Dear Cathy,
Six months ago, I adopted Max, a three-year-old mixed breed dog. My vet suspected he’d been poorly socialized and possibly neglected, and he was terrified of nearly everything—getting into a crate, riding in the car, meeting other dogs on walks, even being touched. For the first two weeks, he was also aggressive toward our resident dog. But with time, patience, and a lot of positive reinforcement, Max has overcome almost all of his fears. He’s turned into a wonderful little companion.
There’s just one problem left: he’s predatory toward our cat, Lily.
Early on, his body language around her was intense—hard eyes, stalking behavior, and laser-focused staring. I immediately put up a baby gate and kept him tethered when Lily was roaming the house. I’ve worked hard to make their encounters positive, rewarding both pets with treats when they’re calm. Sometimes Max seems fine—if Lily strolls by slowly, he may let her sniff him and even turn his head away, which feels like progress.
But last night, Lily got startled and bolted. Max instantly locked in on her and became highly aroused and predatory again. After six months, I’m wondering—will he ever learn to relax around her? Or is this who he is? What more can I do?
— Diane, Tucson, Arizona
Dear Diane,
First of all, I want to applaud you for the care and thoughtfulness you’ve shown so far. You’ve done all the right things—tethering Max, using gates, supervising their interactions, and rewarding calm behavior. It’s clear that Max has come a long way, and that’s a credit to your patience and training.
The goal now is to continue shifting Max’s focus away from Lily and onto you. Teach him to “sit” or “lie down” every time Lily enters the room. If he looks at her, call his name and reward him when he looks at you instead. Then redirect him with a favorite toy or chew. This keeps his mind busy and teaches him that calm behavior around Lily leads to good things.
You should also work on a solid “stay” command. Start by asking Max to stay while Lily moves at a distance—walking across the room, jumping onto a chair, or stretching. If he holds his position, reward generously. Over time, you can work up to moments when she makes quicker movements, using the “stay” cue to prevent him from reacting. Always keep Max on a leash or tether during these exercises.
That said, as long as Max is showing signs of predatory interest—intense staring, stiff posture, tail held high, low stalking movements—there’s always a risk. Even if he seems relaxed most of the time, those behaviors are red flags. Until those disappear completely, supervision is critical.
When you’re not home or unable to actively monitor, I strongly recommend keeping Max and Lily fully separated—either on different floors or in different rooms with closed doors or secured baby gates. It’s not just about managing behavior; it’s about making sure Lily feels safe in her own home.
Some dogs have a prey drive that’s deeply ingrained and hard to fully extinguish, especially when it comes to fast-moving animals like cats. But given Max’s overall progress, I’m hopeful. Keep working on those redirection and impulse control skills, and give it more time—measured in months and years, not weeks.
And if you ever feel unsure or want more support, working with a certified positive reinforcement dog trainer—especially one with experience in dog-cat dynamics—can make a big difference. Find one that specializes in positive reinforcement.
You’re doing a great job, being very observant of Max’s body language. Keep up the good work.
— Cathy M. Rosenthal
