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Dog owner dog training questions:  prey drive vs cats

5/31/2019

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From E-mail received:

"I was hoping I could get some advice with a new dog. We already have two cats that are very lovable and sleep with us in bed so we need a dog that will not harm the cats, especially when we leave for 7 hr's a day. The dogs reaction worries me that it's natural prey drive is to high for our home. I'd hate to give the dog back to the shelter but if we can't get her to to be on the same level I'll have no choice. 

Is it possible to train any dog to to this level? She's a good dog other than when she sees the cat.

Thanks for any help you can provide!"

Send from us in reply:

"I can't really speak to your specific dog now, as I can't physically see her.  All dogs are different, so no, it is probably not possible to train any dog to any level (while improvement is always possible unless extreme like medical).  That being said many dogs can be trained to be safe (as in bomb proof eventually or close to), others with more supervision during their lives to stay on top of them (in other words they may not fully accept that a pack member is free from correction or chase), and still others are never a good idea to keep in certain situations (or in other words you might be able to suppress their instinct for a bit, but their perception and instinct about the situation never really changes).

It is not a good idea to leave a dog alone for 7 hours with cats for any new dog.  A crate could be your best friend as you are looking into training or some resolution for this problem.

I have had a prey drivey dog that did come to see that my cats were a valued part of the pack.  They were separated for three months at first though, and got to see each other when I passed by while training at first or through the crate.  If you are willing to put in the work, it might be possible to make it work.  If you are not, it might be better for the safety of your cats to re-home the dog.

However, I can't really experience the situation to know first hand what it is.  I hope that helps."

Additional notes to this for those seeking to add a canine, while having cats also as family members:

Most people do not want to make a decision to return a dog after purchasing them from a breeder or rescue.  As I did mention, many dogs can be trained to accept other animals as pack members although there is a sliding scale as to success.  I would not recommend seeking to go about doing this intentionally, unless you are very experienced at dog handling, training, and management.  Otherwise, it could turn into a very bloody and tragic situation.

Here are some tips to steer you on a successful purchase of a new dog in a cat household from a rescue or breeder:
  1. ​Select either a rescue or breeder that is very knowledgeable about their dogs, their litters, and their breeds (or mixes).  You want a rescue, in other words, that does not just churn out dogs but gets to know them as well as possible.  Research, research , research, ask, ask, ask.
  2. Let your needs be known to the breeder or rescue. 
  3. Try to look at general traits of breeds in order to select one that might best meet your lifestyle.   Just to get yourself familiar with them.  It is helpful to look at the tasks they were historically bred for, activity level, and so on.
  4. Some rescues allow for a trial period.
  5. Be sure to have management tools such as crates, leashes, and quality collars around.
  6. ​Take introductions slow and controlled.
There is a lot more to say here.  Not all dogs that are "excited" to see your cats necessarily want to kill your cat in a fit of prey drive.  Sometimes the results can be the same if everyone is highly excited.  You can not expect your cat to be calm while being accosted by a dog they do not know yet.   

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Shana Week 11 Training Blog 5/27-6/2/2019

5/31/2019

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Week 11 Day 1 5/27/2019 Monday:
  1. Heeling sits and look outside (except going through inside doors first) while Shaman and Marvel are around (she remembers Shaman, but Marvel makes her nervous).  When first going through the door she tried to lunge at Shaman and she barked the one time.  Other than that it went perfectly, although you could tell she was still stressed (not horribly so, but you could tell she was on edge about Marvel, who she thought Shaman was at first).  Equipment was muzzle, leash, electronic collar (just used on vibrate for the one lunge attempt) 30 minutes
  2. Place on one side of the porch with our dogs, Marvel, and Shaman sitting with me on the other side of the porch.  No problems were noted.  30 minutes
Week 11 Day 2 5/28/2019 Tuesday:
  1. Place, sits, lets go routine when new dog is in house (Sage's first day in pack learning) until out the door, calm, and under control. 10 minutes
  2. Place in kitchen where she can see me through mudroom door working with new puppy, Sage.  20 minutes
Week 11 Day 3 5/29/2019 Wednesday:
  1. Place with mudroom door open, "fencing" across so she can see, working with Sage on mudroom side with Cujo, Bandit, and Boris. 30 minutes
  2. Obedience around house while known strange dog (Sage is in).  Sits, downs, heeling, come, fuss, look and so on.   Did not notate any problems, which does not mean she performed perfectly.   15 minutes
Week 11 Day 4 5/30/2019 Thursday:
  1. Went through calm down routine (Sage in mudroom again, Stella who she knows but has not seen in awhile is in sun room) again with Shana.  When she saw Stella through the sun room, she barked at her and did barrier aggression like things.   So I sent her up the stairs, downed her, called her into fuss until we could do that four times in a row without barking.   15 minutes
  2. That was it, but made sure she hung out with her known best buddies for a half hour in the woods crittering and having fun in a more relaxed way.   She is clearly stressed by having new puppy here.   Luckily we have the weekend off for her, and no surprise guests on Friday either. 30 minutes
Week 11 Day 5 5/31/2019 Friday:
  1.  Chuck it with Cujo Boris and Boone.   Quick drops to be thrown right away.  Otherwise four tricks in a row.  Plus we worked find and fetch when another dog did not bring it back. She was pretty tired today and in heat, so we did a more laid back game than the fast and furious game we usually do.  Did not find one ball for me at the end (will look for it today). 30 minutes
  2. A lot of just relaxing with her friends on her time off today.   It was a stressful week for her, so I let her take her time off.   She was cheerful and very loving towards her friends today.   Even as Cujo was being her shadow, she just left and did not get annoyed at him.   She also hung out with him for awhile (she usually takes this oldest friend for granted).   Good spirits and good mood.  Not stressed at all I would say, though a bit tired.   Could be because of the warmer weather.

