened, and then is scared for several days, but even she gets over it eventually.

Hang in there!

I didnt realized he would view the patio as his patio. Is jealously something that can be worked through? I am his primary caregiver, Richard likes occasional walks along but with his handicap I do all the feeding, walks, rides in car, treats etc. So I am for sure head pack leader here.
I have to admit, he is restrained to one room but when I hear his tags jingle on his collar even I find myself nervous and jumpy if I am with the cats that he might have gotten loose and this isnt good for anyone.
Do you work jealousy issues the same as aggressive issues?

 

[mellie]

Ahh, and now you know how Chauncey and the cats feel- anxious !!! Chauncey is in a new place-totallly new people and cats and home. Fight or flight instincts take over...you are the brains of the group and need to reason your way through your feelings. When you hear the jingle of his tags you must recall how he is the sheltie of your dreams and he is looking for you to help him through this transition, i.e.,be glad to hear that jingle !!! I get it that he caught you off guard, but it was only 2 mistakes , actually 1 mistake with each cat. Watch the body language between them. You said the one cat had never met a dog before so it could have been provoking Chauncey by being too forward-batting his head may have seemed to be ok but really may have been too much too soon and Chauncey deceided to take things into his own hands the next time. Animal body languge happens so fast and subtley that we humans miss most of it and the situation has escalated past the point of return. That said, setting up dog free zones for the cats as suggested will certainly give the cats relief, but make sure your are giving Chauncy relief too. And it sounds like he is getting alone time with you and then time with you and the kitties. Just keep it light and relaxed because they ARE dogs and cats trying to figure out who goes where when with the brain of a 3-4 year old child, speaking a languge you don't know. Remember to picture Chauncey doing what you what him to do in your brain so this will help with your body languge and vibe...no hesitations or doubts creeping him to confuse him. Watch for him staring at the cats-that's a no no and vice versa. This means bad things could happen. Chauncey may be uneasy with the cat on your lap and him on the floor below, so make sure to give him space with this so he is not directly under the kitty. Look up animal body language for dogs and cats, then watch your critters and look for those behaviors. It sounds like you have already made progress, so just relaaaaaaaaaax.