November 30, 2011
Our recently adopted dog is determined to kill my cats. I just watched the Remote Collar training video, but I'm not sure that I should get a remote collar. What would you suggest?
Full Question:
We have recently adopted an adult neutered male pit bull from the local shelter. They asked that we take this dog because we have had two other pits in years past with no issues. He is relatively smart and obedient to basic come, sit, down and stay, and he is fine with our Sheltie. The problem is that he is determined to kill my cats. All training goes out the window when he sees one. He is not dog or person aggressive. We have done obedience classes and had a professional trainer come to the house (a Victoria Stillwell trained, "all positive" advocate)and we were told that we should re-home the dog to a home with no cats. I ordered and just finished watching your video on remote collar training, but I am still not sure that I should get a remote collar. Assuming that I can stop the attacks when I am present and the collar is on, is it reasonable to hope that I would ever be able to trust this dog alone with a cat? I hate to give up on this dog. In his defense, the one time he got to a cat (he snapped a 3/4" leather leash apart), he was all over it but did no damage, and he certainly could have. So, try the collar or re-home? 
Cindy's Answer:
Have you read the article Ed wrote on cats?
Whenever we bring a new dog into our home, we Start with our groundwork program even if the dog doesn’t have any behavioral issues. It sets us up as authority figures in a way the dog understands. If you haven’t done this work with the new dog, I would highly recommend it.
If you want to keep the dog, I think the remote collar is your best option but I can’t possibly predict whether you can ever truly trust this dog with a cat. My dogs are raised with cats and I only have a couple that I would trust without a shadow of doubt around cats with no supervision. They are living beings with reactions and instincts that may be triggered at unexpected times. Even if the training is perfect, I would never test it by leaving a dog like this alone with a cat. It’s just not worth it.
In addition to the ecollar video, I’d highly recommend:
Pack Structure for the Family Pet
Dealing with Dominant & Aggressive Dogs
I hope this helps,
Cindy Rhodes
Whenever we bring a new dog into our home, we Start with our groundwork program even if the dog doesn’t have any behavioral issues. It sets us up as authority figures in a way the dog understands. If you haven’t done this work with the new dog, I would highly recommend it.
If you want to keep the dog, I think the remote collar is your best option but I can’t possibly predict whether you can ever truly trust this dog with a cat. My dogs are raised with cats and I only have a couple that I would trust without a shadow of doubt around cats with no supervision. They are living beings with reactions and instincts that may be triggered at unexpected times. Even if the training is perfect, I would never test it by leaving a dog like this alone with a cat. It’s just not worth it.
In addition to the ecollar video, I’d highly recommend:
Pack Structure for the Family Pet
Dealing with Dominant & Aggressive Dogs
I hope this helps,
Cindy Rhodes
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