Walking a cat on a lead through the woods....

rhody

rhody

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,083
Edit My Images
No
I had a memorable encounter last night (for all the wrong reasons) when I took my dog on her walk through the woods. I've been taking the same walk most nights now for 6years - through the woods, along the stream, over the bridge, along a leafy track back along the stream in reverse and return home - 60 mins well spent - rain or shine.

Some nights we see foxes, rabbits or rarely now, deer deep in the woods - last night was a first - we came head to head and face to face with a woman walking her cat on a black and bejeweled lead to match its collar on the narrow footpath.

My dog thought it was her birthday, Christmas and New Year all rolled into one.

The cat was helicoptering on its lead - absolutely full of panic and my dog was up on her back legs with her front paws outstretched and pawing at fresh air trying to paddle forwards to get at the cat.

I gave thanks that only a minute earlier I had put her back on the lead as we were almost out of the woods - two minutes earlier and it would have been a very different story.

I know everyone has access to public woodland and if the lady wishes to continue to walk in her cat there so be it but I know of at least 20 different dogs who use the woods and this is a terrible accident just waiting to happen.

I've been walking dogs for over 20 years and this is first time I've ever seen a cat being walked through the woods on a lead.

To most dogs this is like dragging a burger on a piece of string across the forest floor.

In this section of woods there are several Staffies, two Dobermans, a Bull Mastiff, a Husky cross, 3 Alsations and 5 Rottweilers that I know of...... and then there are the several Jack Russells, two lurchers, four whippets and three Border Terriers who could be after it as well.

I'm afraid of the odds on behalf of the cat owner
 
Last edited:
devils advocate...

maybe your dog trying to get at the cat was the problem. dogs should be trained to listen to their owner at all times and not be yanking at the lead to get to something.

also contrary to popular belief dogs dont want to eat cats, they generally just want to run around, chase and play like anything else.

quite a few people walk their cats on a harness for whatever reason, its a public place etc.
 
yep... if the dog is "pawing at fresh air" trying to get at the cat then it doesn't respect you and isn't trained properly. I'm not saying you can breed out every ounce of instinct in an animal but it certainly shouldn't be going mental like that.
 
My dog ignored cats and was fine with them for 2 years until she went up to one to say "Hello" (as she had done countless times before) and had her muzzle and nose raked without warning.

Since then I'm afraid - she wants to do more than just "play" with them.

As I said, of course its a public woodland but this will end badly for someone.

This time the cat and the dog were both on a lead - deep into the woods, that's another story.

Some dogs are fine with cats - some are not and that's the danger.
 
Ive been wandering round this earth for many years and I dont think Ive ever seen a cat on a lead being taken for a walk. I have seen countless dogs being taken for walks though.
I also reckon 90% plus of dogs owned by Joe public are not trained to respond to a recall let alone anything else.
Ive got a colleague who is so square when it comes to following rules etc, yet when he's out walking his dog, even though he knows it 'attacks' cyclists he still lets it off its lead when cyclists are about. Rational thought seems to disappear.

Now, where's that popcorn smiley...
 
rhody said:
My dog ignored cats and was fine with them for 2 years until she went up to one to say "Hello" (as she had done countless times before) and had her muzzle and nose raked without warning.

Since then I'm afraid - she wants to do more than just "play" with them.

As I said, of course its a public woodland but this will end badly for someone.

This time the cat and the dog were both on a lead - deep into the woods, that's another story.

Some dogs are fine with cats - some are not and that's the danger.
Click to expand...

sorry but your dog needs to learn to listen to its pack leader (you), if its already had its nose scratched then it should also know better. our family german shep used to be scared of cats after such incident.. lol

some dogs are fine with other dogs, some arent. same difference.
 
i have walked my cat and rat on leads.. on reason for walking my cat was moving around allot so to get her out i used to walk her on a lead for the first few weeks. the rat i walked because i could and she loved it.
 
trencheel303 said:
yep... if the dog is "pawing at fresh air" trying to get at the cat then it doesn't respect you and isn't trained properly. I'm not saying you can breed out every ounce of instinct in an animal but it certainly shouldn't be going mental like that.
Click to expand...

Dogs and cats - not always a good combination. My dog is a hound and despite training, squirrels, rabbits and cats make her deaf to all commands. She has never caught anything - but to find a cat on a lead is one temptation too far.

