they won't stop killing!

IslandMutts · 06-10-2008, 02:42 PM

*sigh*

I've been watching these two cute little chipmunks run around and play in my yard the past few days. When I let the dogs outside, I make them wait as i open the door, walk outside, clap my hands (to scare anything off), then make Cuda 'speak'. Then they're finally allowed into the yard.

Just now was the second time in the last two weeks that i held a dying chipmunk in my hands. I'm so sick of it. They both had discovered it was sitting in a tree and they both got up on the tree and scared the chipmunk into jumping (apparently chipmunks aren't very smart). When the chipmunk jumped, Cuda was on it. I had a (plastic) cup of water in my hand that I threw at Cuda, hoping to save the chipmunk, but it was too late... She had already shook its neck, which she does the moment she catches anything. I had the chipmunk in my hand, gasping to breathe and I showed it to Cuda and told her "BAD!". I was also yelling "No! Bad!" when she was in pursuit. Nico would be a killer too, but Cuda is faster than him, but that doesn't stop him from trying.

I don't think they'll ever listen to me over their prey drives. I really hate when they kill the cute little animals in my yard... I really enjoy looking out the window and watching them run around. Now I'll see this chipmunk's friend that he used to play with all alone... and well... I'm just really sad. I know the dogs can't help their instincts, but what really makes me angry is that after they kill the chipmunks they don't even want to eat them (in my mind, that would at least be justified).

I know I'm projecting my human emotions on all of this, but I'm sad and angry and I just needed to vent. My dogs are killers

InverseLogic · 06-10-2008, 02:45 PM

It's a somewhat hard thing to deal with. We have rabbits galore out here, and Ringo loves to kill them. It's mostly the baby ones that sneak into our back yard too. If they're unlucky enough to sneak in on the wrong side of the fence, then they'll get ripped to shreds by Ringo. I usually find 1-2 carcasses a month laying around. I've become pretty used to it.

It's a dog's instinct to hunt small animals.

wvasko · 06-10-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandMutts

*sigh*

I've been watching these two cute little chipmunks run around and play in my yard the past few days. When I let the dogs outside, I make them wait as i open the door, walk outside, clap my hands (to scare anything off), then make Cuda 'speak'. Then they're finally allowed into the yard.

Just now was the second time in the last two weeks that i held a dying chipmunk in my hands. I'm so sick of it. They both had discovered it was sitting in a tree and they both got up on the tree and scared the chipmunk into jumping (apparently chipmunks aren't very smart). When the chipmunk jumped, Cuda was on it. I had a (plastic) cup of water in my hand that I threw at Cuda, hoping to save the chipmunk, but it was too late... She had already shook its neck, which she does the moment she catches anything. I had the chipmunk in my hand, gasping to breathe and I showed it to Cuda and told her "BAD!". I was also yelling "No! Bad!" when she was in pursuit. Nico would be a killer too, but Cuda is faster than him, but that doesn't stop him from trying.

I don't think they'll ever listen to me over their prey drives. I really hate when they kill the cute little animals in my yard... I really enjoy looking out the window and watching them run around. Now I'll see this chipmunk's friend that he used to play with all alone... and well... I'm just really sad. I know the dogs can't help their instincts, but what really makes me angry is that after they kill the chipmunks they don't even want to eat them (in my mind, that would at least be justified).

I know I'm projecting my human emotions on all of this, but I'm sad and angry and I just needed to vent. My dogs are killers

Absolutely nothing wrong with your venting. Ask yourself this, can you stop breathing? You have a better chance of that than your dogs have of stopping a natural prey drive. I'm sure some of your anger is directed at yourself, stop it, it's not your fault either.

IslandMutts · 06-10-2008, 03:43 PM

thanks guys... i'm looking out the window now and there are 3 chipmunks running around... so i guess life goes on. i feel a little better.

