Post by diamondgirl on Apr 16, 2014 6:06:42 GMT
I think most of you know about Mica, our newest darling rescue.
Mica is a English Setter with a lot of champion field trial breeding. She was only used to produce puppies, and until I brought her home she had never known any life outside her kennel. She is 12 years old, and my vet does not suggest we have her spayed a this time.
She is no longer in heat, so I can now start to introduce her to the rest of the house. Up until now she has adjusted to the indoor porch, and the kitchen. She can finally start to experience what it is really like to be a lazy house pet.
I am worried about her reaction to out cats. So far, she has mainly seen them on the other side of the baby gates. She will point them. This consists on her standing absolutely still while staring at them. She is vey intense while she is pointing at them.
When I have seen her doing this I have tried to distract her by calling her to me and having her sit, then giving her a treat. We have done this enough that, it has sort of become a game to her, but she is still really intense when she is pointing. I don't want to have any mishaps. Our kitty Missy, will stand her ground, so I don't see any problems there, but Rebel is a scaredy cat, and there might be a problem if he runs from her. Plus we have a litter of kittens, that soon should be able to be run around the house, so they can become very social, adoptable kitties, if we can find responsible homes for them.
How do I reduce her prey drive, and train her, to understand, that cats are as much a part of out household, as I hope she can be?
The times she has been allowed to be out of the kitchen, and in on the carpet, to watch TV with me, she has been on a leash, because I also have finches, and a cockatoo, but so far she hasn't paid attention to the birds, because she is focused on the cats.
Please tell me the truth. Is my "we all get along, happy home, a lost cause"?, or is there a chance to train away some of the predator instincts she has been bred for, so she can become a sweet loving house dog, in her golden years.
Mica is a English Setter with a lot of champion field trial breeding. She was only used to produce puppies, and until I brought her home she had never known any life outside her kennel. She is 12 years old, and my vet does not suggest we have her spayed a this time.
She is no longer in heat, so I can now start to introduce her to the rest of the house. Up until now she has adjusted to the indoor porch, and the kitchen. She can finally start to experience what it is really like to be a lazy house pet.
I am worried about her reaction to out cats. So far, she has mainly seen them on the other side of the baby gates. She will point them. This consists on her standing absolutely still while staring at them. She is vey intense while she is pointing at them.
When I have seen her doing this I have tried to distract her by calling her to me and having her sit, then giving her a treat. We have done this enough that, it has sort of become a game to her, but she is still really intense when she is pointing. I don't want to have any mishaps. Our kitty Missy, will stand her ground, so I don't see any problems there, but Rebel is a scaredy cat, and there might be a problem if he runs from her. Plus we have a litter of kittens, that soon should be able to be run around the house, so they can become very social, adoptable kitties, if we can find responsible homes for them.
How do I reduce her prey drive, and train her, to understand, that cats are as much a part of out household, as I hope she can be?
The times she has been allowed to be out of the kitchen, and in on the carpet, to watch TV with me, she has been on a leash, because I also have finches, and a cockatoo, but so far she hasn't paid attention to the birds, because she is focused on the cats.
Please tell me the truth. Is my "we all get along, happy home, a lost cause"?, or is there a chance to train away some of the predator instincts she has been bred for, so she can become a sweet loving house dog, in her golden years.
I hope you are able to figure it out somehow, though, so you and all your critters can live together in peace. I hope someone has some experience with this and is able to offer you some advice.