Dog has cat issues...

virginiawollf

The thing that worries me is that my German Shepherd just simply LISTENS to me when i command her something, and my ABD does the same on MOST occasions, but when he's in the red zone and chasing a smaller animal or has hold of one, he does not hear me, feel me, it seems as though he doesn't even know I am there at all

This'd be a basic difference in how they were intended to be used. One bred to take direction and work with a person very closely...another bred to be an independant thinker and hunting dog.

I am sorry about the cats. A recall that is 100% is great to have...how to work on one for CATS running full tilt thru the yard without endangering a cat? That's difficult. You could use a long line and such when you train but...short of using an actual CAT? I am unsure how one would go about this.

IMO chasing and killing a smaller prey animal in their own territory is a natural act...and people with cats should keep them confined and safe per the laws in many cities...like my own, because if not a dog then a car, or a hawk, or a raccoon, or a crazy sick human.

But failing that...I suppose just reinforcing your recall is your only option.

I have no advice for you, except its natural for dogs. I have an indoor cat, that the dogs could care less about, but an outside cat is fair game to them. I had a cat a couple of years ago, that I let outside and he was killed by a dog. Thats why my cat is indoor only. Your dog was just doing what comes natural. I have no advice, sorry.

people should keep their cats out of your yard.

I 100% agree with RWBeagles. It is a direct reflection of what each was bred to do and is in no way a sign that your AB is a bad or unstable dog.

German Shepherds are bred to work as a team with a human versus a AB who acts more upon instinct and is actually rewarded for their ability to hold tight. There are a gazillion dogs in the world who are not and never will be reliable around small animals so I guess its just somethign you'll have to keep a eye on.

If you want you can contact a trainer and they could help your dog be tolerant of them but even in those cases its still hard for a dog to ignore a fleeing prey animal.

 also directed toward AuroraLove

 I know, it is a really tough situation. He has been in a home with cats multiple times, and yes, it is much much different than a strange cat tearing through his yard. He's an amazing dog, the whole situation is just soooo shaky, because my city has laws that a dog that kills ANY animal can be reported to the county as a dangerous dog, and the county has legal right to forcefully enter your home and remove your "dangerous dog". It is terrifying to think that a dog doing what is in its nature could result in the city classifying them as a threat, and putting them to sleep, unless you can meet the monetary and other criterea they put upon you.

 There is actually a case going on right now that I read about online where a family left their DECLAWED cat outside, it got into their neighbor's yard, and their neighbor's dogs killed the cat. Their dogs were removed from their home, and in order to get them back they must place $100,000 insurance policies on each dog, they must pay a myriad of other fines, and a list a mile long of other things they must do. They do not have the money for all the court costs and all the things required to pay for in order to save their dogs lives, so they are having to take donations at a charity auction. It's truly terrible and ultimately terrifies me in my current situation.

 My neighbor, while being an incredibly nice person and lover of animals, has many cats, and multiple dogs, and there is just no way she would ever keep her cats solely inside. 

 I was hoping there would be some magical answer to this issue, but as I suspected, I will just have to be vigilant with the dogs, keep working with him, and know that it is not his fault that he does this, it is just a natural part of his being. 

thanks guys!

because my city has laws that a dog that kills ANY animal can be reported to the county as a dangerous dog,

that's just well, stupid. Dogs have been bred for endless centuries to run down and kill animals for the needs of people. It'd probably be easier to fight to get that law repealed than to get your dog to stop going after running furry things. And your neighbor needs to keep his cats on his own property. Give him a firm lecture. I hate wandering cats and don't understand why it is tolerated. Every week another one bites the dust on the road outside my house.

I think it's horribly unfair for your neighbor to put you in this situation.  Our city has a leash law that applies to dogs AND cats.  My cats are indoor only cats but I have one that likes to wander out and lay in the grass.  Instead of letting him roam, he is trained on a figure-8 harness and has his one stake and tiny tether line so he stays IN my yard and is always supervised outside.  If he wandered over to either neighbor and the pit bull or GSP killed him, I would feel guilty forever but never blame them.