Dog Attacking Other Animals

[Guest Tess32]

If the dog was killing cats, or other dogs, would your friend take it more seriously?

Willow i have taken my friend seriously hence the post, trying to get some advice for him. So i dont understand what your snide little remark is about?

Time to hope of the high horse mate. I was asking others for advice so i dont see how that is not taking the matter serious.

He does feel bad about the situation hence he was talking about it and asking my advice, i had none besides getting padlocks and not replacing the animals. I dont understand completely why the animls have been replaced, if it was me then i would not be replacing them, i have given up on trees myself, but i would assume it would in attempt to cheer the kids back up - yes i know very negative cycle.

Your friend needs to stop buying small animals as he obviously doesn't care enough about their welfare to ensure they are not tormented and then killed by his own dog.

It's really not THAT hard to keep a dog seperate from a rabbit when you really want to. If it continues, your friend deserves a visit from the RSPCA. The small animals aren't just toys he can go out and buy another from a pet shop at whim.

[Aidan]

Thanks for the feedback, i was thinking that was more so the case some dogs just dont get along with other pets. Wasnt sure if there was any desensitising (cannt spell) training he could suggest and hopefully he try.

Yes, but it is not something a pet owner undertakes on their own nor does the science lend it much credibility for the long-term. Solid cages, padlocks, and some fun activities to make use of those drives are a much more reliable solution.

[italmum]

Look i think everyone pretty much agrees with keeping the dog away from the other animals...I have had someone in my family experience something similar..the moved the small animals to the front yard, and the dog stayed out the back, dogs are also territorial and she is proberly not taking kindly to other animals being in her space.

I hope your friend works something out.

[Greytmate]

I hope your friend does something.

Because now that he knows that his dog will kill the other small animals, it is bordering on illegal for him to keep the dog in the area where it can continue to catch or kill them.

Keep this in mind should your friend not take the matter seriously.

Dogs can be trained out of this. However it is highly specialised (and expensive) training, that if done incorrectly will make the problem worse.

The only satisfactory (not cruel) solution for now is to keep the dog and the small animals where they cannot see hear or smell each other at all.

[corvus]

plus it upsets the kids when they get told there other pets are gone.

No kidding. I would never forgive myself if one of my dogs got to my pet rabbits and killed them. Their lives are my responsibility every bit as much as the lives of my dogs are.

My rabbits have lived with a very prey driven dog successfully. The key is to account for human error. Two degrees of separation at all times. A cage and a closed door. If the rabbits are out of their cages, two closed doors. It saved my rabbits a few times when someone accidentally left a door open.

I think that you can train it out of some dogs but it's hard work and realistically it ain't gonna happen in this home. And some dogs are REALLY prey driven. They just get so excited that it can be a real struggle no matter what method you use. Whatever method you would use it takes particularly good timing and body language awareness. I don't think it's fair on the bunnies and piggies to put their lives on the line. Separation is about a ten times easier and more reliable.

Edited March 29, 2010 by corvus

[Guest Willow]

If the dog was killing cats, or other dogs, would your friend take it more seriously?

Willow i have taken my friend seriously hence the post, trying to get some advice for him. So i dont understand what your snide little remark is about?

Time to hope of the high horse mate. I was asking others for advice so i dont see how that is not taking the matter serious.

He does feel bad about the situation hence he was talking about it and asking my advice, i had none besides getting padlocks and not replacing the animals. I dont understand completely why the animls have been replaced, if it was me then i would not be replacing them, i have given up on trees myself, but i would assume it would in attempt to cheer the kids back up - yes i know very negative cycle.

Read it again please...the post said would YOUR FRIEND take this more seriously....nothing was said about you. Clearly you HAVE taken it seriously because you posted on here. From what you have written is would seem your frinds is not taking this as seriously as he needs to.

Edited March 29, 2010 by Willow

[huski]

I don't know that prey drive can ever be totally trained out of a dog, but I do think with the right training it can be harnessed and controlled - but like others have said this can be expensive and time consuming.

I agree with others that the best solution is to keep them separated at all times although I would personally choose either the small animals or the dog especially as he's killed a few now.

[auir]

If the dog was killing cats, or other dogs, would your friend take it more seriously?

Willow i have taken my friend seriously hence the post, trying to get some advice for him. So i dont understand what your snide little remark is about?

