Introducing an American Staghound with a Cat

No matter the misunderstanding, a great deal of pet dogs and felines can cohabit in harmony. Follow these simple to follow steps to learn how to best introduce your American Staghound with a feline.

1. Ensure your American Staghound understands fundamental commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘down’ prior to meeting.
2. Set up a safe space for both your American Staghound and feline, where the other animal can not enter.
3. Keep them separated at first, for the first few days. Make sure both American Staghound and feline have had the required shots.
4. Feed your American Staghound and your cat on opposite sides of a closed door. This helps make them affiliate each other’s presence with pleasurable things.
5. Once they both can consume calmly next to the door, begin having meet and greets in a common area of the house. Keep the very first few sessions brief and calm with your American Staghound on a leash. Reward both family pets for really good behaviour.
6. Proceed with these face to face sessions every day. Make sure to conserve your animals’ favourite treats for these sessions. If your feline wishes to leave, allow them to, however make certain your American Staghound does not go after. Try ending the sessions well before any animal reveals signs of tension or resentment.
7. When they appear like they’re getting a long well, let them spend time in the space with each other. If any stress appears, return back to the previous steps and redo them.

Why do American Staghounds Hate Cats?

Not all American Staghounds despise felines, some get along with them. When American Staghounds do hate felines, of the most typical factor is quite straightforward. Like all pet dogs, American Staghounds still keep some of the hunting impulses that they were initially bred for. This is why American Staghounds like chasing all moving objects, whether it’s a toy, rodent, or a cat.

Considering that a lot of cats will escape when they come across, it’s easy to see why they are understood for not being friendly with each other. American Staghounds actually enjoy chasing felines not because they dislike them, but generally because a fast running animal sets off a strong, natural impulse to chase after overcomes any training or socialisation.

How to Stop American Staghounds Chasing Cats?

Training your American Staghound to stop chasing felines requires time, training and consistency, however the reward of not needing to stress over them always chasing after is very well worth it. Here are the phases of how to stop your American Staghound from chasing after cats.

1. Keep your American Staghound on a leash while loose when your feline is in the same room.
2. Whenever your feline is nearby to your American Staghound, stop what you are doing and get your American Staghound’s focus. If he pays attention, offer him a treat!
3. Keep rewarding your American Staghound until the cat goes away. If the feline remains offer your American Staghound a chew reward or toy so they remain focused on their reward.
4. Consistently repeat the above stages and you’ll see your American Staghound instinctively sit and look up to you when they see the cat. Don’t forget to keep rewarding them!
5. If they are now immediately looking at you each time the feline is in the space, they’re prepared to be utilizing a longer leash. If they still try to go after the feline at this point reel them in and return to step 2.
6. Last but not least, take the long leash off and allow your American Staghound and feline in the exact same area. At this moment your American Staghound need to understand not to chase after the feline, but if they do return to step 5.

How to Stop American Staghounds Killing Cats?

The very best approach to guarantee your American Staghound would never kill a cat is to raise them with cats when they’re a pup before 3 months old. At this age, they will generally want to play with the felines and won’t see them as prey.

If your American Staghound has actually eliminated a cat in the past, its best if you keep them in an open, fenced off space. When taking them for walks try to stop going after sunset and prior to dawn because that’s when felines are most active and likely to be roaming the streets.