Got a taste of what pit people have to deal with

[Romy]

and it didn't taste very good.

Strider caught a squirrel today. No biggie. But he did it near the fence while some lady was jogging by. She freaked out and rushed to our door, and was really upset that my dog "murdered!" a squirrel.

For one, it's not like he tortures them, cat style. He brought it to me when I opened the gate, and it didn't even have a mark. Just kinda slobbery.

For two, he's a dog. Dogs eat small furry animals. Doesn't make them vicious maniacs. He's totally safe around kids and our small fuzzies.

Three, it was an eastern grey. They're one of the reasons our little douglas squirrels are struggling so bad.

And lastly, the squirrel KNEW there were two massive wolfhounds in the yard. There's a huge grove of hazelnuts less than a block from here with no dogs. Any squirrel dumb enough to come in our yard anyway and not stay off the ground probably doesn't need to add to the gene pool anyway.

Seriously considering making squirrel stew though. It's super chunky, probably fattened on hazelnuts and english walnut. opcorn:

 

[Assamiea]

And lastly, the squirrel KNEW there were two massive wolfhounds in the yard. There's a huge grove of hazelnuts less than a block from here with no dogs. Any squirrel dumb enough to come in our yard anyway and not stay off the ground probably doesn't need to add to the gene pool anyway.

Sounds like suicide to me, not murder. Clearly your dog was doing this poor animal a favor!

 

[Barbara!]

People are so stupid. A dog killed a prey animal? *gasp* NO!!

 

[skittledoo]

My dogs go nuts over squirrels, especially Joey. Honestly it wouldn't bother me in the least if he caught one and seriously if I could find a place where I'm allowed to I'd seriously consider letting him catch a few rabbits for me (yummm) since Ibizans are used to hunt rabbit anyways. I know a lot of people think "oh the horror" when it comes to their dogs killing small animals... I guess it just doesn't really bother me.

 

[OwnedByBCs]

Riot caught a rabbit a few weeks ago, and I was so impressed. Rabbits are quick little buggers! Anyways she got a raw meal that night and she was so proud. Seriously, they're dogs!! And there are TONS of rabbits around here..

 

[kady05]

I know a lot of people think "oh the horror" when it comes to their dogs killing small animals... I guess it just doesn't really bother me.

Same here, although, a rabbit might be pushing it for me.. they're so cute.

But, Wilson & Sako routinely work together (I try to remind them that they aren't bird dogs.. but they don't listen) to hunt and sometimes kill birds at the park we go to. Watching them jump 6' in the air and catch a pretty is pretty **** impressive!

 

[sparks19]

Oh I hate when te dogs get a bunny (the babies are the only ones they can catch) because the bunnies always scream. It's awful lol

The dogs got a groundhog the other day lol but they don't eat it. Thank goodness brian was home because I wasn't about to go carry the thing out of the yard

 

[skittledoo]

My mother inlaw would probably kiss the ground before me if one of my dogs got the darn ground hog that lives under her front porch. That thing ruins everything in her yard and when she called the county they said it was illegal to kill or relocate it so they wont do anything about it. So basically they told her she has to just deal with it.... I wonder if it's illegal for "oops sorry the dog got it."

 

[sparks19]

They wouldn't even know if she killed it lol not like they have them tagged and are keeping track lol

I had never seen a groudhog in the yard before this one time. But once it was inside the fenceline it didn't stand a chance.

 

[sassafras]

Oh god, not that long ago when we were scootering, a woodchuck broke and ran out across the path RIGHT in front of the dogs. Squash just had to look down to grab it, it might as well have jumped right into his mouth. And of course he killed it. It did disturb me because although it wasn't bloody or graphic it WAS pretty brutal. I've had dogs kill squirrels before but it's always been one quick shake and it's done, but the death shaking with an animal that size just seemed to go on forever. *shudder*

Not that I blame him, it was a woodchuck and he's a dog. And it's not like there aren't enough woodchucks (or squirrels) in the world. But thank god no one else saw it or I'm sure they would have been absolutely horrified. I hid the body afterwards.

 

[monkeys23]

Lily still hasn't gotten over the time she snagged a squirrel (on leash no less lol) at this one park and I wouldn't let her eat it because there were too many people around. Its been several years and she still has to check the ground by that tree every time we go there. Poor dog, lol.

