new GS puppy chasing my cats

Question
Hi, I have a 10 week old GS puppy that came to us a week ago. I have 2 one
year old cats who want to get to know her, but she barks incessantly at them
and chases them all over the place. Inside and out. I've tried to calm her when
the cats are around, and I even used a spray bottle at times. She just keeps
doing it, and I am afraid that she will drive the cats away and they will never
become tolerant or friends with each other. Do you have any advice?

Answer
Your puppy is behaving normally with a strong control instinct and the excitement of any healthy young dog.  "Calming" her, which involves touching, is perceived as REWARD.  Spray bottle is perceived as innocuous but certainly threatens your leadership status.  Put the dog on a very long, lightweight indoor leash.  She will hit the end of the leash when she attempts to chase the cats; the cats will VERY SOON observe that she can't get too far, and begin to be more bold around her and inhibit their flight response.  When she hits the end of the leash and looks away from the cat in question, cluck your tongue (like a "tsk" noise) and she will look in your direction.  Praise her very much and pat your side to gether to come to you then give her a small food reward.  Essentially, this teaches the dog she can't successfully chase the cats; it helps her to learn self calming techniques which will be rewarded by praise; it increases her tolerance of the cats' presence; it teaches the cats that you're in control and she really can't chase them (thereby facilitating whatever tolerance may develop among them) and it teaches the dog that you are a "leader", can be trusted, and helps her to choose behaviors that are not self rewarding.