Help With Elmo

[Elmo's mum]

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Hi , I am hoping someone out there can help us , Elmo is just coming up to 14 weeks old , he is 3/4 Whippet , 1/4 Bedlington Terrier and very cute in more ways and one ,

House training is going fine , and he is getting better at sleeping through the night , his nature is beautiful and apart from the normal expectations of a puppy , our main problem and big problem is he when he is having his mad hour he wont leave my 2 siamese cats alone , one more than the other .

He leaps on him and grabs his neck , Unfortunately and I don't know why neither of my boys have scratched him for doing this , I think if they did he would think twice about doing it again. So until this fateful day I would really like some help/suggestions in how we can stop him doing it .

During the course oF the day if i see him going to or thinking about chasing either of them we tell him to 'leave' in a stern voice and when he comes away we reward him with praise and a treat ,my cats are happy to be in the same room as him and also go in the garden when he is out , but I am really , really , worrid it will become a far bigger problem. I understand its in there nature to chase , we have had him 4 weeks and when we first got him Thomas (blue point siamese) played with him , and they would chase each other , roll about and no one was hurt or theaterned in anyway , but as Elmo has grown he is getting rougher , and rougher .

We are allowed to take him out from today .... yipee ! I am hoping that this will mentally stimulate him , and wear him out a little which may make the situation a little easier , as I haven't mentioned before but he has been brought into our home as a pet , and he have no intentions of working him in anyway.

Please can anyone help us

 

[jinnyfizz]

Hallo and welcome to K9!!

I'm afraid that Elmo is just exhibiting his natural breed behaviour

He will calm down as he gets older and the cats will learn to stay out of his way (hopefully) but, for the time being, you will have to be very stern with Elmo.

You need to catch him just at the point when he turns his attention on the cat and immediately give him a "bite" (poke, push - whatever you prefer to use) whilst using your word for bad at the same time. He has to know that it is totally unacceptable behaviour.

It is essential that you do this at the point he is focussing on the cat as that is the only way he will learn that it is wrong. I have a lurcher pup here at the moment and she jumps all over my very dog-savvy cat. He hits back when he feels threatened so all it working out ok, but if your cats don't assert any authority over Elmo, he will continue to play in his own way which could turn out to be very unhealthy for your cats (w00t)

Good luck :luck: ..... I'm sure Elmo will learn to leave them alone as he grows up and becomes more sensible :lol: :thumbsup:

 

[Dr B]

Wait until he discovers squirrels! Then the fun really begins!

Enjoy!

 

[Elmo's mum]

Hallo and welcome to K9!!
I'm afraid that Elmo is just exhibiting his natural breed behaviour

He will calm down as he gets older and the cats will learn to stay out of his way (hopefully) but, for the time being, you will have to be very stern with Elmo.

You need to catch him just at the point when he turns his attention on the cat and immediately give him a "bite" (poke, push - whatever you prefer to use) whilst using your word for bad at the same time. He has to know that it is totally unacceptable behaviour.

It is essential that you do this at the point he is focussing on the cat as that is the only way he will learn that it is wrong. I have a lurcher pup here at the moment and she jumps all over my very dog-savvy cat. He hits back when he feels threatened so all it working out ok, but if your cats don't assert any authority over Elmo, he will continue to play in his own way which could turn out to be very unhealthy for your cats (w00t)

Good luck :luck: ..... I'm sure Elmo will learn to leave them alone as he grows up and becomes more sensible :lol: :thumbsup:

 

[Elmo's mum]

Thank you ....

I do try my best to catch him before he is in full swing , , my husband chuckles 'cause he thinks he will grow up thinking his name is "ELMO LEAVE." I fully understand we are up against his instincts , Squirrel's I can't start to imagine the amount of fun they involve for him , I will just be grateful for him to come back .

Today was his first day in the big bad world , and he was a good little boy , he met 3 other dogs and didn't bat an eyelid .

I will try the poke method , as there is no way I can allow it to get out of control and hurt one of my cats , and I know they can live in harmony , as my parents rescued greyhounds from racing and they lived happily with the cats , all bar 1.

