How to prevent a dog from chasing the cat: Management
Management means arranging the environment to prevent the behavior. Ideally, this happens right from the start, so your dog never has the opportunity to act inappropriately, and your cat doesn’t have to endure it! Prevention of the inappropriate behavior is very important, since cat-chasing is a self-reinforcing behavior (i.e., the more the dog chases, the more he wants to repeat it). So, if you’re introducing a new dog or cat to your household, please read the resource called “How to Introduce a Dog to a Cat.”
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. If the dog comes back and repeats the inappropriate behavior toward the cat, he should immediately go back to the “time-out”area.
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.e., behave appropriately around your cat). 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. Repeat every time your dog ignores the cat. Your dog will learn that whenever he sees your cat, rewards are forthcoming from you if he looks away from the cat.
You are training your dog to perform a certain behavior (looking away from the cat) upon seeing the cue (the cat). Just make sure the treats you are giving are more desirable to your dog than the fun of chasing the cat! Once you’ve established what you want your dog to do (ignore the cat) and you’ve reinforced that behavior many times, you may choose to allow the dog more freedom around the cat.
At some point, you may need to help your cat change her association with your dog by feeding her tasty kitty treats while she’s in the dog’s presence. (During this exercise, make sure the dog can’t chase the cat.) Also, modify the environment so that your cat has a safety zone, a place that is inaccessible to your dog. Set up baby gates to create safe rooms, provide lots of high perches for your cat, and always supervise your dog when the cat is around.
Dogs and cats can live together in perfect harmony, but sometimes there can be a little tension. Dogs are pack animals who love company, while cats are lone hunters who prefer independence. Dogs often play with other pups by chasing them, which cats may perceive as a threat.
Stopping this behaviour the moment it occurs is very important, as it can lead to a very unhappy cat if left unchecked, even if your dog is well-meaning. Moreover, your cat will interpret it as predatory behaviour and will want to hide in order to feel safe.
But fear not – this behaviour can be controlled. In this article we’ll explore why do dogs chase cats, how to stop dogs chasing your cats, and what to do if they do not stop.
When a dog chases a cat, it is usually because they are following their instincts – particularly if your dog is a breed originally used for chasing or herding. Other times, when a dog chases cats, they might just want to play, and they will chase a cat a little like they will chase a ball that has been thrown for them.
Dogs chase cats because they have a strong chase instinct and that movement can trigger this instinct. However, there are instances of dogs living with cats for years without chasing them before suddenly developing this instinct.
It is important to stop dogs chasing cats as soon as you see this behaviour in your own pets. Dogs should see cats as their companions, and not as toys.
How to Prevent Your Dog From Chasing Cats
In order to stop a dog from chasing cats, its important to combine several strategies to increase the chances for success. Owning a dog equipped with a very strong prey drive may make it almost impossible for him/her to successfully co-habitat with cats. This is where human intervention is key to stop this unpleasant and unwanted behavior.
Chasing cats is a very undesirable hobby that may cause a cat to become terrorized, injured and even potentially killed by a dog. Dogs, on the other hand, risk getting scratched (sometimes with the risk of losing their eyesight) and even bitten by a very scared cat.
If you recently added a dog to your cats household, consider that this may be very stressful for your cat. Cats dont like their routines and daily habits to be disrupted. On top of that, cats have a strong sense of belonging to their territory, and having it “invaded” by a dog may cause them significant anxiety.
More often than not, dog owners may be clueless on how to redirect the dogs behavior and stop him from chasing poor kitty. Dogs seem so fixated on chasing the cat that nothing seems to work. Some non-cat-friendly dog breeds can be particularly challenging to train around cats.
As mentioned, the best response is to use a multi-faceted approach that combines providing kitty with a safe place to retreat, managing the dogs environment to prevent rehearsal of the troublesome chasing behaviors, desensitizing the dog to the cats movements and training the dog in an alternate behavior.