too rough with the cats??

[eduncan]

Hi everyone! I have a question for all of you who have ever raised a boxer with cats! Mahlon is 6 months old and has been around the kitties ever since the day he came home at 8 weeks of age. At first they were ok, the cats didn't pay much attention to him but when he overstepped his bounds with them he would get swatted! I thought that Mahlon would learn easily enough that the cats are not his toys, but as he gets bigger, I am getting more worried! When Mahlon is in a playful mood and sees a cat he will just run over to it and start hopping and boxing and making all kinds of noise, and yesterday he tried to bite at the cat before he got whacked in the face (which usually does not bother him). I have started to intervene and get Mahlon away from the cats when he starts acting this way and he is pretty responsive. I am nervous though because I have a friend whose boxer killed two cats accidentally while she was trying to play with them. The rest of the time when Malon's not in hyper-mode, he and the cats get along fine... Just this morning, I came downstairs to find him curled up on a blanket with the two kitties.. how cute! But I just worry that he will be too rough with them!

Thanks everyone! Liz

 

[SouthernArt]

I'm concerned too.

I'm having a very similar problem with Duchess. She wants to play with out cats so bad, but they don't appreciate it very much. She jumps up to get at them when I'm holding them, and no amount of "NO!" or "DOWN!" helps. :mad: She is especially bad to straddle one of our cats and bite his ears. When he tries to run away, she pulls his tail. When she keeps on after I tell her to stop, she always gets a timeout in her crate, but she always does it again.

I don't know what to do! She's starting puppy headstart in a few weeks, so maybe that'll help. I hope so. I love Duchess, and no offense to anyone here, but I love my cats more. Sorry. I've just always been a cat person, and I have had them for a long time. They're my babies. If she hurts them, intentionally or not, I don't think I could handle it. :(

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make her leave the cats alone or at least be gentle??? :confused:

 

[Lozes2]

I have the same problem with Ginger. She must think Tony is a chew toy!!! She will chase him around the house and when she gets him, she will sit on him so he can't go anywhere. It's funny sometimes. I feel really bad for Tony, she never gives him any peace. Tony is sneaky though, when Ginger is sleeping he will run and jump on her with all fours. I guess they are just playing...

 

[Aimee]

We also have 2 cats. In the house they are all usually fine together and if the cats don't want to be bothered they have special places they can go and retreat to. BUT I do have a problem if one of them gets out into the backyard and begins running around..then Lexi chases them down. I recommend getting a water (squirt) bottle. When your dog gets rough with the cats, squirt the dog in the face with the bottle and say NO very firmly. They should respond. Providing your cat(s) with their own private retreat and using this type of correction with your dog should help bring harmony. Whenever we are acclamating a new foster I can always be found to be armed with a water bottle at all times. I use it to alter many different kinds of behavior and we've had much luck with it. Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[SouthernArt]

Water doesn't work!

Originally posted by Aimee
I recommend getting a water (squirt) bottle. When your dog gets rough with the cats, squirt the dog in the face with the bottle and say NO very firmly. They should respond.

Well, she responded alright...I tried this last night, and she loved it! The only postive thing about it was that she left the cat only so she could follow me around hoping to get squirted again!

 

[Paulette]

Hi all! We have four cats and one new boxer. His obedience school teacher recommended that we teach Joe "Leave it!" , so that he would know that an object or other animal was off limits. I try and reinforce the command daily with food or toys and then praise him for his correct response. It has come in handy when he wants to chase the cats and he is learning. This training business is work!

 

[aself]

kitties and dogs

This is all great advice! I am going to try the squirt bottle next. We have only had my rescue 3yr-old (Lucy) for a week and a half and she is so fascinated by the cats. She went at one of them with an open mouth on Saturday and it has me scared that she wants to really hurt/eat them, but reading some of these stories makes me feel like she does just want to play (there is never any growling or barking, just tail-wagging, ears up and chasing). I am trying the Leave It command, but she only listens half the time. The cats are so freaked out!