Hello. I'm new to the forums. I have a 9 year old JRT/APBT mix female 'Cali' (spayed), a 2 year old APBT male 'Smoke' (neutered) and 4 cats.

My problem is with Smoke and my alpha male cat, Murphy.

I do have a pro trainer who has suggested continued consistent work with 'leave it' and 'down/stay' and I have been doing that with success but I am trying to get to the root of the problem.

Okay, now the problem. First I think I need to determine the level of prey drive in my dog. Cali has a strong chase drive. She chases the cats sometimes and then leaves them alone. Once in while she will curl her lip at them, sometimes snap in the air, but never anything more. Enter Smoke in June of last year.

Smoke is a very mellow dog. Very submissive. But when Cali is around, all hell breaks loose. If she so chooses. There have now been 3 occassions where Murphy ended up in Smoke's mouth. Each time, there is blood everywhere, and none of it is Murphy's. Smoke weighs 60 lbs so I know he could easily kill a cat if he wanted to. All these incidents happened ONLY when Cali is around.

Oh, Smoke did kill one of our pet bunnies. Very grisly. The bunny was running around free range and my son let the dog out of his crate. The bunnies now stay in a different room. I'm sure Smoke can smell them, but he shows no interest in pursuing them, it seems he is only triggered by small animals running in front of him, or fighting with him.

I think Cali starts the chase, and Smoke decides it's his job to end it. The other cats are fine, because they don't purposefully provoke the dog. Murphy will walk right up and smack both dogs a good one if he feels like it. I can have Smoke on a perfectly good down/stay and Murphy will walk up, hiss, and run or stay and stare the dog down.

I'm at my wits end. Things have been going smoothly, but I know it's only a matter of time until someone is blind or dead or both. Smoke now has scars all over his pretty face, and people are starting to ask if I fight my dog! I managed to get Murph out of Smoke's mouth both times, but not without injuring my hands. (Yes, not smart, I know, but I wasn't going to let my cat be torn to shreds) And Smoke did NOT continue to attack after I had the cat, nor did he bite me directly. He actually went and hid.

So this is very long, I'm sorry. I am very concerned. I hope someone can help. Thanks.

Hi Rachele,

I'll take a stab at this and hopefully some more experienced folks will chime in.

 Quote:

Smoke is a very mellow dog. Very submissive. But when Cali is around, all hell breaks loose. If she so chooses.

Cali shouldn't be *choosing* anything. You are the one who decides what behavior is or is not allowed.

 Quote:

All these incidents happened ONLY when Cali is around.

Separate the dogs and IF you allow them together do it only under supervision and with a drag leash on to keep control of one or both.

 Quote:

Oh, Smoke did kill one of our pet bunnies. Very grisly. The bunny was running around free range and my son let the dog out of his crate. The bunnies now stay in a different room. I'm sure Smoke can smell them, but he shows no interest in pursuing them, it seems he is only triggered by small animals running in front of him, or fighting with him.

Was Cali present for this incident? Or did Smoke just kill the bunny all on his own? Either way I would NEVER let these dogs free in the house around my cats...or any small animals.

 Quote:

I think Cali starts the chase, and Smoke decides it's his job to end it. The other cats are fine, because they don't purposefully provoke the dog. Murphy will walk right up and smack both dogs a good one if he feels like it. I can have Smoke on a perfectly good down/stay and Murphy will walk up, hiss, and run or stay and stare the dog down.

I have a 'bully" cat and he is not allowed to confront, smack, swipe at, bother, or provoke the dog. Likewise, my dog has understood from day 1 that the cats are off limits and under my protection. You have to establish the rules in the house and yes, that goes for the cats too. Believe me, my bully cat knows when I'm pissed and knows when he's done something wrong.

It is your job to make sure everyone stays safe and if that means gating off parts of the house, separating the dogs, using drag leashes, e collars, prong collars... whatever works best.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Thank you. Another member pm'd me and suggested the same thing about controlling the cat.

As far as the bun incident (yes, Cali was there but not involved at all), Smoke was crated and the bun was free roaming. Although we have a rule that when the buns are out, the dog is NEVER to be let out of the crate, I feel asleep and my 11 year old made a very regrettable decision. He does NOT actively try to get to the buns, however. He happened to be walking up the stairs to go outside and the bun was sitting on the stairs. This was also only a couple months after Smoke came to live with us and he had no training. 1000% preventable and I will never ever forgive myself. Lesson most assuredly learned and the buns are not out of their cages unless dogs are crated and behind at least one closed door. And NEVER without me standing over to supervise.

I did have a phone consult with my trainer after the post. Dogs are no longer allowed on the couch. Everyone on the floor, down/stay or in the laundry room and crated when not outside. Cali needs to be put in check. She was an only dog for a long time, I didn't realize how spoiled and disobedient she was until we got the second dog!

No one is loose in the house when I am not home either.

I am considering a basket muzzle for Smoke to wear when in the house anyway, just in case. Do you think this is necessary, or will I be able to get this under control with proper training? I'm just afraid I will never be able to trust them! (although they will never be trusted to be alone together)

That's great you have a trainer to touch base with. Good for you for making that call.

As for the muzzle...Well, if you can implement the necessary changes in your home with EVERY member of the household onboard and understanding the new rules I think you may not need a muzzle. If you feel more comfortable with a muzzle until you get the new routine down then buy one and use it or keep it on hand.

From everything I've read on this board good training and consistent leadership can work wonders in turning problems around.

Thanks. I still have to think more about it though. I love my dog, but it's so hard to get that trust back after the bunny incident and then the cats. And then there are those people that say he should be pts and that 'once they taste blood'....

It's hard. But all I have to do is look into his eyes and then I'm reminded of why I keep trying.

He did absolutely amazing at our session today, btw. We are becoming like one, it's finally feeling like I am the only being in the world when I'm working him. I love my pack!

Get rid of the cats

Get "rid" of the cats? I take offense to that. They are no more disposable than the dogs, and have been living with me longer than either of the dogs anyway.

I don't believe in rehoming out of convenience, sorry. I would hope the educated people on this board would feel the same way.

 Quote: rachele lizarraga

I would hope the educated people on this board would feel the same way.

Whoa....whoa....whoa....

Personally, I agree with Al in this situation and Al is a very good resource as far as advice on things. You have pretty much stated that your animals all run together at times, animals are "accidentally" being let out of crates and other animals are dying "grisly" deaths.

I would start by establishing pack leadership with both dogs. Squirt the cat with a bottle of water when he tries to get uppity and "provoke" the dogs. The other thing I would do is cage the bunnies.

I have 3 cats and 6 dogs, two of the dogs are cat killers and I get along very nicely with an e-collar. Although none of my dogs are allowed to run loose without supervision.

I was just thinking in the best interest of the cats, sorry you took offense, I'll refrain from answering any of your posts,
Good luck,
AL

Quote:
"Get "rid" of the cats? I take offense to that. They are no more disposable than the dogs, and have been living with me longer than either of the dogs anyway."


I'm with Al here. You have a pack that you can't control and seem to be unaware that you're providing them with targets for their next kill by your insistence in keeping other animals at their mercy. This is cruel and inhumane behavior on your part.
Rehousing the cats would be in the cats best interest, and for the safest outcome, going down to one dog would be the best choice.


Quote:
"I don't believe in rehoming out of convenience, sorry. I would hope the educated people on this board would feel the same way."


By the way, this is a trainers board, most of us are *very* educated regarding dog training, but very few people are going to agree with an ill thought-out statement that places other animal's lives at risk. We call them as we see'em here.