Bullying the cat

[robinandoso]

My 11 month old Pyr Oso usually gets along super well with our 3 year old cat (Kitty). They play all the time, they cuddle, etc. However, just in the last couple weeks or so, Oso's gotten rough with Kitty, especially when my husband gets home from work. Oso gets very excited when Chris comes in, and then when Kitty saunters in to say hello, Oso attacks him.

Generally when they attack each other, it's playful, and no one gets hurt. They just chase each other, and it's pretty balanced play, with Kitty maybe being a little rougher. But lately, when Oso is excited about Chris getting home, he doesn't play-attack, it's kind of mean. He hasn't injured the cat (no blood or anything), but Kitty screeches like it hurts, and Oso is barking at him.

What I've been doing the 3 times it's happened is to take Oso by the collar to his time out place and leave him alone for about 5 minutes. Sometimes he's so worked up, he barks at me when I put him in there. But I don't even look at him or talk to him, I just walk out. When I let him out, he has to sit and stay for a bit, and then he can rejoin the family. Then he's good for several days. So, that seems to have some positive effect - calming him down, giving him space to make a better decision, letting him know it's not okay, etc. But, seriously, 3 times? How can I keep him from doing this ever again? I don't want Kitty to end up hurt.

Thanks.

[nick's spirit]

Robin
sounds like Oso is acting like a pre-teen already....so it's back to square one
when hubby comes home, Oso must sit & wait til he walks in, on a leash if necessary, he's to be nice & calm, also hubby is to greet Oso nice & calmly, only recognizing him when alll 4 paws are on the ground & Oso is in control of himself. Any reaction from Oso, ie. trying to nip at Kitty or excitement, no recognition until he's calm again, you might even have to take him away, sit him down then come back to greet hubby calmly.
Oso is testing & learning, and it sounds like you are trying to teach him proper house manners...good for you!
Let us know how he progresses

[robinandoso]

Thanks Nick's Spirit!

He's actually very well-behaved with the humans. He always sits for greeting, and he's never jumped - that's been a hard and fast rule since Day One. I guess I should have articulated better - happy excited for Oso is a circular tail wag and booty-wiggle. But he forces himself to sit, because he knows he won't get snuggled otherwise. (Booty and tail still wiggly.) And Chris greets me first, then Oso.

It's weird how he attacks Kitty. It's like he used all his impulse control to sit for greeting and then can't hold back anymore so it turns to aggressive-excitement? Or maybe he's jealous and doesn't want to share my husband with Kitty?

[Davey Benson]

I vote green eyed monster.... my yellow eyed aussi is a real green eyed monster.... super jelous.

[robinandoso]

I want to help Oso to make better decisions about his treatment of Kitty. I use that phrase deliberately, because it really has to be his own decision, or it won't work long term.

I'll take any suggestions ya'll got.

[Jewel]

Out of curiosity, when Kitty comes over to greet, is he required to sit and wait until he's acknolwedged (like Oso) or does he get to go right up to Chris?

[robinandoso]

Originally Posted by Jewel

Out of curiosity, when Kitty comes over to greet, is he required to sit and wait until he's acknolwedged (like Oso) or does he get to go right up to Chris?

Oooooh. Good point! I never thought of that!

Kitty doesn't have to sit or anything like that. He also doesn't really get pet or picked up, though, either. He just strolls in and makes his appearance and gets a "Hi Kitty."

The only real privilege Kitty gets that Oso doesn't is that he sits in laps whenever we're watching a movie or reading or working on the computer, etc. Oso comes over (friendly-like) when Kitty sits on us, and we pet Oso when he does that.

Are we doing this all wrong?

[Jewel]

I don't think you're doing anything wrong. The way you described Oso in your various posts sort of painted a picture in my head that he seems to be a "rule" oriented dog. Like he diligently checks between you and Chris on the trails, and when you said he "told" on his dad for not turning off the kitchen light.

My first pyr had a number of "rules" that she established herself and she never broke her own rules. Running in the house was a "no-no" for her, and so even if we were playing chase in the house (she would invite the play), we did it at a walk (so it was a r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w chase ). She did not bump into furniture in the house - she always took care to weave carefully and not disturb anything out of place. Dog beds were for sleeping only, not to be stepped/walked on, or eat anything on. We didn't teach her any of that, those were her rules.

So I though if Oso believed that the rule is to sit before being acknolwedged, then perhaps he thought Kitty was breaking the rule. Perhaps you can help Oso by establishing a different acknowledge of sorts with Kitty. As an example: Oso is sitting there as he is supposed to, Chris acknowledges him after he greets you, and then if Kitty walks up while Chris is giving Oso his well-earned acknowledgement, have Chris turn away from Kitty and teach Oso a command ("thank you", "okay", "very nice") that indicates to Oso Chris appreciates Oso's greeting and Chris "releases" Oso, then Chris can turn to Kitty's direction to acknowledge Kitty. That make any sense? You would know what would work better in your situation, but basically you are establishing a procedure for Kitty as well, so that Oso knows the "correct" ritual is being observed. Now, this is just a total guess on my part of Oso's behavior, I could be WAAAAY off base.

As for having Kitty sit in your lap, I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Oso seems to think that's an established rule that he's accepted. If that seems to be the case, there's nothing to fix!

[robinandoso]

Originally Posted by Jewel

My first pyr had a number of "rules" that she established herself and she never broke her own rules. Running in the house was a "no-no" for her, and so even if we were playing chase in the house (she would invite the play), we did it at a walk (so it was a r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w chase ).

That is so funny I snorted!

I hadn't thought about the rule thing, really, but you're right, he does like things a certain way, and definitely has his rituals. (Like, he always comes in and snuggles me in the morning. And if my door is closed, he has figured out how to open it. Cause he just HAS to snuggle every morning!) I guess we need home-again ritual....

Thanks!!