Warning Shots
Our new pup is doing well. At 8 weeks, he’s crate trained mostly (only two accidents in the house, which were not the dog’s fault) and he mostly sleeps through the night. He’s quick to learn and seems pretty smart.
We also have two cats. The small cat wants nothing to do with the dog. Of course, she wants nothing to do with the other cat or most people either. But the larger cat has warmed up to the pup some. They play some and, heck, have even shared a bed. Sometimes, the pup wants to play and the cat has had enough. So, she fires a warning shot. She’ll pop the dog in the head with her paw while her claws are retracted. If he persists, the claws come out on the second head thwack. You can see him stop after the warning shot in this video:
He can be taught.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Cute dog and cute kid! You be a lucky man!
June 5th, 2012 at 10:54 am
Our cats use 3-round bursts.
We have two retired racing Greyhounds and 2 rescued cats. Since Greyhounds have been bred for 4000 years to chase little fuzzy objects until either catching them in their mouths or crossing a finish line, we expected most CQB situations to go in favor of the hounds. Quite opposite. Although cohabitating mostly in harmony, the sounds of a distinct “whap-whap-whap” can be heard from time to time when Los Gatos feel Der Windhunde might be trying to exercise eminent domain.
Nothing funnier than seeing a 75 lb hound reduced to a crumpled pile of self doubt and inadequacy by what he thought was nothing more than a domesticated lure.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:56 am
Our pup is also eight weeks. The cat hasn’t broken the claws out yet but I’m wondering how long it will take as pup seems to think that getting bapped on the head is a fun new game these days.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Smart pup – he stays out of swatting range most of the time.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:16 am
I’m dog illiterate. He another bulldog?
June 5th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Boston Terrier.
June 5th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
The greyhounds are exercising restraint. Anything short of a bobcat is no match for a greyhound.
Until the west side idiots outlawed the practice, farmers in Eastern Washington used to run coyotes with retired racing greyhounds. Coyotes were no match for a single greyhound under most circumstances. 2 on 1, no coyote escaped, ever.
They are letting the cats play, nothing more. My wifes pit bull does the same, and she’ll even get one in her mouth and shake it up good. But she doesn’t bite down to kill, which she certainly could. Somehow dogs understand that those cats, at least the ones they see us pay attention to, are not prey.
Dogs are amazing!
June 5th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
WOW! Someone is Ailurophobe!
June 5th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
@bill
From what I understand about Greyhounds, having 2 of them and volunteering regularly with our local rescue, is that about 80-90% of retired racers end up being cat/small critter friendly when they’re ready for adoption, and some of the other 10-20% can ‘learn’ to live with other smaller animals. They lose their prey drive fairly quickly when not being trained and conditioned to chase on a constant basis. Only a small percentage remain intolerant to cats and small animals. But you’re right, they definitely learn quickly that the animals they’re sharing living space with are different than the stray cat, squirrel or rabbit out in the yard. The cats do serpentine courses through the hounds legs and they just stand there. But take them for a walk and they’re spotting chipmunks 100 yards down the alley and ready to chase.
My wife found this out the hard way just two weeks ago when she let the two hounds out the back and within seconds were throwing a squirrel about 10 feet in the air. They covered about 50 feet of ground instantly before the squirrel even knew what hit it. As she watched in horror, i assured her that the squirrel would live after it “caught its breath”. But still unbeknownst to her, I ended up having to “old Yeller” it.
Dogs are pretty amazing. And watching that double suspension gallop in a Grey at full speed is pretty freakin’ impressive.
June 5th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Ailurophobe? Not at all, lived with Bengals in the house for years, now have 2 outside cats, (their choice, though the battles with the Pit also warranted it).
But Greyhounds are intitimidating, and would reduce any house cat to a small pile almost instantly if the desired, not much of a real match. Having seen what Greyhounds do to coyotes who terrorize housecats, these Greyhounds are simply being tolerant.
The fact that they can learn to do so after chasing prey for a living is fascinating!
My wifes Pit, well the story isn’t quite as easy…..She has sent my dads Lab mix, who is easily twice her size, to the vet twice. She loves my sons lab mix, on the other hand…
Greyhounds are incredible animals, and watching them run is an awesome experience, especially in a group.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Many years ago the 90 lb husky was coming up the basement stairs and coldnosed the little 8 lb girl. She whipped around and took a chunk out of his nose and sent him tumbling back down the stairs. After that if any of the cats were stretched out on the carpet he’d give them a wide berth when he walked by. They do learn, and quickly.
June 6th, 2012 at 1:43 am
We have a 14month old cat (Quigley) and a 14 month old son. The two of them play together all the time and the cat has never once used his claws on my son Matthew even when he deserved it.
Matthew will pull on his ears, flop on top of him to give a hug, and grab hold of Quigley’s tail the worst Quigley has ever done was bop him with a paw when it got too rough and then it was back to play time for both.
Animals in general are amazing.
June 6th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Bill,
So just to be clear, you are saying that the 75 pound animal really can defeat the 10 pound animal?
Surely you jest!
June 6th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
It isn’t always about size….check Wolverine vs Wolf, or Cougar, or Bear for that matter.
But in this case, well….
Just making the point that although the 75 pound animals SEEMS submissive, its all a sham!