 

[Janimal]

If its any consolation Im having the same problems with my latest pup too...Flint aged 14 weeks today...

hes my fourth whippet, and I also have 3 cats too. Hes a little monkey chasing my cats at the moment...One Mitch will not tolerate

any nonsense at all from him and quickly swipes him, the other one Meeko lets him go so far but then puts him in his place too... (w00t)

:thumbsup:

but its my other cat Sooty he goes for all the time pinning her to the floor and biting her, she dosnt hardly turn on him at all...shes so soft....

so I just quickly scold him and try to distract him with a treat... :clown:

Ive gone through this with all of them as pups, and usually/hopefully... :blink: they do grow out of it and let the cats have some peace..... :teehee:

 

[Elmo's mum]

Thank you Janis ,

my heart sinks when he does it , and my son is really concerned he will injure or kill my cat . I am being firmer , we do use treats and he does respond well to that . I am hoping now he is allowed out in the big bad world , it will calm him down a wee bit .

Staying positive Gina x

 

[Dizzychick]

Hello! I feel your pain...

Lily is now nearly 7 months and is showing no signs of growing out of chasing my poor cat, Ole. Despite having been scratched, squirted with water, shouted at and poked, she is still a nightmare when she sees him. It's the one thing that really upsets me as he was here long before her and got on fine with our old dog. Ole tried telling Lily off when she was younger with lots of hissing, spitting and claws but Lily just wouldn't get the hint. If I am standing right by her when she sees the cat and tell her leave she will stand still but as soon as he is out the flap she flies through the flap too and chases him over the fence. Lily is not allowd upstairs so I feed the cat up there now and he sleeps up there on our bed so he does get respite but I worry about when I am not home as he has to go through the kitchen to get to the garden where I leave Lily when I go out. Lily has pinned him down a few times and chews on his ears (she doesn't seem to really hurt him but I worry it might progress) and I just wish that Ole would really turn on her and give her a bloody good bite or scratch, just so she really gets the message.

I'm just praying that as she gets older she grows out of it. I'm so envious when I see the pics on here of whippets and pussy cats living in harmmony... *sigh*

BTW - cool name! My old Jack Russell X was called Elmo too!

xxx

 

[Janimal]

Hello! I feel your pain...
Lily is now nearly 7 months and is showing no signs of growing out of chasing my poor cat, Ole. Despite having been scratched, squirted with water, shouted at and poked, she is still a nightmare when she sees him. It's the one thing that really upsets me as he was here long before her and got on fine with our old dog. Ole tried telling Lily off when she was younger with lots of hissing, spitting and claws but Lily just wouldn't get the hint. If I am standing right by her when she sees the cat and tell her leave she will stand still but as soon as he is out the flap she flies through the flap too and chases him over the fence. Lily is not allowd upstairs so I feed the cat up there now and he sleeps up there on our bed so he does get respite but I worry about when I am not home as he has to go through the kitchen to get to the garden where I leave Lily when I go out. Lily has pinned him down a few times and chews on his ears (she doesn't seem to really hurt him but I worry it might progress) and I just wish that Ole would really turn on her and give her a bloody good bite or scratch, just so she really gets the message.

I'm just praying that as she gets older she grows out of it. I'm so envious when I see the pics on here of whippets and pussy cats living in harmmony... *sigh*

BTW - cool name! My old Jack Russell X was called Elmo too!

xxx

Sorry Dizzychick you are having such problems with your cat at the moment, Im hoping Flint will grow out of it too...as he constantly plaques Soooty my blackcat the worst,

I do exactly as you do really and let Sooty go out of the way onto our bed....and if she heads downstairs Flint is straight after her... :wacko: it really does drive you insane sometimes.

We should form a little group on here :lol: so we all stay sane ......I keep hoping Flint gets a good bat or scratch, but it really does not seem to deter them at times... :blink: :wacko:

 

[Elmo's mum]

I know exactly how you feel , Yesterday I bought a spray from Pets at Home ... Chew deterent , wasn't cheap but worth a go , I put it on some cotton wool and have wiped it on the back of my cats necks , its safe to put on broken skin so I know they can't come to any harm , hoping that when he grabs him he will hate the taste.

