Hi All,
I want some insight about my dogs behavior around my cat. I have been watching the pack structure DVD and have learned a ton about pack structure. I haven't finished it yet but working on it.

Well, So.. A BIG problem I have with my dog is that he is always after our female cat who is very sweet.
Sometimes he manages to sneak loose of us (he is usually tethered to my husband or I) and he immediately will go on top of the cat and "bite" her neck. He doesn't appear to hurt her but he wags his tail like crazy as if he's won a prize! He then will let go but he sort of acts like he is constantly "dominating" her until I run over and get him back on the leash.

When he is tethered to me and the cat walks by he will start lunging after her. I would say my dog has a 1 track mind and I believe he thinks about my cat all day.

However, when our other cat lived with us up until a few weeks ago my dog would NOT touch that cat. He could be a mean cat and the cat sort of ruled the roost around here. My dog acted totally different around that cat and wouldn't even look at him.

(I also want to add here is my dog is a 11 month old 4-5lb mini dachshund and the cats are much bigger than him)

So, my question is. I always thought my dog attacking cat #1 was prey drive, say, same thing as him chasing a squirrel?
But now that I think about it, if that was the case, why didn't he do that to cat #2?

Is my dog just constantly trying to show rank over my cat #1?
Or does he view her as prey?

I hope my questions make sense. Also, a trainer I have spoken with believes that when proper k9 hierachy is established that my dog will learn that the cat is not his to even look at.

Normally now if I have my dog on a leash in the house I put the cat in our bedroom. Is that a good idea until I have the pack structure going? Or does the dog need to realize the cat is apart of our "family pack" and not hide her away?

Thanks!

My dogs are raised from pups with a very submissive cat in the house.

Pups are intoduced on leash to the cat. Not allowed to display ANY dominate behavior toward the cat. If they do they are stopped immediately & scoulded....an older pup would get a little correction. The rules are set from the day they come into my home. The cat is OFF LIMITS.. & NOT on the MENU. PERIOD.

As the pups get older they are allowed more interaction with the cat. My cat will rub against the dogs & purr & play with them (batting with her paws with claws in). She is timid with the dogs & would not even think about being aggreessive with the dogs. So they have to learn to play nice.

As for hierarchy..there is NONE. I'm in the lead & I make the rules. No animal is allow to bully another in my home.

Ditto Anne's advice. Leash the pup and correct him for any unwanted postures towards the cat. IMO, separating them just makes the cat more interesting, and then you'll be setting yourself up for separation forever.

The message to the pup is: the cat is MINE--just like the remote control, the coffee table leg, this sandwich, and everything else in the house. It's all mine, keep your mitts off. Correct and re-direct to something else that the pup is allowed to play with.

And don't forget the opposite side of the equation--PRAISE for every (small) instance of correct behavior around the cat. If kitty is in the room, and you can get a sit and "look at me" from the pup, that's totally worthy of praise. Eventually, he'll get the message. Supervise, not separate--IMO.

Hey guys! Thank you! I think I have a small bit of success!
I had my dog on the leash and I went into the computer room to pet the cat. The instant he pulled against the leash to lunge at her I sort of gently but firmly grabbed him by the scruff of his neck so his front two paws were off the ground. I told him a calm "No".
When he backed off I have him lots of praise. Long story short after 5 minutes in there of me purposely petting the cat and expecting him to stay sit, I left the room with him. 20 minutes later I went back in the computer room and my dog totally ignored the cat! He just layed by my feet. I think I might of earned some respect from my dog (finally).

He got lots of treats and earned some play time after that.

Good. It's a start.