Hi there I have a question i thought i would throw out here. I have a Rottweiler and Doberman that are fairly high in prey drive. My girlfriend has us cat sitting her moms two cats, i said this is probably not wise but who listens to me. I said the only way it would work is complete isolation i have the cats living in our bedroom on the 2nd floor and the dogs are now restricted to 1st floor and there is a baby gate at the stairs to stop any possible break ins or outs.

The problem every time the dogs hear the cats they get fixated on whats upstairs and I think the dogs may be pissed off that their access to the highest elevation and some of their resting spots has been taken away as well. We have 6 days left and I'm not sure what the best way to make them calm.

Should i ignore it and allow them to get stimulated in prey drive and without drive satisfaction will they begin to ignore that specific stimuli? i don't want to diminish their prey drive for tug work as i have spent a long time developing it.

Should I engage them in a game of tug if i can to redirect their prey drive and satisfy it in positive way?

Should i do crate introductions?

Finding another sitter is an option too... but it would mean a lot to my girlfriend if she was able to be with them for the week.

thanks for any help

Rob

I don't think the dogs are pissed off (as you say) about thier lack of access up stairs as much as not understanding the why. But that doesn't or would it bother me if I were in your situation. 'You stay here, no you can not be there.' The same for the fixation, 'no, leave it'.

I wouldn't redirect, I wouldn't allow the dogs to become stimulated at all, I wouldn't even think about introductions. I'd make the dogs mind. All very matter of a factly.

And I'd let my girl friend she owes me big time.

good advice, I think that's the best plan. I just gave it a shot and it's working fine.. I'm definitely guilty anthropomorphizing and projecting my feelings about it when i said they're pissed off. i just treated like anything else when i told them leave it and they complied. I'm pretty new to working and developing prey drive in a dog and i think I'm a little paranoid about doing something to damage it

oh and my girlfriend was anxious to hear that i got a response and i made sure to include that the expert advice stated that she owes me big time

Thanks Randy!

Rob

 Quote: Robert Kirkwood

oh and my girlfriend was anxious to hear that i got a response and i made sure to include that the expert advice stated that she owes me big time

Thanks Randy!

Rob

I don't have anything to add to Randy's always excellent dog training advice, but if you need to do any creative brainstorming on the other aspect of his post then shoot me a PM.

Just kidding.....but not really.....:laugh:

Hmm. Maybe there should be another forum for Leerburg's own Dr. Ruth. That may be better then non-dog related chat.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

 Quote: Robert Kirkwood

oh and my girlfriend was anxious to hear that i got a response and i made sure to include that the expert advice stated that she owes me big time

Thanks Randy!

Rob

I don't have anything to add to Randy's always excellent dog training advice, but if you need to do any creative brainstorming on the other aspect of his post then shoot me a PM.

Just kidding.....but not really.....:laugh:

LOL... Thanks, but I think i should have it covered

 Quote: steve strom

Hmm. Maybe there should be another forum for Leerburg's own Dr. Ruth. That may be better then non-dog related chat.

Wouldn't be the same with my accent.

I've noticed that this has been an 'all male' thread!

Relationships are always based on rewards and punishments...
(or is it dog training???)
oy

I think in both cases,punishment is the reward.