 

[elegy]

But think of the innocent CHILDREN in danger!

I don't think mine have ever gotten a squirrel. Luce has gotten tons of bunnies, though. She eats them. Fine with me-- I don't have to clean up after her that way.

 

[Pops2]

My dogs go nuts over squirrels, especially Joey. Honestly it wouldn't bother me in the least if he caught one and seriously if I could find a place where I'm allowed to I'd seriously consider letting him catch a few rabbits for me (yummm) since Ibizans are used to hunt rabbit anyways. I know a lot of people think "oh the horror" when it comes to their dogs killing small animals... I guess it just doesn't really bother me.

work early successional growth wood lots adjacent to open areas like farm fields or golf courses. keep the beezer on a slip lead (unknotted rope run under the collar w/ one end teid around the wrist & the other end in hand will work). while cricket works the cover, walk along the edge just in the cover. when a bunny breaks cover running for the open let slip. even if joey doesn't make the pick up he may turn it back to a waiting cricket.

 

[Lyzelle]

Zander's caught a few birds. I wish he would catch a bunnie. There's a serious overpopulation on base. There's never been squirrels around for him to catch, though I've seen a few recently.

 

[skittledoo]

work early successional growth wood lots adjacent to open areas like farm fields or golf courses. keep the beezer on a slip lead (unknotted rope run under the collar w/ one end teid around the wrist & the other end in hand will work). while cricket works the cover, walk along the edge just in the cover. when a bunny breaks cover running for the open let slip. even if joey doesn't make the pick up he may turn it back to a waiting cricket.

awesome! Thanks. I'm definitely going to give that a shot. Both of them are serious business when it comes to squirrels and rabbits and I've been dying to hunt some with them.

 

[Beanie]

Oh I hate when te dogs get a bunny (the babies are the only ones they can catch) because the bunnies always scream. It's awful lol

Exactly, ughhhhhh. Payton caught a rabbit two nights ago. Not a little baby but a young one. It screamed. I hate the scream.

I suppose people would find it horrible that the cute "mini Lassies" kill things... Auggie has gotten more animals than I would like to admit and Payton is determined to swallow the squirrel in the nest right above our deck. Hasn't happened yet, but we're not moved out yet either...

 

[Barbara!]

Or when people equate animal aggression to human aggression. Because if it bites a cat or rabbit it MUST be about to rip a persons face in half.

 

[sparks19]

Oh god, not that long ago when we were scootering, a woodchuck broke and ran out across the path RIGHT in front of the dogs. Squash just had to look down to grab it, it might as well have jumped right into his mouth. And of course he killed it. It did disturb me because although it wasn't bloody or graphic it WAS pretty brutal. I've had dogs kill squirrels before but it's always been one quick shake and it's done, but the death shaking with an animal that size just seemed to go on forever. *shudder*

Not that I blame him, it was a woodchuck and he's a dog. And it's not like there aren't enough woodchucks (or squirrels) in the world. But thank god no one else saw it or I'm sure they would have been absolutely horrified. I hid the body afterwards.

This will give Belle some hope.

The rabbit hides out in our garden (which is fenced off with a chicken wire type fencing) and Belle just sits there and stares into the garden. Brian tells her "belle... Give it up. The rabbit isn't going to just commit suicide and jump into your mouth"

LOL maybe it WILL!!!!

 

[Romy]

Lily still hasn't gotten over the time she snagged a squirrel (on leash no less lol) at this one park and I wouldn't let her eat it because there were too many people around. Its been several years and she still has to check the ground by that tree every time we go there. Poor dog, lol.

Aww! Poor Lily, lol. That's a good catch though.

As far as I know, this is the first yard squirrel they've gotten. There's a ton of trees and usually the squirrels run in on the power lines and never touch the ground in the yard. Then again, they might have eaten past ones. Strider was hanging out by the fence with this one, Kaia will just eat stuff. I've found raccoon parts recently while on shovel duty.

Strider's most impressive catch was a swallow. They were strafing the field going after bugs and he started coursing them. He zoned in on one bird and followed it through some sharp bends, caught up, and CRUNCH. Popcorn. I felt bad about that, didn't think he'd actually be able to catch one or I wouldn't have let him chase them.

 

[Renee750il]

Well, then, I hope the woman is a vegan.