How to train your dog to leave your cat alone

How to teach Stay for a period of time:

Hundreds of you guys have been requesting this video for years (4m45s)! I think you'll agree that it was worth the wait. Is your dog well behaved around your cat? Do you want to know how to grow communication with your dog?

Naturally, every dog may require a different approach, but watch as Sadie takes in this new concept of giving the family cat, Chloe, some peace and quiet.

[miss.scales]

I'm looking to adopt this one dog at a local shelter, and I currently have 3 cats. Super grateful for videos like this that can help me to help the dog and cats transition smoothly to living with each other.

[Connection_with_horses]

We started using some of these techniques this morning and just one day has made a big difference. We have a young husky who LOVES to chase 2 of our cats. We’re using high value treats and it’s working really well. Thanks!

[lucia-maria]

I am utterly grateful for this content. My 9 wo puppy is driving my three 6yo cats insane. Now that I saw this video I understand that I have more work to do and what I was doing wrong. I was so frustated with my puppy but thruth be told he is going to be just as smart about it as I teach him.

✨🌟Good luck to all of you, you are not alone in this madness ♥️🐕‍🦺

[judithstorck]

Great video. We have eight cats - just acquired a stray dog sitting at the end of our driveway. She is very friendly, hyper active & wants to chase the cats. They are closed off in other rooms right now. Been working with basic training (as you said to do first & exercise). She is young, Border Collie mixed with Husky (Blue eyes, pointy ears, coat like a Husky with tail curled over her back) black & white markings like a Border Collie. She is also in heat. Vet checked for chip - no chip. Notice out with photo - no response. We are in the SW Arizona Desert & our area is know for dog & cat dumping no longer wanted animals - sad. Will continue to work with her for training, attention & of course exercise. We have an appointment Dec. 16, 2022 for spay, chip & shots. Thank you for putting this video out & will check your other videos. Judi

[AnrosD]

One of the things that (oddly) helped my boyfriend's larger dog behave better around my two cats was introducing her to smaller dogs. She's gotten much better with the cats. She still sometimes has the urge to chase them and she'll paw at them to try to keep them still, but she's not trying to eat them or anything. I think the technique of keeping the dog's attention while the cat is around will work wonders.

[heykenzo]

Great. But how do i train my cat to leave my dog alone?

[jennjeffs]

We've had a puppy for 2 weeks, out cat we've had for 6 years. Our cat is very patient but the puppy is driving him crazy and is crazy!!

[jamesbond]

Working introducing my 4 yr GSD with a high prey drive to a mature ragdoll cat. Zak, this video is the best I've seen to date. Others have deterred it, but I agree it's correct for one person to hold the cat during first face to face meetings. I love your positive approach, and agree with "not handling the dog", but having the leash for safety. Thanks for the inspiration

[Ballooner]

I'm going to try this. My 3 m/o collie cross is friendly with my cat but he loves to chase him and pin him on the floor. Sometimes Binx will play back and they'll have a wrestle but the past few days Binx hasn't wanted to and Cheddar doesn't understand. So all of this will be vital in his development. Your videos have been detrimental so far. The best I've come across of all available trainers on YouTune. So thank you very much for all of your videos and friendly non-condescending approach! 🐾🤗

[laurieabeyta]

It makes my house so stressful! Just adopted a 1 year old berniepoo and he is so fixed on chasing my cats! I will definitely implement these techniques and hopefully they can coexist peacefully!

[aerbear]

NEED more dog with cats videos please! maybe show a variety of dogs working through the cat obsession. What about obsessive staring at the cat. I mean SO BAD that I can't even snap them out of it. I do take my BC herding twice a week so she is getting that outlet. advice? 

[ronistacey]

Hello Zak :) Before your technique my dog was constantly bothering my sisters cats making it difficult for me to bring my dog round hers, she never went for them but seemed intrigued. We both tried your technique and she responded to it perfectly and now whenever she is with me when i go to my sisters she just lies down and doesn't bother them anymore even when they pass by her. Thankyou so much

[mahlialeilanisaturno]

Zak, you are the best and HAVE BEEN the best for many years. I just got a new puppy and although my cats are used to our adult dog, our new puppy is stressing out our cats because he barks at them, chases them, etc. I know it’ll take time on my part to train him to stop

[bethnapolitano]

Have been watching you for years and I love these early training videos.

[rikeswalve]

Love, love, LOVE this video. Tried it with my elderly cats and pup and worked like a charme. One of my cats came to get some of the dog treats so nowadays I've got them both focused on me, sitting and staying on command!😆 The other cat is more of a "I'll tolerate this THING you've brought into the house" kinda cat.
Did have a rough patch during puberty though, lots of playfull hunting, but just re-do the exercise and you'll be fine (sigh, puberty....)

[tiffanyjelsma]

I'm fostering to adopt a dog right now and he was really great with the cats from the get-go but they decided to hiss and swat at him so now all he wants to do is chase them relentlessly.
We're working on sit and stay, which he can do!! Except for when he's full of beans, I can't center him, I can't even control him! No amount of exercise makes a difference if something excites him!
If they can't coexist, I won't be able to adopt him, and that's devastating because he's such a good boy and already my best friend!

[TheBelilu]

Along with my earlier responses to different ppl complaining about not knowing what to do, i wanna suggest that on top of never giving up & trying every single method out there, another huge thing that we need to consider is that a lot of times, it is us, the owners that need to change our energies & dispositions while trying to teach them. 

If we're nervous, feeling desperate, upset or if within the household there's strife, tenseness & all around negativity, our pets especially dogs do get effected by that. Try changing yourselves or your family dynamics & see what happens! :) 

[marlenelockwood]

We have a 7 1/2 month old Belgian Tervuren... She is a busy girl - "Star" plays hard - loves the ball, frisbee, running, search for toys but has issues on leash. She knows the command "no kitty" but can't resist jumping up where the kitty (we have three) is and adding a chase if we don't get her attention first. Kitties are used to dogs our Belgian Terv passed away in November 2018 @ 12 1/2 yrs old and we have a 9 1/2 year old Sheltie who is friends with all the cats.. Just couldn't resist adding another Belgian to the family.... She will "wait" but not consistently, she can be gentle and sniff the cats - but, that inner I just want to play with them takes over. Love the Zag George videos... I am learning what I need to do... consistency is key, but patience can is a virtue! Will replay the video a few more times for me - and hope Star gets the idea! Thanks for what you do!

[janicegriswold]

We just adopted a small rescue dog. He had been “cat tested” and passed at the facility. When we first got home he ignored the cat, but now he growls and tries to chase. The cat is freaked out. This video gives me hope. Thank you.

[arirudd]

I haven't got my puppy yet but I'm getting her on Friday and I have a cat so I want to make sure I know exactly what to do