lab living with cat

Question
I have a lovely 5 month old choc lab and a 11 year old female cat. We do stop the dog from chasing cat and try to make sure the cat feels as safe as possible but coco thinks its great fun to chase her at every opportunity. I've never seen her bite out-the cat hisses and has lashed out a couple of times. Because Cocos paws are getting so bid i am worried she will squash the poor cat.  Will the two ever get on do you think and what can I do to help.

Answer
I have little experience with cats.  I can only urge strong leadership for the dog, and making it obvious you, the leader, value the cat.  It is much like us and out 6 month old Lab and the 14 year old one no longer able to give the puppy the discipline it needs.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys.  In a quiet, but firm voice give it an ''Ah, ah, ah!''.  Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of her toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.  When you can't watch it, crate it.  

Other dogs may not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with.  Still your house and dog will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away.  The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  They are harder for dogs to open too.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work. Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going in.  If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate. Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding time for more than one dog.

Also make sure the cat has safe retreats, maybe some of the cat furnmiture with poles and boxes with small entrances.