We started puppy training classes yesterday , and they have suggested a small bottle with pebbles in , and when he sets after the cat , to hold it behind his head and shake it ... oh boy I tell you now , he it totally scared of that , and stops immeadiately . Our problem is mainly when he is giddy , theres no problem when we are in the home realxing as such and he does do as he is told. So i am hoping with everything crossed he will grow out of it .

I will let you know how the CHEW DERRENT works.

Keep smiling folks , I don't feel so alone now

Gina x

 

[Elmo's mum]

I know exactly how you feel , Yesterday I bought a spray from Pets at Home ... Chew deterent , wasn't cheap but worth a go , I put it on some cotton wool and have wiped it on the back of my cats necks , its safe to put on broken skin so I know they can't come to any harm , hoping that when he grabs him he will hate the taste.
We started puppy training classes yesterday , and they have suggested a small bottle with pebbles in , and when he sets after the cat , to hold it behind his head and shake it ... oh boy I tell you now , he it totally scared of that , and stops immeadiately . Our problem is mainly when he is giddy , theres no problem when we are in the home realxing as such and he does do as he is told. So i am hoping with everything crossed he will grow out of it .

I will let you know how the CHEW DERRENT works.

Keep smiling folks , I don't feel so alone now

Gina x

 

[TillynPip]

My two rescue dogs never ever showed any interest in chasing our two cats, despite the fact that they were both a year old when we got them and, from puppies, Gracie and Milo have played with the cats but never chased them. In fact Gracie and Milo are snuggled up on the sofa (too wet and cold to go out) around their hot water bottle ie Sam the cat. He's purring away and they are happily in the land of nod. I suppose it's the luck of the draw as, apart from very careful initial introductions, I have not had to do anything else. You seem to be doing all the right things and I can't think of anything else to suggest. Good luck with them though. :luck:

 

[Dizzychick]

Sorry Dizzychick you are having such problems with your cat at the moment, Im hoping Flint will grow out of it too...as he constantly plaques Soooty my blackcat the worst,I do exactly as you do really and let Sooty go out of the way onto our bed....and if she heads downstairs Flint is straight after her... :wacko: it really does drive you insane sometimes.

We should form a little group on here :lol: so we all stay sane ......I keep hoping Flint gets a good bat or scratch, but it really does not seem to deter them at times... :blink: :wacko:

Oh dear, Flint sounds as bad as Lily allright. I tried shaking a jar with pennies in but that just scared the cat making him run faster. Also tried squirting Lily with a water pistol but she's gone so fast I'm squirting thin air!!! A support group could well be in order... x

 

[Elmo's mum]

Today appears to be a good day ....

The chasing wasn't as bad over the weekend , and he certainly has gone for his neck as much .

I have just had delivered a lovely soft leather collar from Bumblebee collars for Elmo , would recommend them to everyone . Found out about them on here .

 

[Dizzychick]

Today appears to be a good day ....
The chasing wasn't as bad over the weekend , and he certainly has gone for his neck as much .

I have just had delivered a lovely soft leather collar from Bumblebee collars for Elmo , would recommend them to everyone . Found out about them on here .

Glad things seem to be looking up!

Funnily enough I heard barking yesterday and came downstairs to investigate expecting to find carnage and found Lily at one end of the kitchen and Ole sitting at the other end. It's the first time they have been in the same room together without the cat running or Lily chasing so i'm hoping it's the start of a truce! Fingers crossed!

xx

 

[Elmo's mum]

Today appears to be a good day ....
The chasing wasn't as bad over the weekend , and he certainly has gone for his neck as much .

I have just had delivered a lovely soft leather collar from Bumblebee collars for Elmo , would recommend them to everyone . Found out about them on here .

Glad things seem to be looking up!

Funnily enough I heard barking yesterday and came downstairs to investigate expecting to find carnage and found Lily at one end of the kitchen and Ole sitting at the other end. It's the first time they have been in the same room together without the cat running or Lily chasing so i'm hoping it's the start of a truce! Fingers crossed!

xx

.

thank goodness .... for both of us , but tomorrow is another day , and I guess it could go pear shaped !

x