The two whippets I referred to above sadly killed a cat last year in the woods. The dogs owner was very upset at what happened but could not change the outcome.

My concern is genuinely for the cat - this will not end well for someone.
 
neil_g said:
sorry but your dog needs to learn to listen to its pack leader (you), if its already had its nose scratched then it should also know better. our family german shep used to be scared of cats after such incident.. lol

some dogs are fine with other dogs, some arent. same difference.
Click to expand...

My dog is fine with other dogs - but not cats. She has learned that cats can hurt her and so responds accordingly.

The problem is she is not frightened of them - and that is the danger.
 
gumbo-67 said:
i have walked my cat and rat on leads.. on reason for walking my cat was moving around allot so to get her out i used to walk her on a lead for the first few weeks. the rat i walked because i could and she loved it.
Click to expand...

We have a lady locally that walks her 2 ferrets on a lead but on the streets not in the woods.

That way she knows dogs will be on a lead and manages the risk that way.
 
neil_g said:
devils advocate...

quite a few people walk their cats on a harness for whatever reason, its a public place etc.
Click to expand...

I would have the right to park my Mercedes coupe, leaving it unlocked of course and walk around the most under privileged areas and worst drug dealing streets in Manchester with a Leica M9 around my neck, a laptop on my back and a diamond studded Rolex on my wrist but it doesn't mean I would............................

That would tempt some Homo Sapiens way beyond their recall levels as well ;)
 
Last edited:
neil_g said:
the problem is she is not listening to you.
Click to expand...

The problem is she is a hound not a human and doesn't understand about disproportionate response.

I would never trust any dog 100% and mine is no different.

Edit for fairness:- There are some humans I wouldn't trust 100% as well
 
Last edited:
By the sounds of it you are suggesting that if your dog was off the lead you wouldn't try and stop it attacking the cat..... :thinking:

Question for you
What if the cat owner was to pick their cat up and carry it upon sight of your dog, would you still allow your dog to set about the cat/human if it was off the lead?
 
rhody said:
The problem is she is a hound not a human and doesn't understand about disproportionate response.

I would never trust any dog 100% and mine is no different.
Click to expand...

sorry but thats balls, a dog could and should be trained to respond to the owner at all times. cat/dog/child/steak on a plate if you tell your dog not to react then it shouldnt.
 
neil_g said:
sorry but thats balls, a dog could and should be trained to respond to the owner at all times. cat/dog/child/steak on a plate if you tell your dog not to react then it shouldnt.
Click to expand...

Try and keep it civil Neil please - no need for insults.

My dog 90% of the time is very well behaved. She is good with other dogs, children and strangers and never takes anything off a plate.

She doesn't chase cyclists or cars and walks well to heel.

She sits on command and will recall most times - except when she sees a squirrel, rabbit or cat.

She is a hound not a human. She has been to training classes and passed with flying colours.

She has never caught or killed anything but after the cat attacked her she now will not tolerate them.
 
I have to agree with Neil. your dog should be trained to obey the "alpha" at all times.
If it doesn't, the dog does not think you are the pack leader.

I have 3 dogs, 2 GSD and a Border Collie. If one or more ever decides to run off they are trained to go into a down position as soon as the command is given. This is followed by return command, which is rewarded upon completion by a piece of sausage.
 
stupar said:
By the sounds of it you are suggesting that if your dog was off the lead you wouldn't try and stop it attacking the cat..... :thinking:

Question for you
What if the cat owner was to pick their cat up and carry it upon sight of your dog, would you still allow your dog to set about the cat/human if it was off the lead?
Click to expand...

When I am walking the dog in the woods, she is off the lead. I have never encouraged her to attack anything and of course I would try and stop her doing so but once she runs I wouldn't have a chance of keeping up.

I would never "allow" my dog to set about any cat or human - that is silly.

Normally she is very well behaved but a cat on a lead is one temptation too far.
 
PsiFox said:
I have to agree with Neil. your dog should be trained to obey the "alpha" at all times.
If it doesn't, the dog does not think you are the pack leader.

I have 3 dogs, 2 GSD and a Border Collie. If one or more ever decides to run off they are trained to go into a down position as soon as the command is given. This is followed by return command, which is rewarded upon completion by a piece of sausage.
Click to expand...

