Reply #136: I've really never had a dog/cat problem, at least not from the dog's end

[MadHound]

It's the cats who generally put the dogs in their place, quickly.

Rodents and dogs can be ugly though. I had mice when I was a kid, and one day took one out for our German Shepard to investigate. She picked him up in her mouth, not to eat, but was too rough and broke his back. She was grief stricken, you could tell. However the rest of the mice she loved. It was funny to see her lift these mice so gently and carry them around the house, or let them nuzzle up against her.

You're right about tone of voice. I once had a Great Dane/Pit mix who I walked everywhere without a leash, strictly on voice command. I had a whole language that was marginally English that he responded to quite well, it was all in the tone of the voice.