hi and thank you for allowing me aboard. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> im a canadian in thailand for the next few years and as a companian i got myself a rottie pup now at the age of 3 months old (looks 6 months old) the problem im having is a also got a maine coon cat for my gf. the dog loves the cat already but the dog (tofu) always wants to pounce on the cat. i understand about the language barrier and how when they do certain things it means differant things to each other. any ideas how to make my puppy less hyper and calm around the cat?
also what is a good age to get him fixed and what are the pros and cons of doing so? thanks every one.

Good luck....My boy was brought up around cats but at a certain age began to chase and kill cats, rabbits, u name it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I'm sure some people on here will have some good ideas to get them to play nice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hi Mark
If this puppy is your pet and not a working dog, then there shouldn't be a reason you can't teach him to leave the cat alone. I am actually surprised that a Maine Coon can't put the fear of God in a pup, even a big pup-is it declawed?
Maybe it's helpful to think of the cat like it's a good shoe you don't want the dog to chew on-a good sharp No! when he starts on the cat and give him an alternative toy. Let him know the cat is off-limits, even if it means they won't get to be playmates. I've never had a dog that couldn't learn to respect other animals that lived in my own house. (outdoors it's a whole other story)

Does it really make any difference wether puppy is going to be a working dog or strictly pet as respects to chasing cat's?I hope not as I have never tolerated any aggression towards our cats from our working dogs.They will chase a strange cat that crosses through our yard,as it is not part of our family.I teach a "leave it" on anything I don't want my dog's touching.That goes for items in my house too.I would keep puppy and cat seperate until you have the behavior you are looking for.It's not fair on puppy to scold him for chasing cat everytime cat runs,it's puppy's prey drive kicking in.When introduced I get one person to hold cat and I will hold puppy,allow puppy to sniff and get to know cat and say "No" or "Leave it"when puppy gets to rough,Or even better to stop introduction before that happens.Introduce after puppy's playtime so that he won't be as ready to rumble.Please be VERY careful of cat's claws around puppy's eyes.We have a friend whose puppy's eye got seriously damaged from a swinging cat.Your right to engourage proper behavior around small animals when young as it is almost impossible to teach later in life.Good Luck!

i have been trying hard to teach the puppy not to be so agressive around the cat but as you know rotties already have such a high prey drive it seems almost imposible even after ive taken the dog out to play for two hrs, he still wants to pounce on the cat. the cat is only 4 months old as well so it cant really put the fear into the pup. no one seemed to have answered the other ? about getting the dog fixed. when is the best age and what are the pros and cons of doing so? will it calm him down alot? he is a family pet not a working dog.( so many questions for you all)lol.
being in thailand there is this skin disease here but i have taken tofu to the vet very regularly to prevent it from happening to him as well. is it still safe to allow him to play with this one other dog. it looks clean with a few fleas but fles are not my concern really.

Hi Mark,
Go on Ed's question and answer section of his website off the homepage.Check out the training article too on this subject.Sorry I don't know how to do the link thing.There may be some more or better ideas than what I can offer.If your Rottie is strictly a pet I would suggest getting him neutered.I know people will differ with me.I believe in a family setting there is no reason to have an unaltered male Rottweiler.Good Luck,aren't puppies just so much fun???Remember you won't get proper behavior results instantly,it takes time.After all I said in my last post guess who just went streaking by me herding a cat,our Rottie pup.I really have to go!!Good Luck.