I received this on a newf rescue board and asked for permission to
post it here.

Many of you are AWESOME with advice and interpretation. I'm game to
take back everything everyone says.

I had nothing to do with the original post but I can go to the poster
and get more info as needed.
*********************

I have a Newfoundland mix (possibly with black lab) that I
rescued as a small puppy, (at approximately 12 weeks of
age). He is now 2 1/2 years old.
We also have a Golden Retriever and cats. Up until
the end of January, we never had any problem. One day,
my husband and I went away for several hours and while we
were gone, "Nick" had grabbed one of my cats and
caused it to have a hernia. I work part-time at a vet
office, so I took him immediately to have it repaired.
Since that time, I have tried to be careful not to allow
Nick the opportunity to be alone with this particular
cat. Despite the fact that the other cats lay all
around the house and Nick never seems to bother them, I try
to put "Casper" in a separate room. However,
last Monday, my husband left for approx. 10 to 15 minutes
and when he returned, he knew that something had
happened. When he found Casper, he was
hyperventilating and breathing through his mouth and
obviously in shock. He rushed him into the vet office
and we got him calmed down with anti-shock med. and pain
med. , however, x-rays showed that he had 2 fractured ribs
and we found a couple puncture wounds, on his back.
This evening, my husband took both dogs for their daily
walk and Nick ran ahead of him. When he caught up to
him, he found him straddling a baby fawn, that he had just
killed (while the mother stood nearby and watched).
This is such unacceptable behavior that I am at a loss as to
what to do. This dog is perfect in every other
way. He has never been aggressive to any person, has
never had accidents in the house, we live near a road, which
he never attempts to go on. He doesn't lack
attention. We have an in-ground pool that he has total
access to, at all times, and he loves. I just
don't know what to do. My husband and I both
dearly love this dog, but do not feel that he can be
trusted. I just don't know what triggers his
aggressive actions. Any advise would be greatly
appreciated.
Thank you,
delete owners name

In article
,
Nessa wrote:


This evening, my husband took both dogs for their daily
walk and Nick ran ahead of him. When he caught up to
him, he found him straddling a baby fawn, that he had just
killed (while the mother stood nearby and watched).
This is such unacceptable behavior that I am at a loss as to
what to do.

Why anyone lets a dog that far ahead of them that they can't see that
happening, is beyond me. "never goes near the road", "total access to
inground pool at all times" tells me that the dog decides things, not
the people - he's being given too many freedoms of choice. Sometimes he
may make the right one (not going in the road), but often the wrong one.

Obedience training and a shorter leash (figuratively, literally) are
necessary.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

Nessa said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

[Cats and deer]

I doubt that this aspect of prey drive can be reliably trained
out. Your acquaintances will have to be more careful in
managing the situation. Perhaps, when the dog grows past
adolescence, he'll be more (though not completely) trustworthy
with the household cats.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

In article ,
Rocky wrote:
I doubt that this aspect of prey drive can be reliably trained
out

If the dog is really meek you might be able to convince it
that it's going to DIE if it messes with the cat. But even
then it's probably not going to be trustworthy and you'd
need to supervise interactions, anyway.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

Nessa said in part...
My husband and I both dearly love this dog but do not feel that he can
be trusted. I just don't know what triggers his aggressive actions.
__________________________________
Nessa

I understand that you posted this item on behalf of someone else from
another forum.

I am sure by now someone else has posted the same comment I am about to.

My suggestion is to manage the dog with with the "serious problem".

The owners have already had too many incidents and should know better
than to allow a dog with prey drive to run at large or ahead of them on
a walk. What if the dog's prey drive causes him to kill someone else's
animal or another animal within his home?

The bottom line is that I do not think the dog can be trained to not be
aggressive but whether I am right or wrong it is not very wise of them
to allow the dog around cats period and I would not completely rule out
an attack on the Golden that he shares a home with.

I have a dog that has exhibited dog aggression. I love him very much.
He is a good companion and very well behaved but when it comes to
attacking another dog I can not trust him so I do not allow him to be in
that position.

He was 2 years old before he exhibited that behavior. He had lived with
me for one year before showing any sign of dog aggression. It only took
one time for me to learn that I must manage him every minute of every
day just to be safe. It is a lot of work but he is worth it to me. The
people you posted about have had more than a clue. If they really care
about their dog they need to train him in obedience and manage him at
all times as not only could he kill or maim another animal but he could
end up dead himself.

Perhaps the OP should consult a behaviorist not for rehabilitation but
so they may have some understanding about prey drive. Of course there
are books on the subject. People like the owner of that dog never cease
to amaze me. I could understand how they were caught off guard the
first time when their cat was attacked but it shouldn't have been
allowed to happen again.

Feel free to pass my post on to the owners of that dog if you think it
would be of help. I wish them well.


Be Free.....Judy