Cats and dogs are known for bickering each other. While it looks cute to some, it’s not fun when your house is in constant chaos because your dog keeps on chasing your cat.

As a pet parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your dog gets along with your male cat. Bringing peace between your two fur friends is possible with practical obedience training. That way, the three of you can live under the same roof without constant fighting.

Signs that a dog is cat-aggressive

Start with a diagnosis before you plan out the possible household training and discipline that you will conduct to your dog. Dog aggression can vary from cats, territory, food, and even dog owners. For a better understanding of high prey dogs and why they act that way, here are the following signs that your dog is cat-aggressive:

• When your dog stops eating as he sees a cat approaching him.
• When he does not want to share his sleep territory with a cat.
• When he inserts himself between you and the cat.
• When he barges through the door as soon as he sees the cat.
• When he barks excessively whenever a cat is around.
• When he stares at the cat and growls continuously.
• When he chases any moving objects such as cats.

Do not risk a fight in the house between your cat and dog. Observe the signs of a cat-aggressive dog, and if you see any of them, make sure to contact a professional immediately. They will be able to determine the dominant behaviors of your dog towards cats. Confirmation from a professional serves as a signal for you to train a high prey drive dog.

Ways to Treat an Aggressive Dog to a Cat

Pet owners must take responsibility for their pets, especially when aggressive behavior is becoming an issue. If your dog never stops chasing your cat, here are the following ways that can treat the aggressive territorial behavior of a dog towards a cat:

• Properly introduce them to each other

Sometimes, the main reason why your dog is aggressive towards your cat is the lack of proper introduction. Bring peace to this chaos by cats with dogs. Start by properly introducing them to each other. Dogs who smell new scents may classify it as an intruder, especially when you bring a new cat home.

By proper introduction, you’re giving time to your dog to adjust. Separate the two animals using a tall barrier that your kitty cannot easily climb over. Separation through gates also helps. It allows your dog to see and smell the cat without risking a fight between the two of them. The more they see each other and getting used to their scents, the more you can decrease your dog’s aggression towards cats.

• Determine The Cause Of Cat Aggression

It is never easy to transform your pets into well-behaved pooch. Pinning down the leading reason for redirected aggression towards cats can help you to determine why cats and dogs in your house are always fighting. Some dogs may have an unfortunate encounter with a feline. They may act defensively every time they see or smell one. Dominant dogs, on the other hand, are naturally aggressive to a cat. They see them as a threat to their territory. While other dogs are simply jealous because you are not giving them equal attention. Be wary of how you act around your cat and see how your dog reacts. One of the common signs of dog jealousy is when your dog inserts himself between you and the cat. Dogs and cats are natural enemies, but there’s always a reason for the aggressiveness of a dog to a cat.

• Watch out for warning signs

When your dog is playing with the cat, make sure to watch out for warning signs. You should be able to determine play-based aggression from real territorial aggression. That way, your dog won’t end up hurting or even killing your kitty. Also, if you think your dog and cats are starting to get along, keep in mind that large breeds can cause injury to a small cat when tolerated.

Real aggression is when your dog no longer listens to your commands when you ask him to stop. Specific problems in the house or stressful situations might trigger your dog’s aggressive behavior. Hence, before you allow your dog and cat to play predatory aggression, make sure that both of them are in the proper state of mind.

• Dog training

Establishing your authority as the owner of the dog is vital. Your pets must see you as someone they must obey. Even if you are not a professional dog trainer, the establishment of rules and policies in your household is crucial. For instance, you must be able to tell your dog what behavior is appropriate and what is inappropriate. That way, your dog will know how to behave around cats and stop chasing (chasing cats) them every chance they get.

Dogs and cats, with proper training, can be best friends. It may take a while for your dog to accept he’s going to live with a cat. Trying to adjust his behavior towards your kitties is not easy. But with patience and authority, you will be able to make your dog less aggressive to cats in the long run.

• Use a single command

According to dog training experts, one of the most effective ways to train your dog is to use single control. The term ‘Leave it!” is a great starting point. Whether you unleash your dog or not, make sure to utter the command every time he bares his fangs to a kitty. Establish a separation between the two of them so both your pets can live in harmony.

Use this command as much as you can, especially when a feline is around. This way, your dog will learn to leave them alone. Over time, they will get comfortable with the idea of a cat and get used to their scent.

• Control your dog

Aggressive dogs can be hard to control. If you want to correct his behavior around a resident cat, start by putting him on a leash. Look for a place, say a yard, and bring some treats with you. Show your adult dog a cat and see how he reacts. If he ignores the cat’s presence, give him a doggie treat. But if he lunges towards the feline aggression as soon as he sees it, pull him on a leash and repeat the command. For the cat’s protection, you should consider putting her inside a protective carrier. You may repeat this process until your dog gets used to the presence of cats.

Conclusion

Training your dog to be a less aggressive cat to a feline may seem like a daunting task. But it’s your responsibility to make sure that they get along. It is crucial, especially if they live under the same roof. If you don’t want to end up with an injured cat or a jealous dog, training them to live together is what you have to do. For this reason, follow the methods and see what works best for your dog. It may take some time, but you will see improvements in how your pooch approaches a feline.

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