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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

He has tasted blood.... Help :(

146 replies

WhyHavePets · 28/10/2010 20:37

Ok, this is very identifiable so I have namechanged, if any of you recognise me please don't out me. Bella, yes it is me.

My wonderful, bonkers, over-active dog was staying at a friends house today whilst I work, this happens quite regularly (well, it did), she is very experienced with dogs. They also have guinea-pigs....can you guess what comes next? I can't even bring myself to write it Sad

Obviously I feel terrible. Friend is being fabulous, sad and upset but also realistic and reasonable. Sorry doesn't cover it, there is nothing I can say to make this ok.

The question I am hoping you can help with though is about my dog, he has always had a very high prey drive. He loves to chase small dogs, cats or anything else that moves, never aggressive but definitly focused...as he has now moved on from chasing and into catching do I assume that he will catch anything - including small dogs? Is my only option now to keep him on a lead or muzzled? Is this a behaviour that a behaviourist can help with or is it just too instinctive?

He is in no way aggressive and is simply hunting, I have no concerns about his character....just his ability to control himself around small fluffies. Oh, and to add to my concern we have a cat.

I would be grateful for any suggestions (ideally sensible ones, he is not going to eat my children and I am not going to have him PTS or rehomed - just to get that bit out of the way!)

OP posts:
withorwithoutyou · 28/10/2010 22:59

It's ok whyhavepets.

I felt all Hmm and arsey when my dog bit another family dog and tried to excuse it away yadda yadda yadda, so I know how you feel.

But really, you know deep down that you can't take any risks around other people's pets any more, or children. Don't you?

CalamityKate · 28/10/2010 22:59

I highly doubt that ANYONE with half a brain would leave a newborn baby with ANY dog unsupervised.

The fact that this dog has killed a Guinea Pig does not mean it is any more likely to attack a baby.

AnyFuleKno · 28/10/2010 22:59

Reason I'm asking about the breed is that if this dog is a terrier (and therefore an instinctual ratter) then I don't think the fact that it's gone for a guinea pig is necessarily cause for concern in itself for his interactions with humans. However I have seen larger terriers attack smaller dogs with the neck bite and shake method that they use on rats and therefore I would be a bit worried about that, particularly if he's excitable around other dogs and not calm/in control.

DooinMeCleanin · 28/10/2010 23:00

There should be a hidden topic for dogs, which you have to pass a test on to get into.

Now onto the more serious matters. Do you think it is okay to leave my pet Lion sleeping my babies cot? He has just been fed.

Original poster
WhyHavePets · 28/10/2010 23:01

LMAO, so you are on at me but you tried to excuse your own dog biting another dog...you do realise that I am here asking for help to make damn sure my dog never bites another dog don't you?? I,E, there is not way I want to allow that to happen - and am taking advise on how to make sure of that... perhaps you shouldn't project?

OP posts:
EvilAllenPoe · 28/10/2010 23:02

no. my dog will happily kill rabbits, and would definitely kill and eat a guinea with immense relish given the opportunity.

but is wonderful with kiddies. And still not left with them!

she is nasty to other dogs, but i think that's a very different thing - even dogs that are great with other dogs will kill prey - it's one of the many things dogs were bred to do!

ZOMBIEEEESywriter · 28/10/2010 23:03

Doh!

withorwithoutyou · 28/10/2010 23:04

No. I am not trying to excuse my dog biting another dog, at all.

My dog bit another dog and, at the time I did the whole rigmarole with behaviourists and reassurance from them, and people from dog forums.

And tried to reassure myself she'd be ok with children (I had no children at this point, btw)

But ultimately I knew deep down that I couldn't trust my dog.

You sound like you don't trust yours either.

Bellaween · 28/10/2010 23:04

pmsl DMC [hgrin]

You're very naughty, you know [hwink]

It's okay folks, The OP had had a nasty shock but has received sound advice on here from a qualified behaviourist and several knowledgeable dog owners. So we can all put it to bed or we can sit up and flame her all night.

Personally, I'm off to bed. Hope you're okay, OP.

Night all [hsmile]

bluecardi · 28/10/2010 23:05

It's just normal for some dog breeds to go for small creatures. Our terrier will always run after rabbits, birds, squirrels, mice etc He doesn't go after bigger animals - he sits far away from cows & geese.

Bellaween · 28/10/2010 23:05

Oooh - x posts. Projection. This is getting good!!!! LMAO too [hwink]

CalamityKate · 28/10/2010 23:06

WOWY, what made you think that you knew better than behaviourists?

Dog aggressive dogs really AREN'T necessarily a danger to people at all, you know.

withorwithoutyou · 28/10/2010 23:06

Why have two people mentioned dog an unsupervised newborn by the way? Do you think I'm fucking mental?

"I know, I'll leave the dog with a history of chasing small, squealing mammals in a room with a newborn baby"

Give me strength.

DooinMeCleanin · 28/10/2010 23:07

Dogs generally don't view babies as prey. I think this might have something to do with the fact that most babies aren't furry and don't scamper quickly into the woods when they spot your dog. My sympathies if you happen to have a furry, scampering baby.

withorwithoutyou · 28/10/2010 23:08

"what made you think that you knew better than behaviourists?"

Well they all said: "you need to lead and muzzle that dog and keep it away from situations where it can harm other animmals or people"

So I think we agreed on that.

Bellaween · 28/10/2010 23:08

DMC - I was going to make that very point but feared sumebody would pop up with a furry baby....that can crawl at 20mph!!!!

Bellaween · 28/10/2010 23:09

Er....no they didn't WOWY.

I think you need to read the thread again.

CalamityKate · 28/10/2010 23:10

Oh right. When you spoke of reassurance from behaviourists, I assumed you meant they'd reassured you that a dog-aggressive dog isn't necessarily human aggressive.

withorwithoutyou · 28/10/2010 23:13

That dog wasn't human aggressive - she just didn't recognise a human newborn baby, cradled in arms, making that newborn cry that newborn babies make that is similar to a cats mewling as belonging to a human. So she wanted to eat the baby.

The dog aggression was a much earlier phase which she wasn't rehomed under.

Bellaween I don't know wtf you're talking about so can't respond to you telling me to read the thread again.

Original poster
WhyHavePets · 28/10/2010 23:13

My posts keep getting lost!!!

Mine was very funny but I am not going to bother retyping as you have all said the same thing about furry babies!

It also said "Dooin, send your lion round here, it can keep my man eater amused Wink" and "night Bella, thank you, I have given myself a good dose of perspective Smile"!

OP posts:
AnyFuleKno · 28/10/2010 23:14

scuttle, I did misread and I'm sorry for that..but BOTH of your greyhounds have killed cats in the past?

Bellaween · 28/10/2010 23:17

It was this post of yours I was referring to WOWY.

"what made you think that you knew better than behaviourists?"

Well they all said: "you need to lead and muzzle that dog and keep it away from situations where it can harm other animmals or people"

So I think we agreed on that.

That's what I was referring to, WOWY. They did not all recommend what you said they did.

How did you know your dog wanted to eat the baby? Out of interest.

withorwithoutyou · 28/10/2010 23:17

Well I'm glad you can see the funny side of your dog anihilating somebody else's pet WhyHavePets.

withorwithoutyou · 28/10/2010 23:19

"They did not all recommend what you said they did."

What????

The behaviourists which I spoke to at length, met my dog etc etc did not say that, because some stranger on the internet knows different?

I repeat - what are you on about?

Bellaween · 28/10/2010 23:21

Oh - were you talking about your dog? I thought you were talking about the OP's advice from behaviourists?