Depending on why and how your dog chases the cat really dictates the training protocol you use to manage or change this behavior.
If the dog is aggressively chasing the cat then this may require a behavior change program to reduce the aggressive behavior and show your dog that the cat is actually a nice being. If your dog is chasing the cat "just because" its fun then teaching them a well conditioned "leave it' cue can help you manage the behavior by stopping the behavior, followed up with a redirection of attention to something suitable to chase. Always teach your dog a more appropriate behavior rather than punishing it for the undesired behavior. Punishment is not instructional!
Certain breeds are more predisposed to chase small moving objects, if you're unsure of what type your dog is, checkout the dog and cat breeds list to determine the breed. If you own a herding or chasing type breed then make sure they get lots of exercise and have an outlet for this instinctive chase behavior while you work on the problematic chase behavior with the cat.
Teach Your Dog to "Leave It"
The "leave it" cue has many uses. If you drop something on the floor and want the dog to leave it, if you want to stop the dog from sniffing at something, taking something or picking something up you can use "leave it". If trained properly it can be used to stop a dog moving towards a cat or other animal.
Criteria 1 Place in your hand a few pieces of low value treats, in your other hand, the hand you are going to deliver the reward from have some really high value treats. You will use one hand as the tempting hand and deliver the reinforcement from the other hand.
- Place your open hand with treats about five inches away from the dogs face, be prepared for them trying to grab the treat
- As they move to take the treat, say “Leave it” and close your hand quickly
- As soon as they look away, or make any gesture to move their focus or their attention away from the hand. (click) and reward them.
Repeat this 5 times, If you score 5 out of five then move to the next level. If you only score 3 or less then repeat the exercise. The dog is learning if they relinquish what is in your hand they get rewarded. Before you go onto Criteria 2 repeat this exercise using your other hand as the temptation hand.
Criteria 2 Repeat criteria 1, only this time move your hand two inches closer and below the dogs face.
- Place your open hand with treats about two inches under and away from the dogs face.
- If they move to take the treat, say “Leave it” and close your hand quickly
- As soon as they look away, or make any gesture to move their focus or their attention away from the hand. (Click) and reward them.
If you score 5 out of five then move to the next level. The dog should be showing fast signs of moving their head away from the temptation in you hand
Criteria 3 Place the temptation reward on the floor, hover your foot over the treat so if they make a move to take it you can cover the treat. Ensure the dog is not able to get to the treat before you if temptation is too much. Dogs are more often picking up things from the floor so this exercise may be more difficult than the exercise using the hand.
- If the dog makes any move or glances toward the treat on the floor, say leave it.
- You must be the thought police and anticipate their actions. As soon as they look away, or make any gesture to move their focus or their attention away from the treat. (Click) and reward them
If you score 5 out of five then move to the next level. The dog should be showing fast signs of moving their head away from the temptation on the floor
Criteria 4 While the dog is in a sit drop the treat on the floor. This is now adding a distraction into place, moving objects are harder to relinquish.
- If the dog makes any move or glances toward the treat on the floor, say leave it. You must be the thought police and anticipate their actions as you drop the treat, dropping the treat may trigger a move.
- As soon as they look away, or make any gesture to move their focus or their attention away from the treat. (Click) and reward them
If you score 5 out of five then move to the next level. The dog should be showing fast signs of moving their head away from the temptation on the floor
Criteria 5 We are now going to up the ante, we are going to repeat criteria 4 but we are going to use a much higher value treat, or a toy, or a ball. Something the dog will want.
- If the dog makes any move or glances toward the treat on the floor, say leave it. You must be the thought police and anticipate their actions. As soon as they look away, or make any gesture to move their focus or their attention away from the hand. (Click) and reward them
If you score 5 out of five then move to the next level. The dog should be showing fast signs of moving their head away from the temptation in your hand
Criteria 6. Place a high value treat on the floor about 10 feet away from where you and the dog are.
- You are going to walk toward the treat at a safe distance so that the dog cannot grab the treat, as you approach say leave it, if the dog looks away from the treat or checks in with you then (click) and reward them.
Practice this exercise with different types of treats, balls, etc.
TIPS
If you are using this new "leave it" behavior for cat chasing then start using it successfully when the dog just moves towards the cat. Don't wait for a full frontal chase. Give the dog loads of rewards for moving away from the cat.
Say the cue "Leave it" in a nice controlled manner, you don't want the cue to have an aversive effect. The dog should relinquish the cat nicely not because you scream at it.
Make sure you reinforce the dog for begin calm around the cat and ensure your dog gets enough high paced activity so all its chase energy is focused onto a tennis ball, Frisbee or other object.
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Contact Your Local DogSmith if you are having difficulties, they can help you to manage and change this behavior so all your four-legged critters can share the home calmly
. Find instructions at youtube.com/bluebuffalo.