Need some help - Charlie killed a cat

[Charliesmommy]

So yesterday when I got home I found that a cat had climbed Charlie's fence and gotten into his yard and he killed it. I won't even go into the details and how distressed and sick I am about all this....

Here's my question: Everyone in my neighborhood lets their cats run free. This is not the first time a cat has come into Charlie's yard, but it's the first one he has caught. Is there any way to teach Charlie that cats are not lunch?

I have introduced him to lots of cats and he does fine with them, unless they run. And then he can't help but to chase and attack. Charlie does great with dogs and cats both, as long as it is outside of my property. But no dog or cat is allowed to come into his yard without him attacking.

I like that he is protective of my property but I don't know what I'll do if this happens again. And trying to convince the neighbors to keep their cats off my property is just not going to happen. Ideas????

[jess2416]

I already said what I have to say...

GOOD LUCK :)

[Charliesmommy]

Thanks Jess. I'm hoping maybe some others have some ideas. I'll let you know if they do!

[otch1]

So sorry to hear this! Have you addressed this with the cats owner? Able to locate them? (There should be lost cat signs going up soon, if not) When a cat owner allows their cats to be "outdoor" cats, this is the risk they take. And if Charlie is left unattended in the yard, it will most likely happen again. Not to be too graphic but did he rough this kitty up, possibly taking a fatal snap at it then leave it or was this real prey, one he tried to eat after killing it? Predator drive is very common in this breed and difficult to correct in a dog that's left unattended outdoors. You're right, it's all about the chase. With dogs like this, I have many clients who purchase a hot wire box and hot wire and secure the top of their fence. It's relatively inexpensive, keeps the squirrels, cats and our dog off of the fence. I live in a country setting, we all have multiple cats, rabbits, raccoon and even deer going through our property on a weekly basis. It is safest to keep these animals out or supervise your dog when outdoors, than it is to try to catch him in the act.

[Charliesmommy]

I have no idea who the cat belonged to. It was wearing a collar but no tags. I think he broke its neck pretty quickly because he did not have any scratches on him and the cat was not mangled but clearly its neck was broken. It appeared that he grabbed it by the neck and shook it and then left it alone. It had not been there very long when I found it, as I at first thought it might still be alive until I realized the neck was broken.

He does have a very high prey drive, obviously.

[Mcpie]

I don't think that it is really possible, or, if it is, it would require a massive amount of conditioning and time-- with little promise of reward. In the end, Charlie was just doing what dogs do. You might be able to teach him to ignore a number of cats, but to expect him to ignore all random animals streaking through his territory is a bit much.

If it makes you feel better, my last dog chased a kitty up a tree and the kitty was so terrified it never came back. I felt awful when the owners asked me if I had seen their kitty :(

[elegy]

i think it'd be awfully hard to break a dog of prey drive, especially if you're not there. it's totally normal dog behavior. one that i hate, but, well, it is what it is.

[Charliesmommy]

It is baffling to me that a cat would come into a yard with an 80lb GSD. I can only guess that Charlie was sleeping and was not noticed until it was too late.

[Mcpie]

I can only guess that Charlie was sleeping and was not noticed until it was too late.

Nah, as Darwin says, some creatures are just too stupid to live. Or at least I think he said something along those lines.

[oc_spirit]

My guys have killed a number of small animals too, its just what they do...Today I had them at the vets and one of the resident cats almost became lunch from them when he decided to wander out to the waiting room to see what was going on. As long as they respect me when I tell them to "leave it" or "on-by" I am happy. If they catch something out in the yard, well that animal shouldnt have been there whether it is a cat, mole, squirrel...whatever

[Romy]

The electric wire on top of the fence is a good idea. I have heard of people putting thin wire, non-electrified, around the top of their fence. The cat can't see it and then bonks into it when jumping up, it kind of freaks them out. Maybe tying pop cans with a few pennies to the wire would help too, as I know they hate the noise. That's how we taught our cat not to jump on the counter.

Outdoor cats are just always at risk. It could just as easily have been a raccoon, hawk, coyote, bobcat, or other dog that the cat met instead of Charlie. Charlie was in his yard.

[Charliesmommy]

Maybe tying pop cans with a few pennies to the wire would help too, as I know they hate the noise.

LOL! That would look cute around the backyard!

[Romy]

Oooh! Or you could mount motion detector sprinklers on your fence posts. That could make for some interesting time in the yard. :D

[Fruit bat]

Oooh! Or you could mount motion detector sprinklers on your fence posts. That could make for some interesting time in the yard. :D

Charlie likes water, he'd run till he drops, then be to tuckered out to bother with cat chasing.

[Charliesmommy]

LOL! Two benefits for the price of one! The cats stay out and Charlie actually gets tired out for once in his life!

[Dekka]

Snip has killed a few cats, he is now always tied. (we live on a small farm) He does it so fast, even when I am 3 feet from him, there is nothing I can do.

IMO the best thing you can do is to manage the cats from coming in your yard. The electric fence idea is great, and you can get a thin wire that is not very noticeable. I would warn your immediate neighbours who have outdoor cats that they won't be safe if they stroll in your yard. (maybe that will scare them into keeping them indoors) I don't understand why people who love their cats just let them roam!

[Charliesmommy]

I've tried talking to the neighbors in the past when Charlie has chased a cat out. They don't care.

The fence idea is a good one. I'll have to put some more thought into that.

[DanL]

I don't think it was a matter of him defending the yard. That was pure and simple prey drive and a side product of being a GSD. Gunnar does it too. He's never caught one but he's come real close. Now it seems like most stay away from the yard. When I let him out in the morning and late night, he zooms to each corner of the yard and behind our shed in search of critters, but he barks as a warning too.

Like the others have said, it's better to deter the cats from entering the yard. Prey drive is a good thing in your dog, I wouldn't want to treat it as a negative.

Maybe you can put the cat on a pole as a warning to all the others. Just kidding, I'm sure you are stressed about this so that was my bad attempt at humor.

[squirtsmom]

Honestly, if he was in his yard, it is pretty much a normal behavior. People who let their cats out, are going to lose their cats. That is on them, not Charlie, who is doing what dogs do.

[Jynx]

I have gsd's and aussies, and I also have 5 indoor cats. The dogs all are fine with them indoors, but even if MINE were outside and started to run, the chase would be on..

Once prey drive kicks in, it can be very difficult to call off IF there hasn't been alot of distraction training to begin with,,and even then, sometimes the 'chase" is much more enticing than anything else in the world ,,they zone out :))

My GSD's, especially my female has always had an extremely high prey drive, but I worked with her for years with distractions/ I can now reliably call her off deer standing in my front yard, and believe me, she is just quivering to get them :))

My aussies/ well that can be a hit or miss...I've had woodchucks in my backyard (fenced) which I didn't seen, the male aussie returned to me immediately, (I don't think he knew what it was!) by my female aussie was "on" him in a second,,it took a few hard YELLS, to get her to come..Now if this was NOT in my backyard, she'd probably be heading for the hills on the tail of that woodchuck as we speak :))..

All dogs are different, and herding dogs with high prey drives are going to do what they do..Chase, apprehend, kill. Owners with outdoor cats take a huge risk, and cats are certainly not as trainable as dogs imho..

ok done rambling
diane

[Charliesmommy]

Maybe you can put the cat on a pole as a warning to all the others.


:yikes: OMG....I can't believe you said that!