Puppy chasing cat

[Deadringer]

Hi all, hoping for some advice. Our 4 month old mongrel puppy is very good natured and bouncy, her training is going well as she is very food motivated but she is Impulsive and has an awful habit of chasing our cat, and if she catches her she stands over her, holding her in place. She doesn't growl or snap, she is trying to play but naturally the cat doesn't like it and I am afraid the cat will get hurt especially as puppy is getting bigger. We have been giving her a treat and praising her if she ignores the cat and that is going well, but sometimes if I am not quick enough, by the time I pick up the treats its too late. Also the cat goes in and out of the kitchen about a million times a day which doesn't help, but the back porch is the only practical place for her main litter (she has one upstairs that she mostly ignores) and the kitchen is also her only way of accessing the garden. I don't want to punish the pup or anything like that but if anyone can advise a way of deterring her from hassling the cat without giving her treats every 5 minutes i would be grateful. Cheers.

Do you know what mix breeds she is made from? Some breeds do struggle more with harassing (be that play or chasing) cats than others...

Mum was a labradoodle cross, dad unknown but there is some terrier in there.

Another angle.

Oh man some terrier? She's screaming lots of Patterdale to me. Love a Patterdale but they do like to chase cats. Does the cat defend itself?

Oh she’s a sweetie! Honestly though, at four months it sounds like you’re doing a great job of trying to stop her behaviour. Terriers can be nightmares with cats!

Is there any way you can keep her confined to one or two rooms to give your cat more space? Or perhaps a play pen for the puppy? My only advice would be perseverance and positive rewards based training.

what happens when she does get hold of the cat? Do you pull her off? Tell her no?

It's more likely the cat will hurt the dog. There's a good FAcebook site called Dog Training ADvice and Support who have some guides on this.

We suspect our cat gave the puppy a swipe as she now gives the cat a very wide berth. And won't go through doors if the cat is sitting in the doorway, I have to rescue her fairly often.

With visiting dogs we've made sure the cat has an escape place that is dog proof that it can easily get to. So a baby gate across the stairs or similar.

Put the dog on a lead or a long lead when you are there and the cat is there.

To be honest I think they eventually grow out of it but don't let the chasing happen.

Patterdale was my first thought too. Fab dogs but huge prey drive in my experience.
I think you do need to come up with better ways for your cat to access the places she needs to get to in safety from your dog.
You probably need to keep eyes on puppy at all times and intervene swiftly to break up the chase and divert his attention to something else.

All my puppy needed was a sharp telling off from the cat. They now chase each other and play but the cats soon let the dog know when enough is enough.

I would continue doing what you're doing.

We have a Weimaraner and two cats.
And lots of stair gates!!

So our cats have some security when they get over the gates.

It doesn't stop one of them tormenting the dog through the bars, quite the contrary 😂

I think creating a safe space for your cat is the way to go.

Two years on they will tolerate the dog and always know they have an escape route.

Don't kid yourself with dreams of them snuggled together in front of the fire, you're only setting your self up for disappointment.

And also don't forget that the cat was there first

You need to prevent the chasing. Stairgates and keep pup on a lead around the cat. You can use treats to redirect the attention to you. That group is good.

I was going to say Patterdale too - if so, good luck! 🙈

As everyone else has said - management. Puppy on a lead if necessary and more of babygates and high up areas so the cat has lots of places to escape to.

We have three cats and a dog and had two when he was a puppy - it was a bit stressful at first but they're fine now and I happily go out and leave them all alone together in the house.

If the cat is young and fit she will probably turn on the puppy at some point and teach it manners. As others have said some safe bolthole for the cat where the puppy can't get so she can escape the worst of the playful puppy. They will probably get on fine when they decide who is boss, I would bet on the cat.

Thanks for all the replies so far. Puppy is mostly in kitchen and living room, cat has upstairs to herself. The cat is quite docile and doesn't seem to have it in her to slap or even hiss. They are never together unsupervised, they both sleep in the kitchen but puppy is in crate. Usually the cat hops up on the counters but every now and then she isn't quick enough. She doesn't seem to really fear the pup as she often passes her, and sometimes the pup let's her go on her way and gets lots of praise for it. I am hoping she will grow out of it but just worried she will hurt the cat. I never realised how often the cat goes it and out, it's constant! Off to Google Patterdales.

If it annoys the cat sufficiently, she’ll swipe at the puppy and that will probably be an end to it.

Our terrier was fascinated by next doors cat until the cat gave her a scratch to the nose. She never went near that cat again.