first of all, dogs chase things. That is what dogs do. It is hard wired into them. You are going to have to alter that chase response and it is not going to be easy or conveninet since the chase response to the cat has been established. this is going to require some WORK and consistancy on your part.
At Dog School, where I am learning a LOT (the dog already seems to know everything), one thing the instructor told us is that pet owners drive her nuts..... They have a situation they need to stop and they do the same thing OVER and OVER and it does not work (this is the definition of insanity.. doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results). She says, no one considers coming up with something NEW.
Well, I had NEVER thought of that..... and you have come here for advice so you HAVE realized NO is not working... so you need to come up with something new.
so, here is the thing. Your dog has found great fun with chasing the cat. What can YOU do that will be more fun that cat chasing? I would suggest, FIRST, to get a really reliable recall on this dog. That is a "come here" that the dog comes for NO MATTER WHAT. Does your dog come NO MATTER WHAT? I would guess not (since he is chasing the cat...).
Teaching him LEAVE IT as stated above, and a reliable recall should help you control this cat chasing thing.
Start with the dog on a line with NO CAT AROUND and call the dog. When he looks at you click the clicker (this marks the correct behavior) and reward him.. just for the looking. As he gets to looking at you (hoping for the click and treat) up the anti and no require him to face you before you click and treat.. when you get that, up the anti again and click and reward only when he takes a step towards you... and so on until he comes to you each and every time. ALWAYS praise him for coming and make that praise (both treats and verbal lavish.. and if it makes YOU sound silly do it anyway because it works on the dog. Always have treats with you and always treat when the dog comes. I carry em with me. Even when the behavior is established and occaisional trest is a good idea. Keeps 'em coming back.
And use high bvalue treats. Use something the dog is really nuts for.. pieces of hot dog, cheese, ham.. whatever the dog will really really like, cut to the size of 1/2 dime. It isn't the quantitiy that gets 'em thinking about you it is the quality. Dog cookies are fine but not high motivators.
Yes.. I too think you are going to have to use a leash. Sorry if it is inconvenient but dogs and training (like kids and training) are not always convenient. I would also never allow the dog and the cat in the same space with out physical control until you can make the dog see YOU as the best fun in Town.. better than chasing the cat.
Oh yeah.. and about this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abbysdad  Keeping her on a leash by my side won't do. I move around so much I would be dragging her. |
You need to teach your dog to heel by your (usually left) side. I have two commands for walking next to me. One is HEEL and on this the dog never takes her eyes off my face. It is intense and it is meant to be intense. She sits when I stop and starts when I start and keeps her eyes on my face ALL the time.. NO glancing away. Not easy to teach but with a clicker and rewards I have gotten it. I don't do this for real long stretches as it is a very focused command and I want her to be successful when I ask for it.
I also have "BY ME" which is a lower form of Heel. At "by me" the dog walks at my side but can look around (so if I am taking a long walk where she has to be next to my left side it is more conmfortable for her and less intense in its level of focus). She checks in with me by looking at my face periodically (and to get taht going I used a clicker and treats.. and still do on occaision).
In both these commands when I stop, she sits and when I turn in either direction she keeps her head by my left leg. I taught her both these commands with a clicker and rewards.
Many good dog trainers teach these commands with no leash at all. I am not that talented (yet) so I used a leash to get the thing going. Now, a few months later, I can get both things going with no leash. I am sure a seasoned trainer could have gotten where I am today quicker, and be well past where I am today. However, I have only one dog to teach and the whole clicker thing is new to me.. so we may not progress fast but at least we DO progress.
In all training keep the sessions short. I usually do not do any single thing for more than 3 minutes.. usually less.. and when I get whatever I am working on for that day in two repetitions I quit.. take a break and move on to something else. Somedays I cannot GET two repetitions and then I move on anyhow.
