Border Collie Obsession - please help!

[confuseddoiordonti]

We have a 2.5 year old border collie who we've had since a pup - she was originally from a farm (she's a rescue dog.) We also have two cats (the cats were here first) and our dog is getting more and more obsessed with them and I am running out of ideas on how to handle this as it more than getting out of hand.

I am not proud of this, but we never properly introduced them when the dog was tiny, instead due to reassurances about how they sort their own hierarchy out, we left them to it. (Previous experience from dogs and cats has shown this to be the case.) We have a babygate still at the bottom of the stairs and have ended up with an upstairs / downstairs situation with the cats upstairs (they have a cat flap leading outside onto the extension so are not kept in).

The problem is getting worse re the dog as she goes bananas if she hears the cats, and when we get in for a walk goes on high alert and is constantly asking to be let out the back door. If we are sat watching TV in the lounge and then get up for any reason, the dog leaps up and makes a squealing noise as if she is bursting with excitement (but not in a good way.)

I do agility with her, she is excellent in every other way and we have no other issues. I know you have to keep collies mind's occupied and I think we do, but the problem is getting worse rather than better.

We have tried ignoring the problem, and have also (not in the same week! more like a year later) told her off - but nothing works. Our cats, if they did see a dog, are the types that run rather than arch their backs and hiss - when other cats do this to the dog she simply walks past as if she hasn't seen them.
Any suggestions?
There might be other details you need to know but am trying to keep this short (at first.)
Thank you!

This is something I and others often do with foster dogs or new rescues and is maybe worth a try.

Put the bravest cat in a secure carrier and pop it on the floor. Bring dog into the room on lead. Every time the dog lunges towards the cat give a firm but not too harsh tug on the lead with a very loud "NO!". Repeat, repeat, repeat!

As you know, like all training boredom will set in fast so limit these attempts to, say 5 minutes or so a couple or more times a day. It does take patience! The theory is that the cat knows he's safe and so hopefully won't go bananas at the sight of the dog and of course the dog can't harm the cat. Also the cat can't run and so cause the Collie to view him as fair game. Your aim is to work to a point where you can bring your dog into the room with the cat in his carrier off lead, using the sit, stay and leave commands as necessary. Of course all good responses to commands to leave should be rewarded with treats and lots of praise.

Eventually you should be able to get to the point where the cat, braver now as he's smug secure that the dog is no longer going for him, will be able to be in the room uncaged, first with the dog on lead just in case, later with the dog off lead, and the dog will respond to command to leave and eventually ignore (often the dog will ignore without the need to yell leave by this point).

This has worked for my own rescue dogs and my foster dogs and for many other people - a new owner who adopted from our local rescue recently tried it at my suggestion with a SBT cross, with fantastic results. Within a week the owner was posting pictures on the forum of the dog and cat asleep together on the sofa.

I hope this helps and good luck.

Thank you. Anything is worth a try. All I can find on the internet is about making sure the collie is occupied mentally so they don't find their own entertainment so it's great to hear of a fresh approach. The only reservation is which cat - I don't want them to move out! I feel as if some chicken needs to be cooked! This is going to be a very slow process!
Thanks again.

It does take patience but honestly, the worst case I had was my SBT cross. I got him from a pound and his first meeting with my cat resulted in him leaping high enough to try to snatch poor Amber out of my arms with his snapping jaws. I spent a week with a toddler opening doors, screaming at anyone who visited to shut the bloody things and not to let the dog near the cat, ended up in tears, convinced I would have to let my new dog go. Then I tried the approach above and within a week had it sorted. In time I could leave both together when I went out and would return to find them both asleep on my bed!

It helped as I had not long before had DD2 so was at home all day and could repeat the proceedure regularly. The key, I think, is consistancy. Even if you aren't home all day to do this 3 or 4 times a day whats important is that you do it at least a couple of times and that meantime the two are not allowed to come into contact and so break the cycle.

Also, re the going nuts whenever you leave your sofa in the evening, try ignoring it and/or distracting (unless you think that your Collie genuinely needs a wee of course!).

