My dog killed my cat-do I need to worry about her with my grandbabies

Question
We have a German Shepherd who is 1 1/2 years old.  We have had her since she was a pup, she is spayed and a house dog.  She is very strong willed and sometimes hardheaded.

We have always had cats....2 or 3.  My husband brought home a kitten a few weeks ago.  Abby and the kitten had slept together and played together with no problem.  One night the kitten was missing about 1/2 hour, I went to look for it and it was sprawled out on the floor, lifeless yet screaming when I moved it.  I took her to the vet the next morning.  The vet said he could not guarantee the dog did not do it, however the kitten had swelling on the brain and it was not known if he would make it. The kitten got a shot and was nursed back to health.  I believed at the time Abby hurt it.  

My husbands co-worker talked my husband into taking the kittens brother.  This kitten also became a friend of Abby's, sleeping and playing together.  Once I, and once my husband caught Abby with the kittens head in her mouth.  She was told no, and she left the kitten alone.

One evening, I was in the kitchen and watched in horror, yelling "NO NO" as Abby picked the new kitten up by its head and slammed it down.  Blood came spewing out of the kitten as it screamed and flopped around.  He bled out in seconds on my kitchen floor. In Abby's defense, the kitten walked by Abby's food dish.

We have twin grandbabies that are 2 1/2 years old.  They have always been around Abby. She nips at their heels, as well as nipping at ours, and we cannot seem to break her of this nasty habit. On one occasion I caught her nipping at one of the babies, but she did not hurt her, thank the good Lord.

I am now terrified that she will hurt them, us, or someone else.  Our happy little home, is no longer happy, and all I can seem to do is cry.  I think we need to get rid of Abby, my husband says she would never hurt the babies.

We have had 2 German Shepherds previously, never having a problem.  I never expected this from Abby. Any insight or advice you have would be welcomed.

Thank you in advance for your time, you're the best.
Kim

Answer
Hi Kim,

Thank you for writing to me about this very upsetting experience.   I can't imagine how traumatic it was to see that poor kitty being killed by your beloved dog.  My heart goes out to you.

This is a very serious situation but not an impossible one to deal with.  Your dog has a strong prey drive and it's natural for her brain to be stimulated by a small kitten running across the floor.  It must have triggered her natuarl instinct to hunt and kill.  As you said, the kitten also ran past her food bowl.

It is possible that your dog thought it was just playing with the kitty and was just playing too hard but from your description, it does seem that it was the way a dog plays with a stuff toy..shaking it, dropping it and tearing it apart.  This is how the dog kills it's prey.

Immediately pick up that food bowl.  Keep it where she can't get to it.  Give her specific feeding times, preferably am and pm.  Make her sit and wait before you put her bowl down.  Tell her to sit only one time.  If she doesn't listen, put the bowl away and turn your back to her.  After she eats, pick up the bowl.  She will begin to get into a feeding schedule.  You are going to teach her to listen to you, respect you and have some patience and focus.  When you are feeding her, give her space and do not allow the kitty or the children anywhere near her.  You can deal with her food aggression at a later time.

Next, never allow young children to be unattended or unmonitored around a dog, no matter how much you trust the dog. Children can be bitten from teasing dogs, pulling their tails, pinching them, sticking their fingers in the dogs eye, etc etc.  The dog may reach a point where it reacts to the teasing and pain and then there is trouble. Children also run and screech, stimulating that canine prey drive.  It's best to keep them separated by a gate unless you are right there in the room to monitor.  Do not leave the room without gating the dog first.

Do not allow your dog up on the bed or couch until she is obedient.  Make her sit and wait before taking her through the door to be walked. Give her lots of exercise to tire her out.  A good dog is a tired dog.

The most important advice I can offer to you is to steer you in the direction of the behavorists on our all expert list. Go back and look up Canine Behavior and write to all the behavorists in that area.  They can offer more detailed advice as this is their area of expertise.

It might also be wise to bring in a behavorial trainer who uses positive reinforcement to make an assessment of the situation and recommend some safety measures.

Your dog and your family can continue to live in harmony and safety using some preventative safety measures. All families have to take these measures no matter how reliable the dog might be, so you are not alone in this.  You must also teach the children to respect the dog and not do anything to hurt it.  It's a great learning opportunity for the children.

I would also like to direct you to a website, www.dogwise.com/ where you can find all kinds of wonderful books and tapes to help you get more control over your dog's willfulness through the use of positive training methods.  

Best Regards,
Shelley Davis