MegaMuttMom · 06-10-2008, 03:50 PM

Send them to my yard. We are overrun with bunnies and chipmunks and Cherokee chases but he doesn't catch and kill.
They are decimating my garden. They are in unbelievable numbers this year

blackrose · 06-10-2008, 03:51 PM

All of my dogs like to hunt as well. Rose is the main one - she lives to hunt. Mice, moles, voles, birds, baby birds, squirrels, ground hogs, deer, rabbits, racoons, oppossums, feral cats, skunks, anything and everything that hops, crawls, or flies (except birds of prey) she chases and tries to catch.

Blackie will help chase for the heck of it, but he looses interest.

Chloe, bless her heart, loves to chase things, but when she found a baby bird in our yard she stood there and gave it kisses instead of scooping it up and killing it like Rose would have done.

We had a baby robin fall out of its nest into our backyard. It was too young to fly (couldn't even hop yet), but we couldn't reach the nest to put it back. We just confined the dogs to their kennel and didn't let them run loose (lots of walks!). Baby Bird has now matured into a fledgling and has flown the coop.

That was actually the bird that Chloe found. It fell out of the tree right beside her and she jumped back about four feet and just barked at it until I came out and rescued her. The next time she saw it (in our yard - I didn't know it was still there) she just started sniffing and kissing it like she does with my ferrets.

IslandMutts · 06-10-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegaMuttMom

Send them to my yard. We are overrun with bunnies and chipmunks and Cherokee chases but he doesn't catch and kill.
They are decimating my garden. They are in unbelievable numbers this year

I'm sure they'd love that. It seems like there are more and more animals every year, but I think that's because they're being forced out of their natural habitats because of new construction. I swear New Jersey will not be happy until the entire state is covered in asphalt.

I have a garden too and thanks to the dogs, no rabbits or groundhogs come in the yard (but the squirrels - judging from the teeth marks - like to just taste my strawberries, then not eat them

) Last year I watched in horror as Cuda caught and killed a rabbit then Nico stole it from her, chomped it up, and swallowed it whole before I could even get to him.

Rough_Collies2008 · 06-10-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InverseLogic

It's a somewhat hard thing to deal with. We have rabbits galore out here, and Ringo loves to kill them. It's mostly the baby ones that sneak into our back yard too. If they're unlucky enough to sneak in on the wrong side of the fence, then they'll get ripped to shreds by Ringo. I usually find 1-2 carcasses a month laying around. I've become pretty used to it.

It's a dog's instinct to hunt small animals.

Oh yes, the rabbits...same issue here. The dogs chase anything and everything that moves. Rabbits, birds(if a bird lands on the ground, they will run after it, and continue to run even after it takes flight) everything. They have killed rabbits(a year ago, Aspen found some baby rabbits, pulled them from under the hay loft, and I found all the dogs outside chewing on them...I was able to save one rabbit, the rest were gone), and just yesterday...Riley had a bird. I don't know whether it was dead when he found it, or if he was somehow able to kill it, but he was running around the property with it in his mouth.

It is upsetting, but unless I can remove every single rabbit from the area...they can't help but chase them.

InverseLogic · 06-10-2008, 06:04 PM

Ringo will occasionally snag a bird. I've seen him stalk them and pounce before they can fly away.

JDub · 06-10-2008, 06:12 PM

If you cant beat 'em.....

wvasko · 06-10-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandMutts

I'm sure they'd love that. It seems like there are more and more animals every year, but I think that's because they're being forced out of their natural habitats because of new construction. I swear New Jersey will not be happy until the entire state is covered in asphalt.

I have a garden too and thanks to the dogs, no rabbits or groundhogs come in the yard (but the squirrels - judging from the teeth marks - like to just taste my strawberries, then not eat them

) Last year I watched in horror as Cuda caught and killed a rabbit then Nico stole it from her, chomped it up, and swallowed it whole before I could even get to him.

Yes it's getting wierd out there right in the heart of Chicago 3 wks ago they had to shoot a cougar and it seems all over the nightly news you see where they tranquilize a bear out of a tree somewhere every other day. They are being moved out of their natural habitat.

Annamarie · 06-10-2008, 06:55 PM

I can understand why you're upset, poor little critters. The only thing I could suggest it putting bells on their collars to warn other animals, other than that they're pretty much on their own

IslandMutts · 06-10-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDub

If you cant beat 'em.....

oh dear... this made me laugh hard

anyone up for chipmunk kabobs?

