Dog obsessed with "new" cat......

What does the dog actually do? Both our dogs used to chase the cat all over the house and grab it by the head and all sorts. They both loved it.

We were sat in the living room once watching TV and the dog walked in with the cat hanging out of it's mouth. Gave us a scare but in most cases you would know if a cat was distressed as it'd likely have your dogs eyes out.
 
Dog wants to play with new cat shocker!

No need to re-home the cat, beat the dog or smash pasty. Just let them sort it out themselves. If the dog is not aggressive otherwise, it's unlikely it will hurt the cat.
 
Antony101 said:
What does the dog actually do? Both our dogs used to chase the cat all over the house and grab it by the head and all sorts. They both loved it.

We were sat in the living room once watching TV and the dog walked in with the cat hanging out of it's mouth. Gave us a scare but in most cases you would know if a cat was distressed as it'd likely have your dogs eyes out.
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Think it just wants to play, the cat gets aggressive, but especially so if it's sat calmly on my wife's lap and the dog walks upto it and puts it's face close - hence yesterday's incident - what concerns us is if the cat reacts like this when our 7year old is holding it!
What I want the dog to do is leave it alone, like she did with our last cats, she seems somewhat fascinated by it for whatever reason...

Previously I had a different German Shepherd that used to carry a Ginger Tom around by its head in her mouth!! I know that behaviour!! Incidentally the cat was fine with it!!

As I say, I think it's more that the cat reacts toward the dog more than the dog being in any way agressive, she's a White GSD, a strain of the breed known for being exceptionally mild mannered, placid and not generally agressive, which she isn't at all, as an example, if somebody knocks at the front door, she won't even get up never mind bark! Totally different to my previous Black & Tan GSD which was extremely protective and loud!
 
It's time for Russian Doll Resolution!

*theme music plays, it is rad*

MAN eats WIFE who has already eaten the DOG which ate the CAT.

Join us next week for more Russian Doll Resolution shenanigans!
 
I wouldn't be placing any cat in the arms of a 7 year old as long as that scenario could happen again. It isn't the cats fault and it isn't the dogs fault. Dogs in particular (and you know I've had many German Shepherds in my time) react to the mood and particularly to fear. They can read and sense it. It is up to you to show by example, immediately what is ok and what is not ok.

Sit him or her down, face them and with a firm voice you say no! Hold the nose facing you so their eyes see yours (and your sincerity). Use pressure on the top of the nose to further affirm dominance. No need for spanking/hitting or any other chaos. The key is to react quickly and precisely.

The cat is a passenger and I'm sorry to read of this. Hope it all blows over.
 
MB101 said:
So, quite obv you know nothing about animal behavior.

The cat will always be #4 as it is weak.
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Well I lolled.

One of my cats was the runt of the litter and never expected to live too long (not to 18 years anyway)

Now I never actually saw it face down a fight trained pitbull, but I would reach for the first aid kit if such a dog walked into our house by mistake.
Certainly our dog would hide behind the sofa if she podded into the room.
 
MB101 said:
So, quite obv you know nothing about animal behavior.

The dog thinks you and the wife as part of the pack. You and the wife are #1&2 with the dog being #3. New animal means a challenge to #3 spot. Dog will do everything it can to get/keep the #3 spot.

Your first mistake was thinking that the dog would bond with any cat,
Your second was throwing the cat into the mix without any kind of trial/introduction period.
The third and greatest is, you have no idea about animal behavior.

The dog and cat will bond eventually, but you've made it much harder then it needs to be.

Put the dog in it's place when it goes for the cat. The cat will always be #4 as it is weak. This needs to be acknowledge and accepted by all.

I have 12 dogs. I'm very well versed in dog & pack behavior.
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Oh so you are the brother/sister of the Simpsons crazy cat lady?

You are the crazy dog person
 
MB101 said:
So, quite obv you know nothing about animal behavior.
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This.

Not sure why you are so suprised about the dog's behaviour. It is not really anything unexpected at all.

"Thanks for your "expert" analysis , if you'd bothered to read my OP you'd realise the dog previously bonded just fine with four cats that used to live with us at our old address"
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Pretty much proves the point. It means diddly squat if it lived with 1, 100, or 1000 cats at your last address.
 
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Zethor said:
We need an update, did the shepherd survive the ordeal?
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All quiet on the Western Front!

The Cat seems to have adopted a "**** it" attitude toward the dog, the dog has been put in it's place by it more than once too!

She (the dog) seems to have calmed down toward the cat, in fact, she cries when the cat goes out.

The water pistol had no effect, it just took time.


Well & truly blown over indeed. :)
 
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