My Staff killed a cat.

Hi


I'm new to this site.



So....


My boyfriend and I, had just moved into a new house when we started to enquire about getting a dog. We saw a dog advertised on Gumtree, Zoe the Staffordshie Bull Terrier, my boyfriend took a shining to her straight away, so we rang the lady and she offered to give the dog to us free of charge as she had a 6 month old baby and didn't have the time for her. The first night, I thought would be hard work but she settled, pretty much straight away. We took her on a few walks on the first night and let her off the lead, I couldn't believe our luck. The second day zoe barked a few times in the house due to unfamiliar noises but nothing out of the ordinary. The second day we was out walking and decided to let zoe off the lead and she was absolutely perfect, if she got a bit ahead we would shout and she would come back. This dog really is a dream come true;

- She only barks when she hears the door bang or someone knocks at the door
- She will sit and cuddle us
-Sleep on the bed
- As soon as either one of us tells her to get in her bed she will instantly, even if there is food around
-She doesn't beg
-She doesn't wee or poo in the house EVER
-She walks off the lead and doesn't run off

The dog was all around perfect.


After a couple of weeks we walked down quite a busy road with Zoe on the lead, when , before I had time to realize what was happening, Zoe had got hold a cat by its neck and killed it in seconds. My boyfriend was holding her, hes 6 ft 4, muscular build, he yanked Zoe by the lead and picked her up off the floor and no matter what we did she wouldnt let go of the cat.


I'm really apprehensive about taking her out on my own but I couldn't bear to get rid of her as she is so PERFECT in every other way.


Please help




Giorgia + Zoe

Why would you think of getting rid of her? She's just doing what most dogs do. Dogs chase cats and have done since the beginning of time, it's in their nature and it doesn't mean they're vicious or dangerous. It's not indicative of any behavioural issue and unless you have cats yourself then there's no problem, just keep a tight hold on her lead when cats or other small animals might be around. (I say 'no problem', I guess the cat owner has a problem but that's another matter.) You just need to be more observant when talking her out on the lead.

I wouldn't ever consider getting rid of her but I can't bear to tell another person my dog has killed a cat. Is there any training i can get for her?

I suppose cats eat mice...dogs eat cats, although shes doesn't eat them.

I'm not sure any training you can do would solve the situation you describe although maybe others who know more about the subject than me will have ideas.

Of course you need her to have good recall and focus ability but that won't help if a cat suddenly shows up in front of you, only a firm grip on a short lead will work then. I guess if you have access to a bunch of bold cats then you could try and introduce the dog to them, getting closer and closer and rewarding her when she ignores them, but I'm not sure how you'd practically go about this. I know there are places you can do this with livestock but cats, not so much.

Zoe sounds like a really great dog. She's not unusual though. Even Walt Disney (Tom & Jerry) knew that mice hate cats and cats hate dogs. Speaking only for my own dog (I dont pretend that I can speak for all), I'm certain that his desire to chase cats is completely hard-wired into the DNA. There is no chance that he will ever change and to even try is pointless (in my opinion). I can train him to do loads of things - sit, stay, roll over, etc etc, but these tricks only use the topmost part of his brain. The cat-chasing brain cells are way beneath that level, at a depth that cannot be accessed. He is not a bad dog - just a dog. So since I dont believe his cat-chasing can be changed, the best choice is to manage it. I keep my eyes peeled 100% for cats when we're out and generally see them before he does. He's mostly using his nose to navigate down the street anyway and, though his sense of smell is awesome, I am certain I can see further than he can smell. Avoidance and diversion are the main strategies. We will cross the street if there's a cat about or even do an about turn. If there's no time for that, then he's reined in really tightly and marched forward (or backward, or whichever is quickest). Here it's necessary still to be careful because some feisty kamikaze cats can even come forward as if to pick a fight with him - a fight that they definitely will not win.

The lead we use is a really good quality retractable. This also helps with the cat issue because if he lunges unexpectedly all that happens is that the webbing feeds out rather than the whole lead being pulled out of the hand - which obviously would be disastrous. Though he may succeed initially, the brake on the lead soon stops him in his tracks.