Time to hope of the high horse mate. I was asking others for advice so i dont see how that is not taking the matter serious.

He does feel bad about the situation hence he was talking about it and asking my advice, i had none besides getting padlocks and not replacing the animals. I dont understand completely why the animls have been replaced, if it was me then i would not be replacing them, i have given up on trees myself, but i would assume it would in attempt to cheer the kids back up - yes i know very negative cycle.

Read it again please...the post said would YOUR FRIEND take this more seriously....nothing was said about you. Clearly you HAVE taken it seriously because you posted on here. From what you have written is would seem your frinds is not taking this as seriously as he needs to.

sorry my bad, in a crappy mood today and saw your post after a crap meeting sorry once again

[Guest Willow]

If the dog was killing cats, or other dogs, would your friend take it more seriously?

Willow i have taken my friend seriously hence the post, trying to get some advice for him. So i dont understand what your snide little remark is about?

Time to hope of the high horse mate. I was asking others for advice so i dont see how that is not taking the matter serious.

He does feel bad about the situation hence he was talking about it and asking my advice, i had none besides getting padlocks and not replacing the animals. I dont understand completely why the animls have been replaced, if it was me then i would not be replacing them, i have given up on trees myself, but i would assume it would in attempt to cheer the kids back up - yes i know very negative cycle.

Read it again please...the post said would YOUR FRIEND take this more seriously....nothing was said about you. Clearly you HAVE taken it seriously because you posted on here. From what you have written is would seem your frinds is not taking this as seriously as he needs to.

sorry my bad, in a crappy mood today and saw your post after a crap meeting sorry once again

No dramas....it never happened

[sandgrubber]

Desensitising is possible. It's called 'crittering' and is sometimes done using an electronic collar for dogs with a bad history . . . or for dogs that show an inclination . .. of stock attacks. I agree with others, for rodents, it's more sensible to keep the little guy in a secure pen, well away from the dog.

for more information, try google with 'crittering' and 'e-collar' as keywords.

Hi All

Thanks for the feedback, i was thinking that was more so the case some dogs just dont get along with other pets. Wasnt sure if there was any desensitising (cannt spell) training he could suggest and hopefully he try. And thank you for answering the question, i was worried that i would get attitude since other animals had been killed and some would take that negatively.

dyzney - yup that was my advice so far, not replace the rabbits or guinea pigs, he had been getting new rabbits and guinea pigs after each incident hoping things would get better. In regards to listening? hmm doubt it, been asking for a while how did the pup go with vaccinations, registration, training but nothing happens. But i guess that comes down to we all keep our pets differently.

darlingdog - similar suggestion so far, i said maybe get some weather proof padlocks for the hutches that way no one can one the door accidently and let them out without you being around (ie incase the kids want to play with the rabbit or guinea pigs) plus the dog wouldnt be able to get through the opening

Thanks to all that replied

[OSoSwift]

The other problem is every time the dog succeeds in catching and killing a small pet they are rewarded highly for their efforts, not to mention the rewarding that happens from the endorphin release in the brain. Also every time the dog kills something it gets better at it.

I would, as others have suggested, get no more small animals or devise a way of keeping them very seperate.

I have Whippets, I expect that they will kill and chase small furries. I do have Guinea Pigs and they do not harrass them, but they are only near them when I am outside and any interest in the Piggies or the house they get growled at. I would not feel comfortable leaving them all together in a back yard while I was at work all day or similar.

The only once a house blew over and piggies were running everywhere I did actually manage to call them off, but I teach a "leave it" command from day dot and highly re-inforce it.

[Lady Flying Furball]

I would not see this a a problem with the PUP - she is a teenager, bored witless, and all those furry squeaky things excite her no end!!She is being a dog .

The owner needs to decide if he wants furry squeaky things , or a pup who needs training and entertainment which doesn't involve small animals .

if he wants both- then the hutches will need to be fenced off, or made out of dog proof materials.

Agree with this and other similar posts.

Get the guinea pigs and rabbits OUT OF SIGHT. If it is a big yard then an area can be made for them where not only is it secure but they are out of sight of the pup...for both animals' sakes. Or up the side of the house.

[Dame Aussie]

I reckon both my dogs would eat a rabbit if it came into our yard, not exactly surprising behaviour?

I agree, fence off the furries from the dog.