hello everyone,
I am really upset ( with myself). Kane has been really good lately being off his long lead, so when weve been outside ,we had him off the lead(for the past month) Its been really warm, and our 2 other old dogs basically just sleep after their morning walk, which seems to keep Kane content at sticking around. Yesterday, while I thought he was sleeping, I went in to have a quick shower. Thats when I heard the cat screaming.
I went out imediately,saw a cat run to the shop and go inside.
I went to Kane(at this point I havent said a word to him, and hes looking at me smiling)my intent was to put the lead back on and just make sure all was well. At that point, a white cat was startled by us in the long grass, and Kane grabbed him and shook him. I screammed in reaction to this at which he dropped the cat .I then put him on his side "ceasar style", and said "no cats"( which he seemed to understand in the past.) after one minute on his side, i quietly removed him to his outdoor run so I could see about the cat,unfortunately, he did not look well, and we had to put the cat down. Im devistated that I let him get into that situation.Can you direct me to some threads on this subject (and how old should Kane be before he is allowed to be off leash on the farm (hes 10 months now))

My dad's dog used to just play with the cats. After about 2 years or harmless play, he just started killing them by tossing them around too roughly. The e-collar fixed that. Anytime he would get near a cat, he would get a correction.

He's a farm dog also, but as far as I know, he's NEVER been on a leash. And other than the cat problem, and the car chasing (which was also solved quickly with the e-collar) he hasn't had any issues. I personally wouldn't have raised him off leash, but it's not my dog.

The cat problem seems to be our only "problem " as well . He sticks with me when we are outside , and he ALWAYS comes to me when called. he stops in his tracks with a "hey" if hes going to far or touching something hes not supposed to, he doesnt go near our cattle etc. but he looses all brain cells when a cat is around.Im thinking of an E collar, but Im nervous, as I dont want to do anything wrong, and there are no experts on dogs in the area that are accessable,Is the E collar video easy to understand for a green handler? Im actually quite amazed at myself at what Ive been able to acomplish with the help of the videos and this website with this strong breed(plus hes so smart and really wants to please me, so all in all its the best thing Ive ever done (getting Kane).)

I don't recall this dog's backstory (if there is one here), so a couple of questions:

Do you own cats? "A white cat" -- your cat, or what?

"No cats" which he "seemed to understand in the past" -- what does this mean?

Does the farm have other small animals?

Is there a particular reason for Kane to be off-leash outside when you are inside?

Just trying to get a big picture.

Thanks Connie,
Kane is 10 mo. we have 2 other rescue dogswhich we got as adults both now10 years plus.( one boder collie cross, and one Lab possibly shepherd border collie cross. both spayed females submissive soft easy dogs to train(as in very basic ob mostly "farm" dogs) we have 3 cats one friendly the two others (including the white cat) not so much because from the time kane was 4 mo old he was aggressive to them)Kane was almost 5 mo old before we got the videos and clued in on this web site.
before Ed Frawleys videos,I did "clicker training,which I learned from a trainer at the Vet office (as I was finding Kane a handful at about 11 weeks.)This was helpful as it was exactly what Ed was showing as marker training.Also at the same it was my breeder who told me about Ed Frawly .
"No Cats" :whenever the cats came around, and he would go towards them, I would go the other direction with him,and say no cats, or step between him and the cats, claiming them and say no cats,when I was with him he seemed to know he wasnt allowed the cats.Another fact that is significant:The other people in my household are not always supportive of what Im trying to do (long lead etc.) I get told"The other dogs didnt need the leash" So as result,Kane got let out by himself too early and went after the cats before this incident and thus they have been living in the barn lately(where hes not allowed)
This past month we have weened him off the long lead and when we are outside he sticks with me, he even stays with me when the other dogs do their sniffing around.I know I expected too much I gues, that day.
I was watering flowers and gardening for about an hour, and he was with me, (in the shade )as that day it was 30 celcius. I gave him a shower with the hose and played with him in the water which he loves and then I was all muddy. He was happy, soaked and went to lay down on our deck. When he was asleep I went in to quickly shower off thinking hed rest for at least an hour (as he usually does at that time, but Im usually with him.( thats when the incident happened).
The farm has cattle which we walked him by, repeatedly, and now we can work with them and he stays out of the pen calmly and waits for us . no other animals but gophers , magpies the usual.

I had a cat problem with my 7 month old GSD that was causing a rife between my wife and I. I bought a remote collar and the Video from Leerburg and used the collar today. I cheated and used it the day after I received it, but the dog was pissing me off. After two nicks from the collar, she won't even go near the cats. I have been working for two months on trying to get her to leave them alone and it took two minutes with the remote collar. The collar and the video are a great tool as are all the Leerburg products. Give the remote collar a try.

Just curious...What level correction did you use?

The reason I'm asking is I'm trying to figure out just how unfair you were to your dog.

There's a reason you do the foundation work with an ecollar and why you don't "cheat" and simply strap it on and start stimming.

Here are Ed's own words about remote collar training:
The most important thing about electric collar training is how the collar is introduced to the dog. The physical act of putting the collar on cannot mean anything to the dog. People make the mistake and think that wearing the collar accustoms the dog to the collar. These people are wrong.

It’s the act of putting the collar on that means something. So new trainers need to take a couple of weeks and put the collar on and take it off several times a day. They need to rotate the prong collar and the electric collar and the leather collar during this period of time. By doing this the collar going on and off means nothing to the dog.

When the buttons are pushed is no different than when a person gives a leash correction. There is an art to using the leash and there is an art to using the electric collar.

I understand the frustration you're feeling and the seriousness of dogs chasing cats but a "pissed" owner using an ecollar really concerns me.

Im willing to do what ever it takes to raise my first puppy properly.any advise would be helpful.I spent an hour and a half on the internet looking for dog experts in my city or area.I need feedback and even someone to let me know if what Im doing is working. There are times I feel my confidence bottoming out.Ive followed the videos to the best of my ability.Anyone Know anyone in Edmonton Alberta Canada(the town closest to me)My last hope is an R.C.M.P. dog handlerwho lives here but trains dogs in Bowden Alberta, but hes barely around and didnt answer my first message...........

I'd suggest an e-collar for addressing the cat issue, but I'd strongly recommend that you get and watch the Leerburg video on remote collar training for pet owners first. Yes, it's easy to understand and very helpful. I've successfully used an e-collar to stop cat chasing and other unwanted crittering behavior, but do your homework before you start using one.

I guess you've learned this the hard way, but leaving a 10-month old dog unrestrained and unsupervised at any time is asking for trouble. He needs to be under your control at all times - leash, (you can learn to use the e-collar as an "invisible leash", as the video describes), crate, kennel - but don't leave him loose while you do something else and assume he will peacefully sleep or whatever.