My Yorkie attacking cats - help - YorkieTalk.com Forums

reggies mom · 01-02-2011, 09:23 PM

Hi all....I sure hope someone can help me here. My Yorkie, Reggie, is about 6 yrs old, neutered male. I have 5 cats in the house and I have to constantly watch Reggie because he will randomly and viciously attack any one of the cats that may be walking by.
The poor cat getting attacked will try to get away but Reggie is like a bulldozer just throwing himself at the cat and growling and going crazy. It is really scary to see it.
Once I catch up with him to scold him he is so wound up he growls and snarls at me too. It takes me a while to get him calmed down.
During the day when I am at work he is kept in a room separate from the cats, same at night but when they are all free to roam around is when the trouble can happen.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
(I might add he is also aggressive towards dogs we meet outside as well, no matter what their size. He is a very gentle and loving dog towards people)

megansmomma · 01-02-2011, 09:50 PM

I have no experience with cats but maybe someone else might be along to help you. I can't imagine how frightened your 6 cats must be with being attacked. I'm so sorry.

LaurenPatrice · 01-02-2011, 09:56 PM

Sounds like he has aggression problems if he is also aggressive to other dogs he doesn't know. Maybe a socialization problem from when he was a puppy? I would look into training. I hope someone can give you more answers as I have no experience with cats. Best of luck

Baby Pepper · 01-03-2011, 02:24 AM

I like Cesar Millan, and he often says "Claim ...(whatever your dog is fixed on) first, then the dog will leave the object/target alone". This seems to make a lot of sense to me! Maybe you can check his videos or episodes on TV.
Good luck.

misslissa · 01-03-2011, 03:31 AM

is he aggressive or playing? Gatsby plays with my two cats and he can sound pretty scary he even pins the cats until they cry,but he would never hurt them

lexi43 · 01-03-2011, 11:19 AM

Well I have a yorkie, a shorkie, 2 bassets and a baby shih tzu We also have 15 cats which makes for a very exciting household at times. My dogs will bark at the cats but very seldom do they act aggressive towards them. I also think that if your dog shows such an agression towards the cats and other dogs, he was not socialized. Your dog may need training. Who came first the dogs or the cats? My cats were here first and the dogs just more or less accepted them when they came into my family. It's not really unusual for dogs and cats to fight I guess that's where they get the expression "Fighting Like Cats and Dogs"

IamMiasmom · 01-03-2011, 11:34 AM

Mia loves to play with the cats, but she was introduced as a baby to them. We have 1 cat that lives at the barn that can't be in when she is because he stalks her and wants to attack. But I would work with socialization first, Yorkies can be very jealous and possessive.

Cha Cha · 01-03-2011, 12:09 PM

Has he ever physically hurt one of the cats? Is the cat trying to get away or does he lay there and wait for the attack? My experience with cats is generally, if they don't want the attention from the dogs, they will avoid them all together. Cats will put up with an incredible amount of rough play before they let the dog know it's too much. With small dogs, I would worry about scratches to the eye, but if the cat is instigating the play, like sitting under a table, slowly waving his tail from side to side, crouching down, while staring the dog down before they pounce on one another, it sound like mutual play to me. However with that many cats in the house, I have seen where dogs will be more aggressive towards one cat all while being best friends with another. Each cat has an individual personality and some will put up with a lot more than others, and some personalities clash with others just like with people.....

reggies mom · 01-04-2011, 09:26 AM

He definately is not playing, it is an agressive attack. The poor cats are terrified of him and when he is doing this they are usually trying to get on their feet and away from him.
I do notice that he is the most agressive with two of the cats in particular which just happen to be the two that are friendliest to me. I think Reggie might be jealous. He does think he is the boss of the house and everything in it, me included.
Sounds like socialization training is needed here as a couple of you have mentioned. Reggie was never really socialized. I tried the dog park a few times but the really big dogs with owners that did not pay close enough attention scared me (and Reggie) so we stopped going.
I will look into some training/socialization classes to see if that will help.
Thanks everyone

ArmaniMan · 01-04-2011, 09:41 AM

I would look for a certified behaviorist to come into your home and do a consult- they will be able to determine what the problem is and try to help you fix it.