Worth mentioning about the other types of animals that are commonly seen as fun to chase: if she goes for cats, she will probably also go for rabbits and squirrels. Personally, I do not let my dog go after these. It may curb his freedom a little, but I'm afraid that's the price that he (and I) have to pay; it is not going to happen. I make sure he has fun in other ways. As for sheep, this is really serious territory and he absolutely has to be restrained for his own good, for the obvious legal reasons.

So please dont feel disappointed in your dog. She's like the leopard, she cant change her spots. There is plenty you can do though - to be watchful, to anticipate, to avoid, to distract and to restrain.

Can't add to the other comments - brilliant replies. Ultimately your dog is not only a "dog" but also a terrier! Hard wired to chase other animals. My girl will chase cats - I cross the road if we see one that doesn't look like it's going to budge. Bug will also try to chase livestock however - especially sheep/deer/birds so for this reason I never let her off lead - I exercise her on a 50 feet long training line when we are in quiet areas, we walk a lot on the moors and there are other animals everywhere. Bug's recall and general training is great, but her natural instinct tells her to chase. Some people will use aversive techniques to repress this behaviour - namely electric shocks, prong collars etc but I wouldn't do this - you can manage it through avoidance rather than pain

Lots of staffies dnt like cats i wouldnt get rid of the dog be because of this. Least u will know what to avoid in future

sash will always chase any cats that come in to our garden,she's 10 now so not as quick as she was but in her younger years im sure if she had caught one she would have killed it

Dont beat yourself up about it, these things happen its the prey drive in them and that is natural. As long as you are aware of the situation when cats are around, it wont happen again

Moo would as well - anywhere that there might be a cat she is firmly onlead - her squirrel count is 14 now!

By coincidence, a thing that was in yesterday's paper about a SBT that killed cats:
www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Fen-Drayton-dog-owner-Darren-Coventon-ordered/story-23040662-detail/story.html

Did anyone else see your dog get hold of the cat ?

janey wrote:......her squirrel count is 14 now!

Excuse me for saying this, but I think that's a real pity. Squirrels deserve to live, dont they? If she's killed 14 then that cant be the result of an accidental lunge, it must be generally what she's always allowed to do. The death toll could be well higher even than 14 if there are young ones that have been orphaned. Everyone protects the animals they own: farmers their sheep, cat owners their cats, we look after our dogs. Who sticks up for wildlife? Nobody owns the squirrels, but I'd like to put in a little word for them.

Its my cat that keeps hitting my staff

Unlucky cat caught by a dog on a lead this could be the Darwin theory at work.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. You've all helped my way of thinking. But she we did let her off her lead on a large field and she came into contact with a male Alsatian and just had a sniff and carried on... So she is now back in the good books

Just remember not to become complacent - if you weren't sure of how she would react, why did you allow her to approach the GSD? Just be careful - she's a new dog to your family and it generally takes 3 months for a rescue to settle into a new home - in which time you may (or may not) see lots of behaviours that she didn't have before. She will also change with your training. If it comes to it - just use a 50 foot long line, she can still run around but you're in control. Did you contact the cats owners to let them know what happened?

Its my cat that keeps hitting my staff

lol that gave me a chuckle. Axl always gets bullied by our friend's cat when he stays there

Excuse me for saying this, but I think that's a real pity. Squirrels deserve to live, dont they? If she's killed 14 then that cant be the result of an accidental lunge, it must be generally what she's always allowed to do. The death toll could be well higher even than 14 if there are young ones that have been orphaned. Everyone protects the animals they own: farmers their sheep, cat owners their cats, we look after our dogs. Who sticks up for wildlife? Nobody owns the squirrels, but I'd like to put in a little word for them.

I doubt it was on purpose, squirrels come out of nowhere and if the dog is already off the lead there's little anyone can do. You can't walk a dog where there are no squirrels...

To be honest my Flo WILL chase a cat if she was given the chance. Thankfully the ones that come in to our garden are swift enough to scarper through the fence before she's anywhere near.

As for Squirrels, I'm not sure there's a lot you can do really. Caging them and letting them out for sport would be cruel but nature is what it is and Dogs, any Dog, will chase a Squirrel !. My Flo chases them all the time but still hasn't quiet figured out that they climb the flippin tree . On a couple of occassions she has managed to get up close to them but then goes in to stalking mode and never lunges for them, I think she just wants to toy with them.

