Why do puppies bark at cats? A Comprehensive Guide

Teaching the “Quiet” Command

  • Question How do I train my puppy to stop barking? Beverly Ulbrich Dog Behaviorist & Trainer Beverly Ulbrich is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Founder of The Pooch Coach, a private dog training business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a Certified CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Humane Association and Rocket Dog Rescue. She has been voted the best private dog trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area 4 times by SF Chronicle and by Bay Woof, and she has won 4 “Top Dog Blog” awards. She has also been featured on TV as a dog behavior expert. Beverly has over 18 years of dog behavior training experience and specializes in dog aggression and anxiety training. She has a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a BS from Rutgers University. Beverly Ulbrich Dog Behaviorist & Trainer Expert Answer If its a very mild case, then youre best off just working with your dog in general on training and patience. When training, its important to remember to be consistent. If your dog is aggressive, then rather than trying to handle it yourself, you really do need to work with a professional. They can analyze why your dog is afraid or aggressive and work with you to develop a plan that handles the issue safely.
  • Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

  • While there are a variety of no-bark collars available on the market, these devices aren’t particularly effective and are not recommended by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Use a no-bark collar only as a last resort if other training techniques haven’t worked.[28] ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • If your puppy barks at a cat outside through the window, close the curtains or take your puppy out of the room. Do this calmly and quietly, so that you’re not accidentally rewarding your dog for the behavior with a lot of excitement or attention.[29] ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Advertisement

  • If your dog ignores your attempts to distract it, or if it regularly lunges, snaps, or growls at your cat even while the cat is being quiet and calm, then your puppy and cat may not be a good match. You may need to permanently keep them apart or get help from a professional trainer.[30] ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Never punish your puppy by yelling at it, swatting it, or yanking on its leash. This will only confuse your puppy and make it feel afraid of you. Instead, focus on gently redirecting your dog from bad behaviors and rewarding good ones.[31] ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Advertisement

    You Might Also Like

    Co-authored by:

    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.

    How to stop your puppy from barking at a cat | Dog Training 101

    Puppies and kittens raised together often get along famously. Even dogs and cats that meet later in life can learn to live together if they are introduced properly. But, between these two species, there is a common catch: Dogs enjoy chasing cats.