Two years ago we got a half Rottweiler/half lab puppy in the winter. Because of the cold weather, she was not outside very much. When warm weather arrived we started letting her out for much of day in attached fenced area. When we eventually let her out of fenced area to run (we have 80 acres) she chased our 3 barn cats and acts vicious like she wants to kill them. So far they've been able to run into barn where we leave both doors open just far enough for the cats to escape into. She's a very gentle dog except for this aggressive behavior toward cats, and I'm afraid she will some day catch one and kill it. She's a great dog in all other ways. Does anyone know of a way to change this aggressive behavior toward cats?

-- Betty (MI) (brolffs@voyager.net), November 12, 2000

Answers

You may not be able to .Put her on a leash everytime she goes out .Have a choke chain on her also .When she goes after the cats yank as hard as you can and also yell no !!!Mine leave it .3 very important commands .Make sure the choke is on correctly and up under her chin .Do this for several weeks .It may or may not work .

-- Patty (fodfarms@slic.com), November 12, 2000.

Most dogs by themselves usually don't bother cats. Pack dogs will it's their nature to chase something when it runs from them. The way I train our dogs not to chase cats is by supervision, and the moment I see the dog looking at the cat I scold him very agresively, the dog knows by your tone of voice what upsets you and will learn rather quickly. Make sure that while out of your site that your dog is tied up, this will give your cat a chance to escape, should your cat wonder to close to your dog. Don't forget to intoduce both animals together, I usually hold the cat and allow the dog to sniff her and vise-versa, if the dog gets to agressive I reach out and smack the dog. They learn fairly quickly. I have found out though that all can be lost if you have more than one dog,and one starts after a cat they all will. (pack instinct)

-- hillbilly (internethillbilly@hotmail.com), November 13, 2000.