How can you say this with such conviction when you have never had a dog that has grown up with cats? as you have let five of your dogs kill cats, perhaps you are not the best judge of the whole 'cats mixing with dogs' subject?

What a shame How often does the dog need to go in the garden? Most of mine (except Yogi) prefer to be in the house when I am and all their exercise takes place away from the garden.

But turning it on its head for just a second, how would you feel if a fox came into your garden and your dogs killed it? I have a feeling that would be acceptable to you? But not so a cat?

Personally I hate my dogs killing anything (I am such a sensitive softie!). However, Yogi is fast and athletic and has often caught rabbits, the odd hare and even a couple of stoats He kills them cleanly and quickly. Do I condone it? Not at all.

If I can recall him before his prey drive has kicked in then I can stop him, but once his blood is up, it is a challenge. I have however, successfully trained him not chase our hens so I am confident if I had access to cats regularly, which I don't (as they would be shot or snared up here ) then I would be able to stop him chasing them (or at least my own).

I think what people are trying to say is that historically dogs have chased cats, cats chase birds and mice etc. Not that it is acceptable, but it is natural behaviour that has to be trained out or modified.

Agree absolutely!

Really? historically dogs chase but not cats specifically.

Cats and dogs can't be compared anyway IMO -- apples and oranges. They are nothing alike in any respect, apart from the fact they are kept as pets.

Do you mean "feral" cats are shot & snared?

Exactly as you have said, the dogs need trained:

In the first instance the dog shot out the front door/gate. The owner could work on that for a start

In the second the owner feels the best way forward is to rehome the dog - why - basic obedience is a starter

If you take an animal on, you cant expect perfection. You have to train & work with them, make them into the loving obedient companion you want them to be. It does not come automatically

The law where we live states that a dog must be kept under control at all times. I thought it was similar in the rest of the UK although our laws did change in October giving councils more power.

Exactly - cat owners love their cats as much as they love their dogs - both are pets. I think sometimes that factor escapes some folk

What happened to your cat? One you had around this time last year? The one you sat out over dry food

No I don't mean feral cats - we don't have any of those either. I live on a grouse moor which is a shooting estate. The whole 14,000 acres is managed by gamekeepers who would likely shoot a cat in a lamp (possibly thinking it was a fox) or the cat could easily get caught in one of the many snares scattered around the estate. It just wouldn't be worth the risk.

I agree that training is essential. I also agree that the dog in the first few posts (that was out of its house/garden when it attacked the cat) would have not been in this dreadful situation had its owner kept a better watch over it. However, none of us are perfect and mistakes/accidents can and do happen. I think the dog owner should be made to meet all the vet fees that the cat owner incurred as well as paying her compensation for the trauma they and their cat suffered. I do not, however, agree with a dog being destroyed because of this.

Good points SB.

My 2 hooligans are great with my daughter's cat when she comes to stay - they will curl up together - well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but they will lie down together - however, when Winkle steps a paw outside into THEIR garden, then as far as the boys are concerned, she is fair game. They tree her, and I have to rescue her. it is hard to know what would happen if they actually caught her, I like to think they would not hurt her, but I really do not know.

Just like a cat owner does not know what havoc their moggy wreaks on the local bird and mouse population when it is out and about.

If cats come into my garden, they run the gauntlet of my boys. If my neighbours do not like my dogs chasing their cats in my garden, then that is their problem - and I will include my daughter's cat in this. However, if we come across cats out on a walk, then of course I will not allow the dogs to chase them - although of course they do given half a chance if I am not alert. I don't have a problem with this either - I would be devastated if they killed a cat of course, and I hope they wouldn't were they to actually get hold of one, but IF they did then surely I am entitled to say what cat owners say to me "it's their nature".