Good Luck.

chachi · 01-04-2011, 09:49 AM

I agree you need a behavoralist. Ive seen Victoria stillwell work with a dog to get it used to cats but she told them before she accomplished it that they need to be prepared they may have to rehome the dog or the cat one or the other

01-02-2011, 09:23 PM	#1
reggies mom Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 14	My Yorkie attacking cats - help Hi all....I sure hope someone can help me here. My Yorkie, Reggie, is about 6 yrs old, neutered male. I have 5 cats in the house and I have to constantly watch Reggie because he will randomly and viciously attack any one of the cats that may be walking by. The poor cat getting attacked will try to get away but Reggie is like a bulldozer just throwing himself at the cat and growling and going crazy. It is really scary to see it. Once I catch up with him to scold him he is so wound up he growls and snarls at me too. It takes me a while to get him calmed down. During the day when I am at work he is kept in a room separate from the cats, same at night but when they are all free to roam around is when the trouble can happen. Does anyone have any suggestions? (I might add he is also aggressive towards dogs we meet outside as well, no matter what their size. He is a very gentle and loving dog towards people)

01-02-2011, 09:50 PM	#2
megansmomma Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL Posts: 12,235	I have no experience with cats but maybe someone else might be along to help you. I can't imagine how frightened your 6 cats must be with being attacked. I'm so sorry. __________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain

01-02-2011, 09:56 PM	#3
LaurenPatrice YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 555	Sounds like he has aggression problems if he is also aggressive to other dogs he doesn't know. Maybe a socialization problem from when he was a puppy? I would look into training. I hope someone can give you more answers as I have no experience with cats. Best of luck __________________ Mommy to Remy and Winston

01-03-2011, 03:31 AM	#5
misslissa YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: canton ohio us Posts: 1,574	is he aggressive or playing? Gatsby plays with my two cats and he can sound pretty scary he even pins the cats until they cry,but he would never hurt them __________________ Don't say I love you unless you mean it, but if you do say it a lot. People forget.

01-03-2011, 12:09 PM	#8
Cha Cha Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play Posts: 7,069	Has he ever physically hurt one of the cats? Is the cat trying to get away or does he lay there and wait for the attack? My experience with cats is generally, if they don't want the attention from the dogs, they will avoid them all together. Cats will put up with an incredible amount of rough play before they let the dog know it's too much. With small dogs, I would worry about scratches to the eye, but if the cat is instigating the play, like sitting under a table, slowly waving his tail from side to side, crouching down, while staring the dog down before they pounce on one another, it sound like mutual play to me. However with that many cats in the house, I have seen where dogs will be more aggressive towards one cat all while being best friends with another. Each cat has an individual personality and some will put up with a lot more than others, and some personalities clash with others just like with people..... __________________ Shelly and the girls Moka Mylee

01-03-2011, 02:24 AM	#4
Baby Pepper Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney NSW Australia Posts: 81	I like Cesar Millan, and he often says "Claim ...(whatever your dog is fixed on) first, then the dog will leave the object/target alone". This seems to make a lot of sense to me! Maybe you can check his videos or episodes on TV. Good luck.

01-03-2011, 11:19 AM	#6
lexi43 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Deer Park New York Posts: 1,586	Well I have a yorkie, a shorkie, 2 bassets and a baby shih tzu We also have 15 cats which makes for a very exciting household at times. My dogs will bark at the cats but very seldom do they act aggressive towards them. I also think that if your dog shows such an agression towards the cats and other dogs, he was not socialized. Your dog may need training. Who came first the dogs or the cats? My cats were here first and the dogs just more or less accepted them when they came into my family. It's not really unusual for dogs and cats to fight I guess that's where they get the expression "Fighting Like Cats and Dogs"

01-03-2011, 11:34 AM	#7
IamMiasmom YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Plattsmouth, NE Posts: 268 Blog Entries: 1	Mia loves to play with the cats, but she was introduced as a baby to them. We have 1 cat that lives at the barn that can't be in when she is because he stalks her and wants to attack. But I would work with socialization first, Yorkies can be very jealous and possessive.

01-04-2011, 09:26 AM	#9
reggies mom Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 14	He definately is not playing, it is an agressive attack. The poor cats are terrified of him and when he is doing this they are usually trying to get on their feet and away from him. I do notice that he is the most agressive with two of the cats in particular which just happen to be the two that are friendliest to me. I think Reggie might be jealous. He does think he is the boss of the house and everything in it, me included. Sounds like socialization training is needed here as a couple of you have mentioned. Reggie was never really socialized. I tried the dog park a few times but the really big dogs with owners that did not pay close enough attention scared me (and Reggie) so we stopped going. I will look into some training/socialization classes to see if that will help. Thanks everyone Last edited by reggies mom; 01-04-2011 at 09:28 AM.

01-04-2011, 09:41 AM	#10
ArmaniMan I ♥ Armani & Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 3,895	I would look for a certified behaviorist to come into your home and do a consult- they will be able to determine what the problem is and try to help you fix it. Good Luck. __________________ Armani & Chloe

01-04-2011, 09:49 AM	#11
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	I agree you need a behavoralist. Ive seen Victoria stillwell work with a dog to get it used to cats but she told them before she accomplished it that they need to be prepared they may have to rehome the dog or the cat one or the other __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427