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Is this natural? Hello, I am a 29 year old male who adopted a Golden Retriever back in October. I have been around pets all of my life, both cats and dogs. For some reason, I have always had a special place in my heart for cats. I actually had one cat that my parents adopted when I was just a couple of weeks old, and she literally grew up with me, she lived to be 22 years old! Anyway, I agreed to foster stray Golden retrievers a few months ago. The first one was hyper, very misbehaved, but was adopted within a couple of weeks. I got a second golden, and he is, or I thought, the sweetest dog I have ever been around. Someone had to have trained this dog, he sits when I tell him to sit, comes when I call him, and never goes to the bathroom in the house. I live in a very family oriented neighborhood where people have a lot of animals. When I walk him, I always walk him on a leash. Everytime he sees a cat, he always wants to chase it, and starts whining. He does the same with other dogs as well. He has gotten along fine with other dogs in my neighborhood, except for one incident when my neighbor's dog got loose from his fence and came into my driveway, with my dog on a leash, and they got into a scuffle, but neither was injured, and I didn't think much about it. On Saturday night, he did something that shocked me. I was walking him on his leash, and rounded a curve, and there was a cat sitting on the curve. I know the family who owns the cat, and they also have a dog. I didn't see the cat in, and my golden picked this cat up with his mouth, a big cat, by it's fur, and pretty much it to the road, and started to attack it. I got him off of it as fast as I could, and, apparently the cat was not injured badly, or else I would have heard about it. This really, really upset me. I know, the whole dog chasing the cat thing, but I have little doubt that if I wasn't there my dog would have killed this cat, and had every intention too. This is a very sweet, people oriented, extremely gentle dog. But since that happened, I have not felt the same about him, and even thought about giving him up, that's how mad I was, and still am, somewhat. I would like to eventually get a cat of my own one day, and with this dog reacting to cats like this worries me. My parents also have three cats at their house, one that I love dearly, because she is 13 and been in my life a long time. Why would my dog have done that? I never thought he would, if he was a pitbull, yes, but not being a golden. In Dog behavior & training Asked by citbttew 1 Answer 321 Views 2 years ago Resolved Email to Friends Add to Favorites Question Badge Use this MyPetquestions.com question badge in blogs, websites and forums. Copy and paste the HTML below:

Is this natural?

Hello, I am a 29 year old male who adopted a Golden Retriever back in October. I have been around pets all of my life, both cats and dogs. For some reason, I have always had a special place in my heart for cats. I actually had one cat that my parents adopted when I was just a couple of weeks old, and she literally grew up with me, she lived to be 22 years old!
Anyway, I agreed to foster stray Golden retrievers a few months ago. The first one was hyper, very misbehaved, but was adopted within a couple of weeks. I got a second golden, and he is, or I thought, the sweetest dog I have ever been around. Someone had to have trained this dog, he sits when I tell him to sit, comes when I call him, and never goes to the bathroom in the house. I live in a very family oriented neighborhood where people have a lot of animals. When I walk him, I always walk him on a leash. Everytime he sees a cat, he always wants to chase it, and starts whining. He does the same with other dogs as well. He has gotten along fine with other dogs in my neighborhood, except for one incident when my neighbor's dog got loose from his fence and came into my driveway, with my dog on a leash, and they got into a scuffle, but neither was injured, and I didn't think much about it. On Saturday night, he did something that shocked me. I was walking him on his leash, and rounded a curve, and there was a cat sitting on the curve. I know the family who owns the cat, and they also have a dog. I didn't see the cat in, and my golden picked this cat up with his mouth, a big cat, by it's fur, and pretty much it to the road, and started to attack it. I got him off of it as fast as I could, and, apparently the cat was not injured badly, or else I would have heard about it. This really, really upset me. I know, the whole dog chasing the cat thing, but I have little doubt that if I wasn't there my dog would have killed this cat, and had every intention too. This is a very sweet, people oriented, extremely gentle dog. But since that happened, I have not felt the same about him, and even thought about giving him up, that's how mad I was, and still am, somewhat. I would like to eventually get a cat of my own one day, and with this dog reacting to cats like this worries me. My parents also have three cats at their house, one that I love dearly, because she is 13 and been in my life a long time. Why would my dog have done that? I never thought he would, if he was a pitbull, yes, but not being a golden.

In Dog behavior & training Asked by citbttew

1 Answer 321 Views 2 years ago

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I am sorry for your experience as I know how scary and disappointing it must have been. As for the breed being nicer to cats vs. maybe a Pitbull, you are mistaken. It is a personality that will belong to the individual dog that will determine the dogs behavior toward cats. Some dogs just like to chase them for sport while others go for the kill. Because you have fostered your dog, you will be unaware of his previous experience with cats. He may have been attacked as a puppy (as a dog I had did) or was even encouraged by a previous owner to chase them. Your strongest defense against this behavior is his obedience training. You must revert to his obedience commands (even a new a special one) for when he sees cats. You must also have a no tolerance policy if he even begins to pull at the leash. Divert his attention immediately and bring him to heel/sit facing away from the cat. When you have regained his attention you may try returning to the direction of the cat and repeat the process until he understands that cats are off limit to pay any attention to. As for having a cat as some later date, make sure you have practiced him seeing cats and having little to no reaction first. Then, I suggest getting a kitten. Kitten's often are to young to understand being threatened by dogs and so won't react negatively. If the cat reacts in fear (running) or aggression, it will most likely set off your dog. Good luck! Answered by Janice-HK Animal Speak 2 years ago Rate Now: Average Rating: 0.00 / 0 ratings Answered by Janice-HK Animal Speak 2 years ago

I am sorry for your experience as I know how scary and disappointing it must have been. As for the breed being nicer to cats vs. maybe a Pitbull, you are mistaken. It is a personality that will belong to the individual dog that will determine the dogs behavior toward cats. Some dogs just like to chase them for sport while others go for the kill. Because you have fostered your dog, you will be unaware of his previous experience with cats. He may have been attacked as a puppy (as a dog I had did) or was even encouraged by a previous owner to chase them. Your strongest defense against this behavior is his obedience training. You must revert to his obedience commands (even a new a special one) for when he sees cats. You must also have a no tolerance policy if he even begins to pull at the leash. Divert his attention immediately and bring him to heel/sit facing away from the cat. When you have regained his attention you may try returning to the direction of the cat and repeat the process until he understands that cats are off limit to pay any attention to. As for having a cat as some later date, make sure you have practiced him seeing cats and having little to no reaction first. Then, I suggest getting a kitten. Kitten's often are to young to understand being threatened by dogs and so won't react negatively. If the cat reacts in fear (running) or aggression, it will most likely set off your dog.

Good luck!

Answered by Janice-HK Animal Speak 2 years ago

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