  3.  Week 11 Day 6 6/1/2019 Saturday:

  1. ​We did something, and it looks like I did not write it down.   Going to guess bike ride on leash.  60 minutes
Week 11 Day 7 6/2/2019 Sunday:
  1. DAY OFF!!!!  FOR THE BOTH OF US, STRESSFUL WEEK FOR SHANA


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Tips for being active with your dog in the warmer months

5/27/2019

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Dog Activity Tip: As summer approaches, take advantage of all the outside fun. Just please don't forget that the increase in heat takes your dogs longer to get used to, especially black dogs or dense haired dogs. Also, be sure to check that the pavement or concrete is not too hot for your dog's pads. Plenty of water should always be available, but especially so during heavy play or other activity in the summer months.

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Week 10 Shana Training Blog 5/20-5/26

5/26/2019

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I did work this week a lot with Shana, but I didn't always mark it down in my calendar so some of this will be from memory.  I always think I am going to remember, and then a week goes by, and guess what?

Shana's overall mood has been reduced stress when strange or dogs not seen for a long time are over (reduced not gone).   Very happy and playful with her known friends.   Much more so now when strange or dogs not seen for a long time are over in the house boarding.   Great progress.

Week 10 Day 1 5/20/2019 Monday:
  1. At mudroom door (Lucey on other side) lets go place and stays 45 min
  2. Frisbee drops and four in a row obedience if not dropped right away 30 minutes

Week 10 Day 2 5/21/2019 Tuesday:
  1. Bike ride training Shana with leash now for off road.  Also teaching her to not touch me with her muzzle in order to continue or start bike ride. 1 hour
  2. Down stays out of sight 5 minutes a piece until four in a row 30 minutes.
Week 10 Day 3 5/22/2019 Wednesday:
Stella's first day back after being gone for the winter.  Shana and her are friends, but Shana will want to make sure Stella remembers who is boss.  So even though they are friendly, it will be a small challenge to have Shana be obedient in some situations.
  1. Sit on the dog with Stella out (this for instance is hard because Shana is on a leash close to me---and tends not to want even her best friends coming close to me for attention)  30 minutes---four or five barks in the beginning---I did have her ecollar on but did not have a food reward on me at the time
  2. Heeling and place around Stella 15 minutes
Week 10 Day 4 5/23/2019 Thursday:
Shaman and Marvel came later on in the day.   Marvel was new when we trained him for 3 weeks, but Shana never really got to know him.   Shaman has been here before and was Shana's friend.  They both have not been here since 2017.  However, Shana was not trained around them today, but she trained around her friend, Stella, before they came instead.
  1. Frisbee drops and four in a row obedience if not dropped right away 15 minutes (warm out, dogs hot and tired)
  2. Bike ride on leash while emphasizing no muzzle on me to start or continue  later on when cooler 30 minutes

