Re: JRT chasing cat

In Reply to: JRT chasing cat
Category:   Behavior Problems
Posted by:  Kelly Glover
Posted on:  February 21, 2003 at 03:15:56

: MY 5 MO JRT, PIPER, CHASES MY INDOOR CAT. ANY CHANCE SHE CAN BE TRAINED NOT TO? ALSO, SHE CONSTANTLY BITES THE LEGS OF MY 10 YO LAB TO THE POINT WHERE SHE CAN'T WALK. WOULD WELCOME TRAINING ADVICE.

Response:

Hi Kelly,

There is no guarantee no matter how well-trained a dog might be that your cat will be safe.

You can try correcting your terrier every time Piper goes for the cat but make sure that your cat has a safe place to escape to.

JRTs are prey focused hunting terriers that look at lots of animals as something to hunt. They don't see "Kitty" as a family pet, they see "Kitty" as something to hunt down and possibly kill. The same goes for hamsters, rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, birds, smaller dogs even.

This is why we ask people to do their homework before purchasing this breed.

If you research the breed and understand that this is still (and we hope will always be) very much a working terrier, and can accept that and make the necessary adjustments to your life, then this might be the breed for you.

I am well aware of their hunting instincts, one of my terriers has very high prey drive. We don't own cats or other small animals. I have a cockatiel and he has to stay caged and out of reach. Both the dogs will go after him when the bird starts to hang upside down on one of his perches and flaps his wings. The dogs get verbal correction each time they do this. Guess what, 9 years later I am STILL giving corrections!

You just cannot take the hunt out of your dog, so you must take the responsibility of keeping all your animals safe from each other.