That's great for you Mark.

My dog is not such a high achiever
 
I have two terriers that will go deaf and chase anything that runs away; cats, rabbits, squirrels, deer. I rarely let them off the lead in a public place (and never in woodland) as I know I cannot control them 100% - the only public place is a bordered field in the village where I keep their attention with a ball at the opposite end of the field to the footpath, as I also the dilemma that one of them is not dog friendly (though the other is good as gold).

Anyway I am of the opinion that if you know that your dog goes deaf and chases quarry (and other people's pets), perhaps you shouldn't let it off the lead so readily.
 
rhody said:
Try and keep it civil Neil please - no need for insults.

My dog 90% of the time is very well behaved. She is good with other dogs, children and strangers and never takes anything off a plate.

She doesn't chase cyclists or cars and walks well to heel.

She sits on command and will recall most times - except when she sees a squirrel, rabbit or cat.

She is a hound not a human. She has been to training classes and passed with flying colours.

She has never caught or killed anything but after the cat attacked her she now will not tolerate them.
Click to expand...

wasnt insulting, was saying that your post was rubbish :)

if flying colours means ignoring the owner then id ask for a refund :)
 
You can train an a dog but you can't completely train out instinct though, which may be the problem here.

I have this argument with a dog trainer I know. She claims that even if she had her dogs off the lead, if a massive explosion went off across the road and shrapnel started to fly towards them, that the dogs would not run off and hide for cover. The situation has never happened but I think it's daft to assume that some training will override a basic survival /flight instinct, and that the dog will just stand there while being battered by flying bits of debris after a deafening bang.

Until the situation does happen neither of us will be proven right either.

I think the real answer to this one would be to speak to the cat walker and advise them of the inherent dangers!
 
Last edited:
trencheel303 said:
You can train an a dog but you can't completely train out instinct though, which may be the problem here.

I have this argument with a dog trainer I know. She claims that even if she had her dogs off the lead, if a massive explosion went off across the road and shrapnel started to fly towards them, that the dogs would not run off and hide for cover. The situation has never happened but I think it's daft to assume that some training will override a basic survival /flight instinct, and that the dog will just stand there while being battered by flying bits of debris after a deafening bang.

Until the situation does happen neither of us will be proven right either.

I think the real answer to this one would be to speak to the cat walker and advise them of the inherent dangers!
Click to expand...

training a dog to ignore a distraction and them running off because of a massively scarey situation (hell id run off and hide after poo'ing myself) are two completely different things.
 
To train that kind of control into an animal would turn it into an automaton, All pets need to be under control but you cannot train the dog out of your dog still have a dog at the end.
Under control to my mind means on a leash or muzzled in situations where it's needed. In answer to rhodys first post, the woods used to be free for you to roam but things change and you'll just have to be more careful now.
 
Last edited:
neil_g said:
training a dog to ignore a distraction and them running off because of a massively scarey situation (hell id run off and hide after poo'ing myself) are two completely different things.
Click to expand...

They are different but they are both instinctive when it comes down to it. One is the hound instinct to go for the small animal the other is the flight instinct to get away from danger.
 
trencheel303 said:
They are different but they are both instinctive when it comes down to it. One is the hound instinct to go for the small animal the other is the flight instinct to get away from danger.
Click to expand...

not sure i agree with the instinct part for chasing small animals, most of the time chasing things is a result of learning its fun to chase. same way a lot of dogs beg because they get fed from someone plate. both of which can be corrected with owner/animal training.
 
trencheel303 said:
I think the real answer to this one would be to speak to the cat walker and advise them of the inherent dangers!
Click to expand...

No, it is the dog owner that is putting the cat at risk. If the dog doesn't obey then it shouldn't be let off the lead where there is a danger to others - be that humans or other pets.

It is not the cat owner's fault that the dog attacks, it is the dog owner's.

If you don't have full control, keep it on a lead or get another type of pet.
 
Wow there must be a lot of really dull, soul-less, stepford dogs belonging to members of this forum.

Dogs have individual personalities and qualities too you know, they are not all easy to train nor are they all capable of the same thing. Just as you can't teach every human to drive properly, nor will you ever teach every dog to be perfect.
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Wow there must be a lot of really dull, soul-less, stepford dogs belonging to members of this forum.