Week 10 Day 5 5/24/2019 Friday:
Trained Shana in the yard (with Boris Tommy Ziggy Cujo and Bandit) while new dogs and Stella were on the porch.   Then switched Shana to the porch later with Tommy and Ziggy (her brothers) Cujo and Bandit (old friends) while Boris, Shaman, Stella, and Marvel played.
  1. Shana heeling and stays 30 minutes
  2. Shana chuck it for drop or do four obedience commands in a row before next throw 30 minutes
Week 10 Day 6 5/25/2019 Saturday:
  1. Heeling and stays in yard with Shaman and Marvel out playing with Boris and Stella.  Shana had a few spurts where she got to the end of the leash barking when Marvel got close (not concerned with anyone else) 30 minutes
  2. Down stay for 10 minutes in house while I did some things took 30 minutes to get one full 10 minute down stay.   She broke at 9.59 minutes at least once.
​Week 10 Day 7 5/26/2019 Sunday:
  1. Down stay for 10 minutes in house while I did some things took 30 minutes to get one full 10 minute down stay.   She broke at 9.59 minutes at least once.
  2. ​Heeling with turns and auto sits with Marvel and Shaman in the yard.   Once or twice maybe a bark but no lunging.  Shana trusted that I would keep Marvel from her this time.  Got better and better as we got along.  Equipment was:  leash, muzzle, just leather collar, and treats.   30 minutes
  3. Stays around Shaman and Marvel playing with Boris just hanging out outside.   (Tommy and Ziggy on porch).   Practice for 15 minutes, Shana broke a few times when she got bored essentially.   I only know she was still nervous at new dog in yard, when she startled when another past behind her and whipped around before I started and she was in a down stay while I tied my shoes. 15 minutes

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Week 6-9 Shana Training Logs

5/20/2019

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Week 6 Day 1 4/23/2019:
  1. ​​1 minute out of sight stays until achieved 4 in a row.  Shana in master bathroom while I was out of sight in master-bedroom.   No equipment on. Took 15 minutes.
  2. Place in front of mudroom door, where new bnt dog, Lemmy, was.   Equipment used was either electronic collar or leash and manual training collar. 30 minutes.

Week 6 Day 2 4/24/2019:
NOTHING NOTATED

Week 6 Day 3 4/25/2019:
  1. Chuck it with Boris and Reggie.   Shana practicing tricks when she does not out it right away (four in a row).  About three times she did not out it right away (good girl).  20 minutes  VERY GOOD ONLY 3 MISSES
  2. Quiet in crate in living room while I worked Sharpie.  No problems did not even bark once.   30 minutes  VERY VERY GOOD
  3. Fuss with Jack (she has no issues with, old friend), Prince (does not like him due to his obnoxiousness, Boris (favorite brother) and Tommy (also favorite brother).  Used ecollar (vibrate to get close), muzzle (to be sure she did not react to Prince), and leash (as we were working on form).  30 minutes
Week 6 Day 4 4/26/2019:
DID NOT NOTATE ANYTHING OTHER THAN I WAS FEELING SICK THAT DAY.   SO SKIPPED SHANA'S TRAINING IN FAVOR OF DOGS ON SIGHT FOR BNT.

Week 6 Day 5 4/27/2019:
  1. Quiet in crate in dog room, while Brandy Lemmy and Sharpie had free time.  Equipment on but not used was the electronic collar.  Crate was equipment used 30 minutes  EXCELLENT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO AVOIDANCE BEHAVIORS, SHE DID BARK TWICE, but it was just two short barks. 30 minutes
Week 6 Day 6 4/28/2019:
VERY HECTIC AND STRESSFUL DAY.  DID NOT GET TO SHANA'S TRAINING.

Week 6 Day 7 4/29/2019:
BANDIT BIT BORIS ON THIS DAY.   SO I WAS BUSY COMFORTING BORIS, WHO WASN'T HURT BADLY BUT WAS UPSET.  ALSO BORIS'S TOOTH WAS KNOCKED OUT WHEN BANDIT SLAMMED INTO HIS FRONT WHILE HE HAD THE TEASER BALL.
Week 7 Day 1 4/30/2019:
GETTING BNT DOGS READY FOR GO HOME EXIT LESSONS TOMORROW AND VIDEOING.  SO AGAIN DID NOT GET TO SHANA'S TRAINING.
Week 7 Day 2 5/1/2019:
BNT EXIT LESSONS AND GETTING THEM READY TO GO.   PRETTY BURNT OUT, DID NOT GET TO SHANA'S TRAINING.

Week 7 Day 3-7 5/3/2019-5/5/2019:
NOTHING NOTATED

Week 8 Day 1-7 5/6/2019-5/12/2019:
NOTHING NOTATED

Week 9 Day 1-7 5/13/2019 -5/19/2019:
NOTHING NOTATED


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    Author, Robin Rubin

    ​Owner and Head Dog Trainer in Maine, Robin Katherine Rubin, started her Maine dog training business in September 2004.  Our dog training facility is located in Southern Maine in York Beach and we help families enjoy their dogs more, making sure they listen reliably and resolving unwanted behaviors.

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