My puppy chases my cat. How can I stop him? Will he grow out of it?

I would recommend keeping Jasper on-leash in the house for now, so that you can keep him from being able to chase the cats - as long as he is able to continue doing this, the problem will get worse since cat-chasing is a very self-rewarding behavior for most dogs :) Praise and reward him with treats for staying calm when the cats are around. The cats will also start to become braver around him once they realize he can't chase them, which means that they won't run as much - this will also help. Over time, once he's no longer trying to chase the cats when he sees them, you can begin giving him more off-leash time in the house.

Some dogs have a very high prey drive, and it may be that the cats running away trigger this instinct in her, even if she doesn't hurt them. Working on desensitizing her to the stimulus (cats) through training techniques such as BAT (Behavioral Adjustment Training) may help her start to ignore them. Usually this works by starting from a point far enough away that she doesn't react, and gradually moving closer to the target while redirecting her behaviors. Redirection with toys and appropriate treats can also help. At home, making sure to have baby gates up and places your cats can get to up high that your dog cannot can help ensure they have a place to relax and observe without being constantly bothered by Nova. Redirecting her behavior to something else when she gets too focused on the cat, either by practicing some training in a different room, going outside, etc can help. You also don't want to let the kitten and Nova be unattended together as even the nicest dog can accidentally hurt a smaller cat in play.

Hi there. I would recommend keeping him on-leash in the house for now, and keeping some tasty treats handy. Every time he sees one of the cats, praise and give him a treat. Before long, he will start to look expectantly at you for his treat whenever he sees the cats, instead of trying to chase them. Once that happens, you can start to allow some off-leash freedom in the house as long as he's doing well. If you don't feel like you're making much progress after a week or two of this, I would recommend getting in touch with a qualified trainer in your area who can work with you in person. You can search for one nearby here: www.ccpdt.org

This will take some time because Koda is a puppy and he thinks he is playing. Here is a helpful link: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-introduce-a-dog-to-a-cat/ make sure Koda has lots of other outlets for energy with lots of daily activity, play sessions, exercise and training. Keep him on a leash in the house at all times until the chasing/rough play phase is over. You may also want to read a few books about dog training. I like the trainer Victoria Stilwell and I recommend to read some of her books. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is just part of the more typical behavior for a dog and the way they tend to respond to cats. If this becomes an issue and she is becoming aggressive towards your kitty, I would encourage you to contact a local qualified dog trainer who can work with you in person as most of these behaviors can be improved with in person training and time. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would allow the cats to safely sniff and see the puppy through a baby gate for 2 weeks. Then when you let them interact the puppy should be on a leash 100% of the time so you can control him. The cats should have a safe place (cat tree, a room with a cat door only then can fit through) to be able to escape from the puppy. If the puppy shows any form of aggression towards the cats he should never be allowed to be alone with the cats and off a leash in the house. That means he is crated when you are not home. Hopefully since Moose is young the will be easy to teach and the cats will put him in his place! Good luck!

Hi there and thanks for posting on PetCoach! This may be normal energetic kitten and puppy behavior that may subside with time, however, if this behavior is something you do not want, then perhaps a training technique can help. You may want to try petting them only once they are quiet and calm to reinforce good behavior. You can also try leaving the room when they do this and only coming back in when they have settled down. There are many other techniques you can use as well that are helpful. I have attached a couple training videos below to help you get started. https://youtu.be/8svV_gF4W1c https://youtu.be/YhOg5wmwo_Y