my dog maims a squirrel

[famofsix]

Okay I let my dog out in the snow and she ran and chased a squirrel. I did not think she would catch it and then she was trying to kill it. I screamed at her to leave it but I was afraid to go out there since I don't want a squirrel to bite me. I threw something at the dog and she dropped the squirrel. I grabbed her and brought her inside and put her in her crate. BUT the poor squirrel was out there in the snow half dead. It finally recovered and moved under a bush but the eyes were all swollen and awful looking.

My dog is UTD on her shots but I am worried about this aggressive behavior. She is a rescue and is a lab mix (in my siggie)

Should I be worried or is this normal? I don't think the squirrel bled at all.

 

[kdibattista]

That's what dogs do... I know it's sad but it's nature. I would not be concerned about aggressive behavior unless she is exhibiting it towards people.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It is a DOG....dogs kill little furry creatures.
This is not aggression, it is normal.

However worrying about rabies is certainly a priority.

 

[famofsix]

Thank you. It was pretty unnerving to watch. She is good around people and loving.
She is up to date on shots so I should be alright with rabies I think. This is new to me (dog ownership)

my daughter is worried about the squirell

 

[daisax]

The squirrel may just have been in shock and will recover. Or, sadly, not.

Totally normal dog behavior, and not in the least a reflection on how she might behave with people.

She was probably as shocked as you were that she caught it!

Go over her to make sure she didn't get bitten, and watch closely for a few days in case she has a small cut/bite that gets infected. But I wouldn't stress over it.

 

[janey99]

As distressing as this is to see, I wouldn't worry about it - as others have said, this is what dogs do if they get the chance.

One of our dogs caught a squirrel a couple of years ago - it zigged when it should have zagged, and that was that. He shook it once and must have broken its neck/back.

DS9 still thinks the squirrel just got "knocked out" and recovered later after daddy put it in the woods to rest!

Jane

 

[Beth76]

Aside from the "yuck" and rabies factor, it's no big deal. My cat caught several mice in our basement. That's what cats do.

 

[tuckerkeys]

my 2 goldens chase them on a daily basis. never actually been fast enough to get one though....1 did get a mourning dove once, she had it in her mouth clamped down but not tight, the retriever instinct kicked in and she did not bite down on it , just kinda held it in her mouth.....and trying to get it out of her death vice grip hold was not easy......they chase the animals in their teritory, totally normal.....

 

[famofsix]

I feel a lot better thanks friends

 

[Breezie]

I agree with everyone else. I don't believe you have anything to worry about.

My sheltie was the sweetest little boy, but he had an affinity for chipmunks.

One week I think he killed two. He also liked to bring them in the house. But that is a whole nother story.

My golden retriever also has a thing for birds. I'll never know how she catches them. But she does. She is a good girl though.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Your dog is perfectly normal. My dog is a hunter and has caught a few squirrels and one rabbit. But she is not in the least bit aggressive with people. We also have 3 cats and she doesn't even bother them. Heck my oldest cat scratches the dogs nose and all my dog does is bark at her and walk away.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My golden retriever also has a thing for birds. I'll never know how she catches them. But she does. She is a good girl though.

My lab mix goes coo-coo for birds. He got one once. He is just to darn slow.

We watch "nature" so we would whisper & bird watch.
So now the dogs think everytime we whisper it means birds are outside. They go nuts.

 

[Piecey]

Even my teensy Shih-Tzu loves to chase stuff and go crazy... crazy dogs, it's like a switch gets flipped and then poof! they're hunters.

 

[Imzadi]

As others have said, it's normal behavior for the dog to chase squirrels. The fact that she dropped it when you threw something at her, and she didn't become aggressive toward you shows that she thinks you are still an Alpha dog with her - which is more important.

 

[Hercules10]

My lab/shepherd mix caught and killed more squirrels and bunnies then I can count. It's in the hunting blood of the labrador.

To be honest I'm suprised yours let it live. Usually it's one quick bone crushing bite and it's lights out for the rodent. You might consider putting the squirrel out of it's misery now.

 

[famofsix]

Herc~I did consider putting the squirrel out of its misery but I don't own a shot gun and I couldn't bring myself to whack it with a shovel.
I think it was mostly head trama and it did slink away to a bush after lying flat on its back. I know what bush to look in when the snow melts.

Imzadi~thanks for the Alpha dog reminder~ I didn't even think of that.

You guys made me feel better reminding me she is a dog afterall and she is not frothing at the mouth so that's a good sign.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Just to make you feel better...

our girl caught two baby bunnies!!!!

And seconds after I noticed, there was nothing to dispose of...


Mikeeee

 

[MM27]

Mine not only catches things, but she also trots them up to the back step and drops them there so that we can see what she has caught. She is so proud of herself. So far she has caught a couple of birds and numerous opossum Never a squirrel, but boy does she try. We've had a couple of close calls though.

 

[mrsstats]

I know how you feel. I never had a dog that killed anything till I got Petey. He got a baby rabbit and I was so upset. I came on posted here and got the same answers. Normal thing for animals to do. My Petey is the sweetest, most lovable dog except for squirels and rabbits in his yard. Thankfully, he has not caught another one