The Truth About Cats & Dogs

[J.D.DIAMOND]

Originally Posted by Juniper

This is Maverick.



Yeah, bring it on.

We love them, J.D. Germies are wonderful dogs. BUT--they do require serious training. Ours came pre-trained, since we adopted him when he was 4. GSD's are much too smart to be good pets without an investment in an expert training program. He's got a great personality but is still very high-strung; taking him anyplace, even up the street to the vet, is a challenge.

I trust him 100% with family and friends - he'd never bite anyone on purpose. Bad guys? Anyone's guess!

Juniper did your German Shepherd grow up with cats? I have been doing a lot of homework(research)on German Shepherds and so far everybody has told me that they do have an instinct to chase stray cats,but not the cats they grew up with as a puppie if they are trained correctly.

[xoxoxoBruce]

The can be trained not to mess with kitty roommates. They've got to be introduced, and both be made aware that they're going to have to get use to it. Granted a dog can kill a cat in an all out battle, but in small skirmishes the dog will likely come out on the short end, with a sliced up nose/ears, and maybe blind.

[Juniper]

Originally Posted by J.D.DIAMOND

Juniper did your German Shepherd grow up with cats? I have been doing a lot of homework(research)on German Shepherds and so far everybody has told me that they do have an instinct to chase stray cats,but not the cats they grew up with as a puppie if they are trained correctly.

Nope. As I said, we got him at age 4, and his previous owners didn't have cats.

He has killed at least two, maybe three stray cats in our yard. But I'm sure he was only fulfilling his role of protector, and the cats were after our chickens. It's a big fenced yard - those cats shoulda known better!

He isn't so tough with the cats inside our house, though. We have 5 of them. Every now and then he acts a little bit - what's the word, *offended* by their presence. But he's accepted them, for the most part and leaves them be. But our cats stay inside, and I have no doubt that if they were to get out into the yard, he'd chase them just the same as the strays. I think this is due more to the prey instinct being triggered by a cat running away, something they can't really do in the house so much.

[J.D.DIAMOND]

Originally Posted by Juniper

Nope. As I said, we got him at age 4, and his previous owners didn't have cats.

He has killed at least two, maybe three stray cats in our yard. But I'm sure he was only fulfilling his role of protector, and the cats were after our chickens. It's a big fenced yard - those cats shoulda known better!

He isn't so tough with the cats inside our house, though. We have 5 of them. Every now and then he acts a little bit - what's the word, *offended* by their presence. But he's accepted them, for the most part and leaves them be. But our cats stay inside, and I have no doubt that if they were to get out into the yard, he'd chase them just the same as the strays. I think this is due more to the prey instinct being triggered by a cat running away, something they can't really do in the house so much.

Hey good information Bruce and Sundae Girl.

Thanks Juniper,yeah this is what I've heard many times,so yeah if I train the dog the right way,I shouldn't have any problems,because my 2 cats are inside cats,not allowed outside. Thanks for the information.

[Gravdigr]

The "truth"? Here ya go: