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Can a high prey drive dog live with prey animals, such as cats, rabbits, and
ferrets? If you are dilligent, they can. They should never be left
alone together, but there are some ways to make it safe for your
other pets. Keep in mind that while it is possible to teach your dog to
leave other household pets alone, they will not translate that to include
other animals of the same species outside of the household. A dog can live
with a colony of cats and never bother them but still go after strange cats.
Make sure your other pets always have an escape route and
some place to hide where your dog cannot reach them. Never
let them both out in the yard at the same time. The prey drive is usually
triggered by movement. A cat who remains still has a better chance of
survival than a cat who runs. Out in the open of the yard, the cat is likely
to run and have far too much space to cover to escape.
In addition to separation and escape routes, work on conditioning
your dog to behave appropriately with the other pets. Reward your dog every
time he is with the other pets and behaving appropriately. This means he is
not stalking, staring, or trying to chase them. Ignoring is good. Give him
treats, pets, and praise for peaceful coexistence. Also, work on the
leave it command in case you need to tell him to back off the other
pets. |
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