Puppy vs Cat

[Ritz459]

This is about ready to drive me crazy.

How do you explain to a 13 week old Collie mix that the grumpy 14year old cat does NOT want to play?
Rush will hiss at her, swat at her, attack her, growl at her, but Chloe thinks that all of this is in play and will hop around doing her play bow, wagging her tail, and barking like an idiot.
She started to finally tolorate him the other day, but then when she was ignoring him and just walked by him, he attacked her, and she's been bugging him ever since.
Rush's domain is the top part of the house (his water, food, litterbox, and sleeping places are all upstairs) and Chloe has command of the downstairs.

I think she'd be fine with him if she could just MEET him, but he won't let her withen a three foot radius of him without him attacking her. Then, of course, she thinks he is playing, and it is just a constant circle.

Sadie used to do the exact same thing, but then Rush got her good in the side, and she's stayed back from him and kept quiet around him ever since.
Rush was actually chasing Chloe around the front room about ten minutes ago and Chloe had her tail tucked between her legs, but as soon as he stopped, she kept right on trying to play.

Every time they get into a conflict, I let them just go at it (unless it turns into something serious, which it has yet to amount to anything more than an annoyed cat and a hyper puppy) because I figured that would be one of the best ways to let them learn about each others "back off" signals, but while that approached worked with Sadie, it doesn't seem to be working with Chloe.

Any suggestions before I loose my mind?

[IceyBlueSibes]

How does Chloe react to a squirt gun/spray bottle? I would use that if she showed even the slightest interest in the cat.

Have you tried calling her name with a nice yummy treat in your hand? Or a cool toy? Try to make yourself more interesting than the cat. Once she comes to you, praise her. If she goes to go back to the cat, I'd say "Ah-ah! Leave it!" and remove her from the room. I'd then give her a nice toy or treat once she's out of the room and has followed me while not showing interest in the cat.

[Ritz459]

I've never used a squirt bottle before and I'm scared to, actually. lol I don't want her to learn that being sprayed in the face with water is a bad thing....talk about a groomer's nightmare. lol But since I've never used one, would it have that effect on her?
I'm not sure how she'd react to one. My guess is it would work as an aversive, but who knows with her. lol

What I was doing earlier was I clipped the leash on her and everytime she started to bark at the cat, I corrected her and told her to, "Shhhhhh!" That worked for a minute and she laid down and was chewing on her bone (she got lots of praise from me for that), until the cat started meowing. *shakes head*

She'd be ok if the cat wasn't so difficult. Every time I get her to quiet down, I swear he does something just at that moment to get her to start acting up again.

If she starts going toward the cat I body block her and she'll stop trying to after a couple of blocks. Then she's happy to be redirected and praised, but then if the cat makes any noise (even if she is ignoring him he'll his at her), she's at it again.

[flyndog]

I wouldn't worry about it. From your description, it doesn't sound like the cat is in any danger from the puppy. The cat can get away if he wants to and he does. He also instigates play with the puppy. And IMO, the squirt bottle would be more effective aversive on the cat than the puppy ()and I wouldn't use it on either in this case.

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by flyndog

I wouldn't worry about it. From your description, it doesn't sound like the cat is in any danger from the puppy. The cat can get away if he wants to and he does. He also instigates play with the puppy. And IMO, the squirt bottle would be more effective aversive on the cat than the puppy ()and I wouldn't use it on either in this case.

Thanks.

I think what I'm going to focus on is trying to get Chloe to not bark like an idiot at the cat, because THAT is what drives me crazy. She has the most ear splitting, high pitched bark that only a couple of dogs I know have beat.

He also instigates play with the puppy.

He's most definitally NOT trying to, but he does. lol Maybe he'll learn that hissing, swating, and puffing up aren't working and will resort to some different tactics.

[flyndog]

Originally Posted by Ritz459

He's most definitally NOT trying to, but he does. lol Maybe he'll learn that hissing, swating, and puffing up aren't working and will resort to some different tactics.

Oops! LOL. Well, maybe ask the pup to Down before he gets too riled up. It's hard to bark when you're laying down. Not impossible, but not as easy. And, the Down is naturally a more relaxed posture. Have you ever tried to stay angry while holding a smile? It's hard!

[Ritz459]

Ha, Chloe is the poster dog for barking in hard to bark situations. lol She actually lays down by the cat on her own, and will continue to bark at him.

I'm thinking about teaching her a "quiet" command...how would I go about doing that?
She has actually been a bit better with Rush as he popped her a good one the other day. I don't know where he scratched her at, but it was hard enough to make her yelp. She won't get as close to him now, but her barking still persists.