Densil has a high prey drive too. I have to spot cats lying in driveways or under cars before he does otherwise he will lunge for them. He seems to be purposesly looking for them when on walks - he will peep through fences, bushes and over low walls. Hence he is always kept on a lead. Even if I take him to a green area where there are bushes and I put him on a long lead I have to make sure he can't get in the bushes, as on more than one occasion a cat has suddenly flew out.

my brody is the same, he actually killed my sister neighbours poor wee kitten 2 weeks ago.my sister was in such a state but luckily her neighbours were ok about it. i just hope it doesnt ever happen again tho

Our old staffy was brought up with a cat - a tiny but very feisty and bossy 3 legged cat (which we still have - she's now 20). First day we got him, he made the mistake of approaching the food bowl when cat was eating. She thwacked him in the eye with her claws out and from that second on, she was his boss even when he was a huge adult staffy and she... still a tiny cat.

But if he saw her in the garden - he'd chase her. Not hurt her if he caught upto her though. He also chased other cats. Luckily never caught one.

His one kill was like OP describes - just happened in a split second - when he was offlead. By the time we knew he had it in his mouth, it was dead. Luckily, just a rat in the field... Now he'd never seen a rat in his life but he knew what to do when he did. As others say, terrier instinct. I sympathise though, knowing how fast it happens - really too quick for any reaction. After he killed it, he dropped it and he actually looked shocked.

well I guess these things happen giorgia yes its sad and it is in a dogs nature to chase a cat but unfortunately this time it took a turn for the worst.

Don't feel guilty out it too much and there is no reason to get rid of your dog she seems like she has a great temprement too.
my lexy killed a squirrel in the park when she was a year old but these things happen so try not to worry too much.

My two chase both squirrel and cats. Sadly they caught and killed a kitten far to young to be out so had no chance of getting to our garden devide. ( put in to help cats and stuff pass through safely) worst bit was they brought it to me as a grim kind of gift. Asked around no one claimed it. Felt very bad. They are never off lead but like admin have super long leads for quiet places. Its as close as we get to free running.
It happens not your fault at all. Like us just need to be aware in future

Not sure how i would react if someone said their dog had killed one of my cats but hey its ok cause dogs chase cats.

Hope you tried to trace owners just to say it was a horrible accident and so they know its dead.
Just be more careful is all you can do.

As I said in earlier post Densil will "go" for cats. He is never let off lead and I am always on the lookout for cats in driveways and bushes. Today one was hiding next to a wheelie bin right next to the path as we were walking by and he saw it before I did. He went to go for it but I said No and tightened his lead and tried to walk on but the cat came out at him hissing and clawing. Result - the cat ended up in his mouth and he froze with it. I had to twist his collar to get him to drop it and it ran off so I don't think it was too badly hurt. Densil on the other hand has scratches on his nose and under his chin so I have been bathing it with saline water

Awww poor Densil, keep an eye on the scratches in case they should become infected, the bathing should help though

I am seriously thinking of getting a muzzle for his walks. We had the incident where the loose dog jumped out on him and that dog came off the worse for wear. This is the second time he has attacked a cat - the first time was in our garden. Just worried about these new laws. He is not at all agressive with people and I know he is not agressive with all dogs as there is another staffy where we live that is walked off lead and they very often meet and greet although he gets too playful and she then backs off, but sometimes he can growl and jump at other dogs on leads and I have to cross the road or backtrack away from them.

densil wrote:I am seriously thinking of getting a muzzle for his walks.  We had the incident where the loose dog jumped out on him and that dog came off the worse for wear.  This is the second time he has attacked a cat - the first time was in our garden.  Just worried about these new laws.  He is not at all agressive with people and I know he is not agressive with all dogs as there is another staffy where we live that is walked off lead and they very often meet and greet although he gets too playful and she then backs off, but sometimes he can growl and jump at other dogs on leads and I have to cross the road or backtrack away from them.

A very good guide to muzzle training in the link below. It should be introduced gradually and with lots of praise and positivity:

http://www.morrco.com/trdogtowemu.html

Densil's wounds seem to be ok but he has been very subdued the last couple of days. He is eating and drinking ok, and has been on his walks, but isn't having his normal mad playtime when he rushes around the house after dinner and is sleeping a lot. I am wondering if the episode has upset him.

Oh dear, sounds like Densil might have dented his pride a little. He should bounce back quickly I would think.