Does anyone have any well-proven training how to stop my dog from chasing my cats, please?

I just adopted a black lab that has a little pitbull in him. Hamilton is two years old. He is not neutered but will be getting neutered on the 29th.
He chases my cats and so far I have been able to stop him before he harms the cats but it's a disaster waiting to happen, I'm afraid. I don't know if he just wants to play, but I am not going to find out the hard way.
I need tried and true suggestions to train him to leave my cats alone, please.
I thank you in advance!

Discipline.
Find a good way to discipline your dog. Like, A spray bottle with vinegar, or the disapproving stern "NO". The thing is that dogs will learn from consequence. An example would be, let's say a dog sees a mousetrap. Curious, he may nudge it with his nose. But it will set off the trap, and it will snap at him. That will scare him, and he'll learn that mousetrap=pain and startling noise, so he won't go near it again. In your case, let's say you spray your dog with the water and vinegar, your dog will learn chase after cat=sprayed with water. Although, my dog learned, "Chase cat=scratched on the face (my cat shows my dog up, and lashes out at her to show her who's boss)

EDIT: But there's a key thing when using the "NO". Don't go screaming your head off at your dog. Why? Some dogs /enjoy/ you going crazy, and will perform that act more just to annoy you. If you scream and shout when your dog digs through the garbage, he'll keep doing it just to get that rush when you scream and that fast moment as he runs away with rubbish in his mouth as you come after him. Some dogs enjoy that. So, when giving your "No" be firm and strong, but not berserk.

Also, it's important your dog is submissive, willing to listen, and calm. Does your dog run around the house manically or play "catch me if you can"? If in fact your dog does do this, you need to balance your dog. This means there is equal discipline, affection, and exercise. When disciplining, the master needs to make sure the dog knows who is the "pack-leader", being stern but not harsh and abusive. one also needs to discipline the second a bad behavior is going on, or else, when giving a "time-out" afterward or disciplining after the bad behavior, the dog will not learn anything except that when you grab him by the collar after a bad behavior (which he does not know he did, because he lives in the moment) he will be dragged to the kennel, so he will learn to bite you to avoid that.
When giving affection, well, that's pretty self-explanatory. Just remember, a dog is a DOG. Do NOT humanize your dog. That's the worst thing you can do.
Exercise is important so your dog remains calm, and isn't running around the house. RUNNING AROUND IN THE BACKYARD IS NOT EXERCISE. Nor is a trip to the dog park. those two only build up energy, instead of bringing it down. I suggest avoiding dog parks, because dogs can pick up bad behavior there from other dogs and because it's harder to control your dog in those situations. A good walk is perfect, and is not just meant so your dog can relieve himself. Dogs need exercise so they are calm at home, so walks are important. Remember, make sure your dog is by your side or slightly behind you, do NOT let him pull you, because then the dog is in control, but YOU'RE the master, remember? You say where you go, how fast you go, what your dog can sniff, how long you go for etc. Your dog is the follower, and will gladly be so, as long as he sees you as a fit leader.

Please excuse me going into the discipline/exercise/affection thing, i know it was a lot to read. Ah well, I think what i listed is very important to know, and also, if your dog is calmer and submissive, he will most likely not chase your cats and will listen to you.

Hope all of that helped. :]

EDIT: Ah, yes, I forgot that pressing to the ground technique. That one works the best, oh, and another great way to calm your dog is to get a gentle leader, its something you put on your dog so the straps wrap around the muzzle and presses the area in the back of their neck. In the wild, that’s how wolves discipline each other. They either grab their muzzle or bite the back of their neck - mothers and pack leaders are really the ones who do this - to tell the other wolf - or cub - who's the boss and to tell them what their doing is not allowed. Just remember, hold the dogs muzzle and stay to the side of your dog while doing this, that gives off a dominant pack-leader energy instead of an aggressive one when you are on top of your dog (like, knees on either side of your dog as you hold them down). You don't want to give the aggressive energy off.

Dog Training Hamilton

can you often find puppies in dog pounds?

i might get a dog/puppy soon but i dont want to get them from the pet store because they are from puppymills and are mistreated. so i want to get them from the dog pound because i believe that dogs are there for a second chance and i wanted to reach out to them. but the thing is i prefer a puppy rather than an adult dog so can you often find puppies in dog pounds?
and please dont misunderstand and think that i dont think adult dogs dont deserve a second chance...its because i want to start with a puppy which is easier to train.
and i live in hamilton and if you know any dog pounds near where i live, please add that in tooo!

Our local dog pound has recently had an influx of Maltese puppies and Havanese puppies. We think that the Puppy Mill owners who dumped over 20 puppies at the shelter, did so as they want to go on holidays, and their 'stock' didn't sell as well as they liked over Christmas.

Buy one from a shelter rather than a Puppy mill, but reconsider your adoption of an adult dog. Many are only two years old, and make amazing pets with out the chewing, piddling, pooping on the carpet, vaccination costs, etc that come with puppy ownership.

Dog Training Hamilton
DJ- Hamilton Dog Training Club, May 2009

Dog Training Hamilton

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