DOBERMAN_07 · 06-10-2008, 07:38 PM

How Dare Your Dogs Act Like Dogs And Eat Other Animals!!!

Disgusting!!!

Put Them To Sleep Now Before They Do Something Else That Is Normal For The Species.

gingersmom · 06-10-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvasko

Ask yourself this, can you stop breathing? You have a better chance of that than your dogs have of stopping a natural prey drive.

Well said.

If your dogs hunt but don't eat their prey, it just means that you have kept them well fed.

We used to say about our cat that she would kill things and leave them for us because she was worried that we didn't know how to find proper (raw) food! She never gave up on her hope that her "kittens" (us) would grow up and learn to hunt one day.

trumpetjock · 06-10-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOBERMAN_07

How Dare Your Dogs Act Like Dogs And Eat Other Animals!!!

Disgusting!!!

Put Them To Sleep Now Before They Do Something Else That Is Normal For The Species.

how dare your dogs act like dogs and poop and pee wherever they please!!!

Disgusting!!!

Put them to sleep now before they do something else that is normal for the species.

Dogs have MANY natural urges, drives and instincts that we control, change, shape and outright eradicate. Crapping on our couch and humping your arm are two of them. Another is chasing birds. Believe me, you wouldn't want a dog that did all the things "Normal For The Species" living anywhere near you.

gills · 06-11-2008, 02:27 AM

I'm going to be the lone voice here, then, and say that no way would I tolerate my dog killing other animals. NO WAY. Is it ok for a dog to run around killing livestock? No. And it's not ok for dogs to run around killing wildlife either - heck, they don't know the difference!

My old dog was taught to be supremely gentle with small creatures. My new one has a strong prey drive too, but I find other outlets for that instict. She is being taught to be gentle and WILL be. No ifs, ands or buts. I won't tolerate a dog that kills for entertainment. Then again, I don't tolerate people who do that either

Pai · 06-11-2008, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gills

I'm going to be the lone voice here, then, and say that no way would I tolerate my dog killing other animals. NO WAY. Is it ok for a dog to run around killing livestock? No. And it's not ok for dogs to run around killing wildlife either - heck, they don't know the difference!

My old dog was taught to be supremely gentle with small creatures. My new one has a strong prey drive too, but I find other outlets for that instict. She is being taught to be gentle and WILL be. No ifs, ands or buts. I won't tolerate a dog that kills for entertainment. Then again, I don't tolerate people who do that either

Even a sighthound or terrier who was created with the instinct to chase and kill small fast animals? That seems kind of unrealistic of an expectation for all dogs to conform to. I don't think it's possible for all dogs to be that way.

gills · 06-11-2008, 03:21 AM

Yes, even them. I know it can be a huge effort to re-direct those instincts, but just letting them do it and rationalizing it away is not ok. All dogs are predators. Where to draw the line? Is it ok to let pitties express their urge to kill other dogs? I'm sure there are many breeds that were created for purposes that are obsolete and have instincts that are not acceptable. So I can't accept that pet dogs running around harassing and killing wildlife is an ok thing.

I just want to add this point. There is a large flock of sheep in the park here in the city that roams the meadows every summer keeping the grass down. Recently two pet dogs attacked, badly maimed several of them and killed one.

That was "prey instinct" at work. A dog doesn't know it's ok to kill rabbits, but not ok to kill sheep. It's something to chase, a creature that runs away in fear but just bigger.

poodleholic · 06-11-2008, 03:51 AM

My dogs have a strong prey drive that I've used when training them, and "leave it," stops them in their tracks, or "drop it," if it's in their mouth - except when I'm not there to intervene.

Last week it was a huge 'Possum my male killed. Not a mark on it, but dead. They both go after squirrels, citrus rats, and snakes, the latter two being problematic during hurricane season.

I can understand your feeling sad about the little chimpmunks, but, there's little you can do unless you work with them through training, and be there to intervene.