Why stop, if they both like it? Are you worried Abby might get carried away?

My sister's dog does the same thing to one of her cats. It's funny to watch, and no injuries in 3 years.

My beagle chews on my cats, and when she gets a bit too rough it takes about five seconds before I hear a yelp and see a very hurt (feeling-wise) beagle walking away from the cat with her head down and the cat trailing, wanting more. My black cat also adores chewing on the dog. I used to try to stop it, but thats how they play. They clean eachother, nose eachother, chew on eachother, they love it.

I used to try and stop big guy from chewing on the beagle, too. I was always afraid he'd hurt her, and she was so submissive to him that I think she would have let him. But now he gnaws on her big floppy ears and her neck and when he gets too rough she gives him a HUGE what for, he jumps and runs away, and then she chases him and flops on her back again right under him so he can chew on her some more.

I wouldn't worry unless the cats try to get away and abby gets even more agressive and wont let them, or if she just gets agressive in general. If she's just nibbling on the cat, I don't think it's so bad.

That goes on a lot here with the boys. The older dog chews on the younger dog. I think that's just what the dominant animals do. They latch on to the other's neck then the other flops over belly up then the dominate one proceeds to give hickeys? then a few moments later it stops just as quickly as it began.

So maybe your cat is just naturally behaving submissive to the dog.

No real advice here, but as weed30 said, why stop it if they both like it?

Our Gabbu always knew he had to get away from the monster cats when they started their low growls, and if he continued with his kitty-chewing he would get a powerful smack right on the nose or a quick bite on his belly, if he had the cat pinned down under him. But Gabbu was a pom, and our cats were real large, in your case it would concern me only if Abby really showed hints of over-aggression. At the first hint of discomfort/overly aggressive behavior from Abby, I'm sure Chester would let Abby know it in no uncertain terms.

I found your description of their chew-play real cute, made me smile. Makes me want to convince DH to get a lil puppy for our all-cat household!

I worry about Abby being a little too enthusiastic and no matter how rough she gets Chester will not do anything. Chester has gotten up coughing where Abby has chewed his neck too hard. It scares me. Chester once let our JRT drag him around the back yard, purring away.. not a tense bone in his body. I thought he was dead. I went screaming into the night, barefoot, with snow up to my knees. When I scooped Chester up he wanted back down with the dog. Go figure. Maybe I am to over protective?
Lorie

Hmmm ... not over-protective. That coughing thing and dragging routine would have freaked me out too. Does Abby stop when Chester starts trying to get away from her? If she doesn't, then I'd be worried.

Chester sure is a brave boy! :-) I'm beginning to think he's a lil dog in cat's attire, bcoz cats don't usually play that rough with dogs, it insults feline dignity.

At a friend's place I saw his dog chase his tiny lil kitten and finally 'got' it, and though the kitten was screaming bloody murder, my friend was laughing away to glory. He said it's fine, the dog wouldn't harm kitty ever. I was surprised that the kitten wasn't trying to get away from the dog either. They seemed to be having fun.

I don't have much experience with dog-training, but maybe you could try the 'Leave/Drop' command when Abby gets Chester? Or would it confuse Abby and she would think she isn't allowed to play with her buddy?