That is very reassuring to hear, so thanks again. I think, as I don't want to end up with cats that decide to move, we need to take it really really slowly. I also think getting some Feliway as well as lots of treats for both dog and cats is a good idea.
Can I ask, what is Amber like temperament wise? I ask as we have one nervy (no reason to be, she just is) cat and another who's full of confidence but would simply shoot off if she saw the dog / or even possibly heard the dog.
There is no chance of them meeting as the cats stay upstairs and the dog down - due to 'the situation' we have never moved the babygate, which in hindsight I wish I had.

ps we do tend to ignore or distract when she leaps and squeals if we get up although it doesn't seem to make much difference. If she starts barking though, tend to take her into another room (with us) and shut the door.
Lastly, we have high walls surrounding our garden and she (the dog) has had cats look at her when she wee's - not our cats especially, cats in the neigbourhood. Do you think this has made it more of an issue for her, them being on the walls above her when she's doing her business?
Do you rescue / foster dogs all the time?

Amber was a chicken with a tortoiseshell coat! She would only come near me and (eventually, after several months of weekend stay-overs) my sister, and would run a mile from other people and neighbouring dogs. She tolerated other cats but preferred not to interact with them.

Nonetheless, she wasn't hysterical about meeting my SBT cross from the safety of her carrier. I suggested opting for your bravest cat as he/she would be less likely to be stressed and more likely to be fiesty and tell your Collie off, but if both of yours are not particularly full of attitude I still don't see it as a problem, going on Amber's response.

The babygate isn't all bad - I have a friend who keeps one across the kitchen door depite her cat and dog getting on well when she's at home (and her children being adults!), as she wants to be sure that when she's out the cat has a safe place to go should the dog ever get any ideas.

Re the neighbouring cats... I dunno, its odd. My own dogs are a GSD (had since a pup) and a Lab X, whom I've had since he was 4 and who was a rescue dog. They adore our cats but will still pull on a lead when they see cats out of doors (luckily their recall is very good so if they move towards one when off-lead in the fields, a rare sight, they will stop and return to me!).

And yes, I do help rescue, independently, although I haven't been able to foster for the past year as my current landlord won't allow it (mean so and so!). I've only ever fostered one Border - by Christ he was a handful of livliness!

Really?! You see, it's how my cats are that has played a large part in now this situation has developed. Amber sounds rather like my Olive, but not perhaps my Madeline. This is encouraging, very encouraging although I would still feel guilty - hence the stocking up on chicken and Feliway first! We need to get this sorted so badly but, till I posted now, had only got the same advice (keep collie busy, do agility etc.)
How many dogs do you have, I take it you foster them too...? If so, what's Amber like with the others?

Think we cross posted! I love GSD's but would prefer to be somewhere more rural before we get another dog (an idea I blow hot and cold with.)
Yes, collies are certainly full on and she has been one hell of a learning curve. We have had major issues with chasing in the past but have managed to work through it and now, apart from the cat obsession, she's a top little dog. Lively, very much so but as long as she gets her walks she's fine.

Ah, confused, people (even the hallowed BIGGSD website) say that GSDs are generally for the experienced, even specialist, owner but this GSD owner would recommend them to the world and have a hundred if she could... but would think twice about a Border Collie!

The happiest Borders I know are two owned by a fellow rescue volunteer, who has trained them to the nth degree (they live with cats btw), and keeps them forever occupied. Likewise another volunteer with a Sprollie who does agility, who, on the other hand, decided to rehome her cat to her parents as the Sprollie would not get the message despite being otherwise perfect. That said I don't think that the Sprollie owner tried the "introduce cat in carrier" theory, so there's hope for your BC yet.

God, I hope so - that last sentence did make me worry!

I think collies are bloody hard work and can see why you'd think twice. My mum has a GSD / Lab x and he is lovely. Stupid, but lovely - and, compared to mine, is SO chilled!

Ahem... chilled isn't how I'd describe my glove-eating, fruit loop of a 2 yo GSD or my certain-men-hating, child with finger pointing hating previously abused Lab cross... but easier than a Collie? I'll say!

Am sayinbg nothing! After all, I would not want to be disloyal to the butter wouldn't melt bundle of black and white (with a touch of brown) at my feet!

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