Dogs have individual personalities and qualities too you know, they are not all easy to train nor are they all capable of the same thing. Just as you can't teach every human to drive properly, nor will you ever teach every dog to be perfect.
Click to expand...

its not about having a dull dog, its about having one that responds to the owner. none of our family dogs have ever been lacking in personality..
 
All of my dogs have wonderful characters, the bottom line though is the dogs think of me as the pack leader and obey my instructions when given.

All of my dogs are rescues so it is not always an easy thing to achieve but it is possible.

My large GSD (over 90 pounds in weight) had terrible issues when I got him at 5 months old.

He was one day from being put down having roamed the streets after being beaten and turfed out by whoever had him. This at 5 months old.

We took him to our local trainers (one of which is a former Dog handler and trainer for the Army) He and I had one to one training at no extra charge for 6 months, but as the chap said with his street roaming independence I would have to work at becoming "pack Leader".

This even included laying across the dog to assert pack authority, when the dog initially refused to obey a down command ( as pack dogs do ).

4 years on I have a dog that is well rounded in many ways and still improving with his trust of other humans, Except for the vet, as he has never forgiven them for holding him down whilst they anaesthetised him and he woke up with bits missing. I have to give him his annual jabs, as the vet has no chance.

All my dogs play but they respect my commands. No dull dogs here.

The point is it might be hard work but the ability to train your dog not to chase a cat is possible
 
If you can't or won't control/train a dog there are plenty of breeds that are perfectly suitable as they pose more of a risk to themselves than others (bless 'em, I have a soft spot for cavaliers but in a IQ test with a brush I'd put my money on the brush).

Selecting a dog that's capable of causing harm should be accompanied by the responsibility to train and manage it correctly. If you can't trust/control it off the lead, then don't let it off the lead. Simples.


By the way, anyone that thinks they're macho enough is welcome to come try putting a collar and lead on either of our two cats. I'll face a GSD in a dark alley over trying that!
 
Ploddles said:
No, it is the dog owner that is putting the cat at risk. If the dog doesn't obey then it shouldn't be let off the lead where there is a danger to others - be that humans or other pets.

It is not the cat owner's fault that the dog attacks, it is the dog owner's.

If you don't have full control, keep it on a lead or get another type of pet.
Click to expand...

If the OP puts his dog on a lead fine, but that won't stop other uncontrolled dogs going for the cat.

I still think it is in the best interest to warn the cat owner.
 
PsiFox said:
Except for the vet, as he has never forgiven them for holding him down whilst they anaesthetised him and he woke up with bits missing. I have to give him his annual jabs, as the vet has no chance.
Click to expand...

So although you accept your dog won't obey command at the vet because he caused the dog distress in the past, the OP hasn't trained his dog properly because it won't obey command near a cat, which also caused it distress?

Sorry, I don't see the difference.
 
Simmotino said:
So although you accept your dog won't obey command at the vet because he caused the dog distress in the past, the OP hasn't trained his dog properly because it won't obey command near a cat, which also caused it distress?

Sorry, I don't see the difference.
Click to expand...

sorry but i dont see why the OP dog would be trying to get at the cat because one once swiped it. i would put more money on it wanting to get to the cat because it recognises that it is a source of chase (i.e. fun).

but without dr dolittle present i guess there is no way to prove that.. :D
 
Simmotino said:
So although you accept your dog won't obey command at the vet because he caused the dog distress in the past, the OP hasn't trained his dog properly because it won't obey command near a cat, which also caused it distress?

Sorry, I don't see the difference.
Click to expand...

Sorry,bad explanation. The vet would be quite able to do so as the dog will obey me, however after the initial operation, before I had him fully trained the vet made a note on his file that he must be muzzled for future injections/ procedures. I blame the vets as 4 staff held the dog down whilst a fifth injected him. On my suggestion they now have a squeeze crate for large animals, resulting in less stress.

He is not used to a muzzle as I don't and never have owned one, so he is unwilling to let the vet put it on.

I can and have fitted it but it distresses him so the vet allows me to inject the dog instead.

I could acclimate him to wearing a muzzle but see no need to.
Simple really and keeps the dog unstressed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top