What Are Cat Chasing and Aggressive Behaviors in Dogs, and How Can They Be Addressed?
Cat-chasing and aggression behaviors involve dogs pursuing, barking, lunging, or swatting at cats when they notice them, whether inside or outside the home.
Perhaps your dog constantly chases and stalks your cat, which can cause your cat stress and lead to potty accidents because they are afraid to travel through the home. Some dogs may be playful when chasing cats, but this behavior can also be aggressive and cause fights.
The main goal of our science-based, data-driven training program is to reduce or eliminate your dog’s aggressive behavior toward your cat. Leading to a more harmonious household for everyone.
This is achieved through training methods including counterconditioning and function-based training. Function-based training helps to identify why a dog reacts aggressively and encourages appropriate behaviors. Counterconditioning discourages cat chasing and aggression by using rewards, such as treats and praise.
The Benefits of Cat Chasing and Aggression Dog Training
Beyond the Dog is led by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant Sean Savage. With over 20 years of experience addressing cat chasing and aggression, we have helped thousands of dogs live harmoniously with each other. We provide luxury dog training services, serving Kansas City, St. Louis and Nashville.
Our personalized training program will help to create positive associations with cats through a combination of classical conditioning and positive reinforcement. This includes teaching specific obedience commands and developing socialization skills.
At the completion of the training program, your dog will learn how to better behaved around cats, obey obedience commands that stops or reduces cat chasing, and leads a more peaceful household.
Our Cat Chasing and Aggression Behavior Modification Package offers one-on-one virtual sessions with Dr.Echterling-Savage, our resident Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). Dr.Echterling-Savage is one of only a few Board Certified Behavior Analysts who work in Applied Animal Behavior and one of approximately 50 CAABs in the country. With decades of experience that includes the publication of research papers on canine behavior, Dr. Echterling-Savage’s expertise places her at the forefront of her field, making her consultations an invaluable opportunity for those seeking transformative results.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will meet with you virtually to discuss your dog’s aggressive behavior, where she will design a customized training plan that meets your dog’s specific needs. Following your first meeting, Dr. Echterling-Savage will provide ongoing support and troubleshoot cat chasing and aggression behavior scenarios that ensure ongoing progress in your dog’s training. This program runs for four weeks for mild cases and six weeks for moderate or severe cases.
The main goal of this program is to address cat chasing and aggression behaviors towards cats including:
Teaching obedience skills that are relevant to treating cat chasing and aggression behaviors. This includes commands such as “place”, “leave it”, and teaching socialization skills.
This program includes:
Depending on the distance from Tampa Bay, travel may be complimentary or require a small additional cost.
Our co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, has developed a function-based treatment to treat cat chasing and aggression behaviors. We use science-based training methods that utilize classical counterconditioning and positive reinforcement. With over 20 years of experience, we use personalized training programs to address cat chasing and aggression.
It’s important that each program is personalized to your dog’s behavioral history and unique needs, as there are many reasons why these problem behaviors can occur. These reasons can include behavioral history, genetics, and an innate prey drive.
Our approach to training is further explained by Dr. Echterling-Savage when she states that, “Our treatments can be lifesaving when it comes to a dog’s aggression toward a cat they live with. Unfortunately, aggression towards a cat in the home is not a behavior that can be fully managed with closed doors or separate living spaces. We help restore balance and harmony in your home and keep everyone safe in the process.”
Your dog will train with Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage while living in their home in Tampa Bay, Florida. During this time they will train your dog both at the home and across Tampa Bay, while also providing your dog with exercise, playtime and downtime.
Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology, specializing in animal behavior. She has over 20 years of hands-on experience teaching dogs high-level obedience, manners, and addressing problem behaviors. Dr. Echterling-Savage also trains and mentors Beyond the Dog’s trainers.
Sean Savage is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). He brings over two decades of experience training obedience, manners, and addressing a wide range of behavioral challenges.
Before training begins, we first need to understand more about your training goals and your dog’s behavioral history. This is learned through virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage and from assessing your completed “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior” questionnaire. We will then use this information to create a personalized training plan for your dog.
One of our trainers will then pick up your dog from your home to Tampa Bay, Florida. Your dog’s safety is always our priority. During travel, your dog will travel with the trainer in the car or fly with them in the cabin.
Your dog will live with Dr. Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage at their home in Tampa Bay for four weeks of training. During this time, your dog will be a part of the family, with dedicated training time, exercise, play and downtime.
Training occurs both at their home and across Tampa Bay, so that we can treat aggression and cat chasing while also teaching obedience skills to generalize skills across multiple environments. This could include teaching obedience commands at your home, parks, shopping areas, farmer’s markets, hiking trails, and dog-friendly beaches.
During the four-week board-and-train retreat, you will be updated on your dog’s progress through phone conversations, virtual meetings, progress reports, and emails, so you are always informed throughout the program.
At the end of the four-week board and train retreat, your dog will come back home, where you and your dog will receive 4.5 hours of return and follow-up lessons. These lessons are important so you can learn how to manage all of your dog’s new skills and achieve long-lasting results from the program. These lessons will allow us to easily transition your dog’s training to your home and local neighborhood.