How do I gwt my 14 week old german shepherd to stop chasing our cats?

Question

I have tried socializing them a little. Whenever she goes out our front door she goes crazy and wont stop. Our cats have now been hanging out on our front porch since we brought the puppy home. I cant barely open the front door because she forces her way out. Our gsd is training very well she allready does most basic commands and gets along with other dogs and people. It actually is happening right now because my girlfriend opened the front door.I just had to stop typing and tell her no along with a couple noisy newspaper swats on her *** (not hard). This usually works but it isn,t on this dog help me

Answer 1

I think she is plain curious, not really aggressive like I want to eat your cat. I would put your cat in its carrier and bring your gsd in the same room. When the gsd approaches the cat I would see if her behavior was aggressive and then punish, interested or calm, then praise.  They need to be desensitized of each other. My gsd loved a whippet that was tiny because the sucker was fast and gave him a good chase.

Punish can be verbal "bad dog" or what ever method you are using. I'm not sure I am a fan of the newspaper. A praise is soothing voice and either tiny treat or something positive, again follow what you are using.  

Answer 2

Please be very careful with this dog.

I am speaking from experience.  Some dogs have a very high prey drive.  In other words, they chase and will attack or try to kill their prey.

In this case your dog wants the cats.

I know you can TRY to train him, but if it doesn't work you're going to have to decide it's either the dog or the cats.

Answer 3

I got a two year old Newfoundland from a rescue recently, and wasn't aware he was a kitty-chaser. For the first two months-- and still occasionally-- he walks around the house with a leash on. He learned to sit and wait before going outside, and also whenever the cats were let in he was told "NO KITTY". Just a firm, quick, 'No kitty, Jack!' and he looks away from the cats and focuses on us. After a few months reminding him, the cats can walk around the room without too much worry.

The dog still has moments where he fixates on the cats-- so we keep a close eye on him all of the time.

I know your puppy is little, but I'd really consider just letting her drag her leash around the house. That way, while she is small, you can hold her back from the cats, tell her to sit-- and reward her with praise or maybe a small treat if she calms down and doesn't try to give chase. (:

Answer 4

Let the cats teach the dog, "NO".

Answer 5

I agree with the letting him get scratched; however, it may be easier to teach him the command "leave it." I taught this one to my dog and I can use it for almost anything from food dropped on the floor, to toys, to another animal or person on a walk. Put your dog on leash and throw a little piece of a tempting treat just out of his reach. saying "LEAVE IT" he'll likely turn himself inside out trying to get at it but when he lays calmly and looks away from the treat you can say good leave it and give him another treat. NEVER give him the leave it treat. He has to learn that when you say leave it you mean forever. We have a cat and a dog and when our dog chases the cat I just say leave it and she walks away.  good luck!  

Answer 6

keep doing what you are doing. also tell the dog BAD DOG in a firm voice. make the dog sit, just for a min or 2. keep this up, it will work. it has worked on my 2 dogs.

Answer 7

Let her catch one...claws to the nose will teach her fast not to mess with the cats. It worked well with our dog who is totally intimidated now by our four cats.

Answer 8

at 3 1/2 months curiosity is getting the best of him.If he does get clawed like the other poster said it will make him more determined to get the cats but next time it will be to kill. not get him intimidated.Gsd are just not afraid of things.best thing to do is place a choke collar on him and when you take him out attach a leash on him if he goes after the cats give a quick jerk and release accompanied by a firm "NO" and give the command"down".when they are in a down position they don't feel as dominate you must show him that behavior is not tolerated by you.