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MIReeferChick
Posts:7
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| 10/13/2010 4:43 PM |
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Hi everyone,
I'm new here and I just adopted a GSP. My family and I were looking for a shelter dog and whilst looking at animal control, we found a lovely GSP. The woman that dropped her off (as a stray) said that it attacked and killed her 18 year old cat, but the woman at AC said that she's had GSP's all her life and she didn't believe it. Now, my family and I have -- and 18 year old cat, but when we met with her, the woman from AC took her and walked her through the cat room and there was no problem.
We ended up adopting her. They spayed her yesterday and we just brought her home a few hours ago. Here's the issue --she's going after our cat. It looks like a "I'm going to kill you" snap, but it might be a "hey buddy, wanna play?" snap. She waggs her tail and shakes a little when she 'wants' him.
Can anyone suggest some things to try with her to get her out of this rut? I'm so in love with her (as is my husband and our son), but I'm also terrified that she's going to kill our beloved cat, Max, and I don't want to bring her back to the AC.
Thanks,
June
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RCNZ
New Zealand
JH
Posts:26
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| 10/13/2010 6:24 PM |
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It's not a rut, it's normal. My GSP will kill cats on site no question asked hence why I use him as a predator control dog.
Your GSP doesn't want to play with the cat.
First go slap the lady at AC for telling you that it's abnormal for a GSP to have prey drive. She was wrong.
After that, the only thing I would do is aversion training with an e-collar. Prey drive is what makes the dog chase and kill. Prey drive can be "randomly" triggered by a fleeing cat so walking a GSP through a cat house with a bunch of cats sitting still is no test of prey drive. Put the dog in front of a running cat and you'll see the prey drive.
Ask around for recommendations for a professional gundog trainer in your area and talk to them about doing proper aversion training. Short of that, get rid of the cat or get rid of the dog. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7836
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| 10/13/2010 7:46 PM |
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| Not all GSPs are cat sharp. I have 3 adult GSPs that live in harmony with my two cats, but my GSPs were also raised as pups with the cats. I would expect that a GSP that has never been around a cat would be cat sharp. So, knowing that this dog has killed a cat, I am guessing that she has never been around a cat before. In that case, about the only way to break the dog of going after the cat is with the ecollar as described above. Even then I would not trust the dog and cat together. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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MIReeferChick
Posts:7
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| 10/14/2010 1:01 PM |
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Thanks for the feedback. I think we have a few mixed ideas on how to deal with this.
The cat is on it's 9th life -- we were about to put it down a few weeks ago -- 18 years old and going senile, poops in our basement (litter box is down there). We put him on prednisone to see if that would help, and after about a week, it seemed like it was working, but now he's going on the floor again. So, the cat may be ready to cross over the rainbow bridge -- even our vet thought so. The drugs were a last resort.
For the dog, it will be obedience training and we're going to try an ecoller. A collegue of mine has one with multi options (not just a shock, but also a vibrate option as well).
The dog must have been allowed in its previous owners bed -- although she does 'ask' for permission before getting on the bed. Very sweet and cuddly. Loves to give 'hugs' too.
I plan on searching these forums more -- any more advice is especially welcome. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7836
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| 10/14/2010 2:36 PM |
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You know with the situation as you described, I think I would just keep cat and dog apart. I would also encourage the obedience training as it just makes for a nice dog that is a pleasure to live with. The obedience training alone will not cure the dog of being cat sharp.
As for the ecollar, it can be used to resolve the problem with your cat, but you need to know what you are doing with the ecollar or you can make the problem worse and end up with a collar wise dog too. I would strongly recommend working with someone who understands avoidance training and how to apply the ecollar to your situation if that is the route you decide to take.
Good luck and keep us posted.
By the way, welcome to the forum. We would love to see pictures of your pup. You should introduce yourself in the General Discussion section too. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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RCNZ
New Zealand
JH
Posts:26
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| 10/14/2010 8:22 PM |
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Yeah, e-collars can be a real double edged sword. They are great training aids but can cause real problems.
If it were me I'd ditch the cat but I'm not a big fan of cats.
I would get plugged in with a good local trainer. GSPs are great dogs but need proper training.
No, not all GSPs are cat sharp. Just the good ones 
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7836
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| 10/14/2010 10:19 PM |
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| Boy, you are on a roll tonight. I suppose the emoticon is supposed to make your comment ok. Hmmm, maybe next time you should just leave the sarcasm aside. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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erikacarrillo
La Honda, CA
MH
Posts:229
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| 10/14/2010 11:02 PM |
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You could try introducing the cat to her on leash. Start at a comfortable distance, then move closer. You can correct her if she acts aggressively or over interested with the a snap of the leash and maybe a prong collar or e-collar and a command like leave it. You can reward her with treats for directing her attention to you and away from the cat.
My dog Koda was raised with our cat when she was still a puppy and smaller than him. It helped that our cat was/is not afraid of whacking her with his paws. Occasionally she'll chase him if he's running, but it's just in fun. I would be careful to leave them in a space together where the cat can't escape, but try to work with her on leash around the cat. |
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unowhoandwhy
Middleofnowhere, NH
MH
Posts:1805
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| 10/15/2010 5:38 AM |
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You should also make sure that the cat has her own space she can escape to that the dog can't get into, so that she can go somewhere safe when she needs it. That's especially important in your case since you have an older cat with health problems who may not be able to defend herself the way a younger one would.
Welcome to the forum, by the way! We'd love to see an intro & pictures (we love pictures!) in the General discussion forum. |
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Daniel Yankee Flyer - 8/2002
Lady Layla - 1/2006 |
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Cricketdog
MH
Posts:73
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| 10/15/2010 11:50 AM |
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Welcome! You also might want to get an empty soda can, put a few coins in it and tape the opening shut. Shake it when your gsp goes near the cat. Dogs hate the sound! She will eventually associate the sound with the cat and have nothing to do with the cat. It's worth a try.
Cathy |
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In my next life, I want to come back as my dog...what a life!
www.tomcatkennels.com |
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MIReeferChick
Posts:7
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| 10/16/2010 8:26 AM |
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Hi all,
Thanks for all the feedback. I've found quite a few local (regular) trainers, but from what I've read on all of their websites is that we can't bring her to class until we've had her for 14 days. Plus, she was only given the first half of her shots from the animal control and has to go to our regular vet for the remainder of'em, so that plus us not having her for 14 days yet = no class yet.
For right now, we have been keeping her on leash while in the house with the cat out. Man, she REALLY wants him. We've been using "leave it" and give a light jerk on her harness. I have a training choke coller that we have yet to try out on her, and my friend gave me the ecoller to try out as well.
Other than that, when we lock the cat up in another room to let her wander the house for a while she's VERY good. She's extremely loyal to us. Wants nothing more than to follow us around the house and lay next to us. She knows 'sit' pretty well and comes to me when I make a kissing noise. Crate training is going decently well. I think she may have spay incontenance since she has gone 2x's now (pee) in the family room and has pooped in her crate 2x's right after being walked for 30 minutes. A trip to the vet in totally in order for a follow up visit.
I'll post some pics and an intro in the other forum.  Thanks all!
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4449
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| 10/20/2010 6:08 AM |
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The problem,as I see, it, is you can create more issues then you want to solve.
the dog is not collar conditioned - therefore, she has no idea what the stimulation is for. What if she thinks the shock is coming from the cat? What if it aggrivates her so much she becomes aggressive? You don't have her long enough to make a proper temperment assessment. You're yet to discover why she was really given up.
Train your dog, then intro the collar the proper way if you need to.
Getting a shorthair to live with a cat should be easy - but all bets are off with other cats. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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