Why do Dogs & Cats hate each other?

I professionally train dogs. I know the answer to this one. Two words...

Prey Drive.

Prey drive is an uncontrollable instinct that dogs have to chase small moving things. This is also why they like lasers. With a well trained dog and a confident cat, even if they're strangers, if the cat doesnt' run the dog will not bother it.

Granted though there are many ways to make them get along, but animal instinct is still there.

nikokapo said:

If that was the explanation, then dogs would hunt birds on instinct, frogs, flies, fish, etc.

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Most do. My male GSD has caught at least one of each of those creatures, plus many that you haven't listed.

quadcam said:

I professionally train dogs.  I know the answer to this one.  Two words...

Prey Drive.

Prey drive is an uncontrollable instinct that dogs have to chase small moving things.  This is also why they like lasers.  With a well trained dog and a confident cat, even if they're strangers, if the cat doesnt' run the dog will not bother it.  

Granted though there are many ways to make them get along, but animal instinct is still there.


[quote author=nikokapo link=1214665144/0#2 date=1214669359]If that was the explanation, then dogs would hunt birds on instinct, frogs, flies, fish, etc.

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Most do.  My male GSD has caught at least one of each of those creatures, plus many that you haven't listed.[/quote]

Nice explanation. Thanks!

I always wanted to know how to train dogs. I have an english springer spaniel and she wont even go fetch a tennis ball......well.....she retrieves it but she doesnt give it back

nikokapo said:

[quote author=quadcam link=1214665144/24#32 date=1215641536]I professionally train dogs. I know the answer to this one. Two words...

Prey Drive.

Prey drive is an uncontrollable instinct that dogs have to chase small moving things. This is also why they like lasers. With a well trained dog and a confident cat, even if they're strangers, if the cat doesnt' run the dog will not bother it.

Granted though there are many ways to make them get along, but animal instinct is still there.


[quote author=nikokapo link=1214665144/0#2 date=1214669359]If that was the explanation, then dogs would hunt birds on instinct, frogs, flies, fish, etc.

Click to expand...

Most do. My male GSD has caught at least one of each of those creatures, plus many that you haven't listed.[/quote]

Nice explanation. Thanks!

I always wanted to know how to train dogs. I have an english springer spaniel and she wont even go fetch a tennis ball......well.....she retrieves it but she doesnt give it back [/quote]

NILIF-

Nothing In Life Is Free.

I make my dogs earn EVERYTHING that they do when they're in basic training. They even have to earn the right to go outside to use the bathroom, and yes, I will destroy their souls if they go on my floor because I made them wait.

I recommend the book The Art Of Raising A Puppy by the Monks of New Skete for basic training. Even if you have an older dog, it is still absolutely essential to establish a solid basis of training. I include a copy of this book in my puppy packet for anyone who buys one of my pups.

As for your springer not returning the ball, what incentive have you provided her to give it back? Do you chase her when she runs? You should be calm and emotion free until she brings it to you, and when she does, praise her so much your neighbors think you lost your mind. If you do any less than that, the dog won't truly understand that you're happy. When she finally understands that you're happy with her when she brings it back, she'll want to bring it to you. The hard part though is getting her to understand that she needs to bring it to make you happy.

Hell, fetch may simply not be her game too, not all dogs are ball motivated, she might like tug or agility or something.

I make my dogs earn EVERYTHING that they do when they're in basic training.  They even have to earn the right to go outside to use the bathroom, and yes, I will destroy their souls if they go on my floor because I made them wait.

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We taught our springer to NOT go on our floor, she will wait 24 hours if she has to. But i dont like hitting her, i never did and i wont. What do you mean with crushing their souls if it's not violence?

quadcam said:

Hell, fetch may simply not be her game too, not all dogs are ball motivated, she might like tug or agility or something.

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Get to know your dog. We have four; 2 miniature dachshunds, one Jack Russel terrier, and a black lab/greyhound mix.

The long-haired, red dachshund will play fetch until she can't run anymore

The smooth, black & Tan Dapple dachshund plays a "different" kind of "fetch. She brings a toy to me, drops it at my feet, and looks up at me. When I go to grab the toy, she grabs it and runs in a circle with it. Then she brings it back and drops it at my feet again, waiting for my next "attempt" at getting it.

The Jack Russel just holds the ball in his mouth and shakes his head while growling. He will do this as long as I stomp my foot occasionally

The Lab'/Greyhound mix just looks at us as if we were all crazy

All dogs may go to heaven, but not all dogs like to play fetch.

Peace,
dave

nikokapo said:

I make my dogs earn EVERYTHING that they do when they're in basic training. They even have to earn the right to go outside to use the bathroom, and yes, I will destroy their souls if they go on my floor because I made them wait.

Click to expand...

We teached our springer to NOT go on our floor, she will wait 24 hours if she has to. But i dont like hitting her, i never did and i wont. What do you mean with crushing their souls if it's not violence?

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figure of speech. When I punish my dogs for going on the floor, I point their noses at it while holding their scruff roughly, and tell them loudly and firmly, but without yelling, that they're bad dogs, followed by an alpha roll. After the roll, I send them on their way and that's the end of it, but to a pup it's terrifying; they quickly learn that holding it is better than going on the floor. I like to incorporate LOTS of stress into the dog's basic training because it makes them more capable of handling real world stresses, and makes them more likely to use their wits to overcome the obstacles that I will eventually give them.

I guess I should point out that I raise and train high strung German shepherds that are used for police work and Schutzhund. By the very definition of what they are, you have to be very hard on them. They will walk all over a weak leader, of the nine pups I've produced, two have come back to me because their owners couldn't handle them. One was returned, and I had to go and take one by force. Ironicly, both of those pups are now some of my superstars, they're both doing Schutzhund.

edit- the only time my dogs ever get hit is once they're grown, confident dogs with good fight drive. Schutzhund involves a portion where the dog has to catch and fight a person who's wearing a bite sleeve to determine the dog's courage, and they WILL get hit. Again, a properly stressed pup makes for a confident dog.