My dog dug up a baby bunny... ugh!
- Thread starter delfin
- Start date
andtckrtoo
Cathlete
Crittering! One of the toughest behaviors to modify in a dog, unfortunately. You'll have to watch her closely. If you see her "get scent" (nose to the ground - or some dogs lift their heads as scent drifts up - very excited motions, obviously looking for something), tell her "NO" in a firm voice, and when she stops and looks at you, reward her with a favorite game or treat. (My dog loves tug of war, so I save for when he does something really good).
Another option if you can stand it, is for at least during baby bunny season, go to a hunting store and get rabbit scent (used for training hunting dogs). You can probably order it on line. Soak a piece of cloth with it, then rubber band/tie it to her collar. Theoretically she should be so overwhelmed by smelling rabbits all the time that she is desentized to rabbits. The problem is that you'll smell rabbits every time you're around her.
There are other ways of training a dog not to critter, but those are the humane ways.
Another option if you can stand it, is for at least during baby bunny season, go to a hunting store and get rabbit scent (used for training hunting dogs). You can probably order it on line. Soak a piece of cloth with it, then rubber band/tie it to her collar. Theoretically she should be so overwhelmed by smelling rabbits all the time that she is desentized to rabbits. The problem is that you'll smell rabbits every time you're around her.
There are other ways of training a dog not to critter, but those are the humane ways.
Miss Lee
Cathlete
I had 2 dachshunds and digging up burrowing critters come naturally to them. It's horrifying, I know, but there was no way I could prevent that behaviour in my dogs. They also dug up moles, voles, and shrews which I didn't mind because those critters really tore up our yard and landscape beds. What can I say... mother nature is brutal!
Michele
Michele
delfin
Cathlete
Thanks for the advice. I should have known something was up. She had her nose to the ground, very excited, following a trail that was invisible to me! It's called crittering, huh? My old bulldog didn't even realize there were guinea pigs in the house. With this little lady, I've had to put them in another room. I'll try the reward approach... I don't think we have any hunting store around here (I live in NYC suburbs!).
acatalina
Cathlete
Is it a jack russel????
My sisters terrier kills squirels, racoons, chipmunks , rabbits.
Let it in her yard and it is gone.
They are bred hunters..
She has an invisible fence. If it is in the perimiter kiss it goodbye.
My BILaw had to shoot a coon that was sugffering that shiner got by the throat.
Maybe she was having PMS.
If it is a dog that was bred for this you may not have much luck without a trainer..
Anne
http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina
My sisters terrier kills squirels, racoons, chipmunks , rabbits.
Let it in her yard and it is gone.
They are bred hunters..
She has an invisible fence. If it is in the perimiter kiss it goodbye.
My BILaw had to shoot a coon that was sugffering that shiner got by the throat.
Maybe she was having PMS.
If it is a dog that was bred for this you may not have much luck without a trainer..
Anne
http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina