Worried my dog could get me in trouble!!!

[DannyOD]

I have a dog (chihuahua) and a cat who live very harmoniously together. However, the dog has started reacting to any cat that wanders in to our garden. She used to just chase after them but the last time it developed into her giving the cat a nip as it ran off. I happened to see it and told her no and sent her back inside. Last night I took her out for her night time wee and as she ran off into the darkness I suddenly hear a commotion between her and a cat. It sounded like a fight. I called her back and she did return to me but I am worried our neighbours - the cats owners - are going to turn up in my doorstep one day with a vets bill!! DH says our dog is in her own garden and if the cat a stupid enough to keep returning then it is it’s own fault. But I am worried both about the cat and my dogs behaviour. Any advice?

I would agree with your DH on this one.

I agree with your DH. I have both cats and dogs. I would only expect a dog owner to pay for my cat’s vet bills if either the dog broke into my garden to attack my cat, or if the dog was strolling about the streets unattended and attacked my cat.

A cat wandering into your garden is its owners responsibility if something happened. Different if a friend brought they'd dog over and your dog attacked it.

Yes its your garden. A bit unfortunate for the cat but I don't think there's anything your neighbours can ask you for as the cat was in your garden.
Having said that I would try to train her to be less territorial you don't want her getting worse.

Thanks all. Any tips on getting her to be less territorial? Or do I need to see a dog behaviourist?

What can owners do their cats are wandering it is your dogs garden. Local cats learn where the grumpy dogs are eventually don't worry about it.

It is her garden though If she is just doing it to cats then you imo don't need to do anything. My dog gets into a regular stand off with a wood pigeon who sits on the shed and taunts him

My indoor cat made her way out of a window and into next doors kitchen. They then let their dogs into the kitchen to scare her off. 3 Jack Russell's went after her. She ended up at the vets for antibiotics. She shouldn't have been in their kitchen so we paid the bills. The neighbours however no longer speak to us but you can't win them all.

Certainly no legal obligation on you if the cat is coming on to your property ... but, given the size of your dog, I would actually be a bit worried that the cat would harm it.

It is very unusual for a dog to get near a free-ranging cat, they are masters of knowing where problems are - so I'd be actually be slightly worried it was picking on your dog, ridiculous as it sounds!

She is teeny tiny so I can’t imagine her inflicting much damage and the cats are kitten/cats ifkwim. They are full size but still very young. So hopefully they’ll learn!!

Cats can be surprisingly vicious and aggressive even at a young age.

We have two cats and a puppy - one cat is only tiny but she can scratch and bite with the best of them if she's annoyed. She's made the puppy yelp on several occasions!

I'd also worry whether the cat could be the one to inflict damage, since your dog is so tiny.

It's a difficult situation though since the cat is entering your garden. Other than being outside with your dog, I don't know what else you could do to stop either your dog or the cat getting hurt.

I agree with others that wouldn't be your fault if the cat got hurt.

I have a parson russell who reacts very fiercely when a cat comes into the garden, so I know how you feel.
If it is any help, when it comes to an actual confrontation cats seem to get the better of him. So it is hard to imagine that a chihuahua would be able to inflict much harm.

You describe the behaviour as 'territorial'. I wouldn't say my dog is being territorial when he chases a cat in the garden -- I'd say it was his predator instinct. Just thought it might be worth mentioning that in case it has a bearing on decisions about the kind of training solution to adopt (if any is needed).

When cats come into my garden it is because they want to murder the fish in my pond, or the wild birds. So they aren't exactly innocent in all this!

I suppose I am assuming it’s territorial as she is perfectly fine with our own cat. Sometimes she charges up the garden realises it’s our cat then just stops.

Your dog is doing what dogs do - the cat will learn! We used to have a garden full of cats but since getting DDOG they are all conspicuous by their absence. Still loads of fat pigeons cruising for a bruising though!

Cats are smart, they will learn to avoid your dog. Good that you call your dog off though, I'd agree your dog could get hurt by a big strong cat if it's only teeny.