[dhonner]

This is the first big, rescue, male GSD that I have ever had (which may or may not have anything to do with what happens in my story...). Our first GSD, Allie was a relatively reserved, calm GSD, at least that is how I remember her. She caught a squirrel once, in the snow and didn't know what to do with it. Looked at it, looked at me and then came in the house. The stunned squirrel ran off.

This afternoon, hoping that Samson could wait until the hockey intermission but couldn't, I let him out. The bugger caught a squirrel. A fight ensued and most of the time, it was Samson shaking the poor animal. There was a time when I think the squirrel bit him in the nose. (There is still a little bleeding but not too much).

After too long, I was able to get him away from the body (he kept barking at it) and my husband took care of poor deceased Mr. Squirrel.

What experiences do any of you have? It was not a pleasant experience, Samson was clearly intending to kill the animal. Anything learned that you would be willing to share?

He is totally UTD with all shots. In fact, when we adopted him, the county couldn't find the actual rabies record, so we had our vet give him a second shot, just to be sure. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[BowWowMeow]

What a big day for handsome Mr. Samson! But pretty traumatic for you, I'm sure. I've had lots of dog with high prey drive but only one hunter/killer. Read on...

If Basu caught something and it cried he would let it go. He hated it when things cried! Chama would get really mad at him for letting it go!

Rafi catches moles all of the time. He just runs off of the trail, stomps on the ground and grabs them when they run. He drops them when I tell him to.

Now Chama is another story altogether...she is a skilled hunter.

1. She caught and killed 2 squirrels in my back yard in Wisconsin. The first dead one I found I explained away by pretending it fell out of a tree and hit its head but I couldn't do that for the second. If I didn't pick them up right away she would bury them under leaves and sticks so they could marinate nicely.

2. She has maimed several bunnies who had the poor judgment to come into our yard.

3. She has grabbed two porcupines.

4. She has taken on countless numbers of muskrats and even got bitten by one on the lip (they are ferocious little things!).

5. She grabbed a groundhog once but I got her to let go of that one.

6. After 13 years I'm sure I've blocked other episodes out of my memory.

 

[SunCzarina]

I had one big male who was a skilled garden snake hunter. Never took a count of his kills, was just very happy the snake wasn't slithering around in my garden anymore!

Morgan caught a squirel once, the summer she turned one. She dropped it when I told her to, which was good. It ran away stunned.

Then when she was 2, she was sprayed in the face by a skunk. They must have to stop to spray becuase she grabbed it and shook it to death. Then she paraded it around for a good 10 minutes. Looking very pleased with herself! 3 dead skunks to her credit.

Cats, she's caught a few but never hurt one that I'm aware of. Why they come in my yard, I dunno...

 

[BowWowMeow]

I forgot to say that Chama has total control around cats and domesticated animals (bunnies, ferrets, guinea pigs). She will not so much as look at an animal if we are in someone's house, even if it is running around on the floor! And she rescued a ferret!

And she once tried to kill someone's plastic bunny lawn ornament...and was very embarrassed when she realized her mistake.

 

[arycrest]

Over the years the Hooligans have specialized in dispatching trespassing chickens, but they have killed furry things too. It's not pleasant, it always makes me sad when it happens, but it happens.

When my sister's neighbor's dog killed a squirrel she called the Health Department to ask about rabies and was told squirrels don't transmit rabies. I honestly don't know if this is true or not.

 

[Guest]

Well dogs are, afterall, predators. It is best that we understand that and accept them for what they are rather than something else. It may seem cruel to human sensibilities, but it is really just nature in action.

To date Odin has killed numerous squirrels, rabbits, woodchucks, birds, and even three coyotes. Other than the coyotes I've never been terribly concerned about any of them beyond the possibility of disease (there's more than rabies to worry about).

Frigga has killed exactly two squirrels since I've had her. Not for lack of trying I assure you!

 

[dhonner]

Thank you all for sharing your stories. Samson was quite pleased and excited, I was less than and DH was just practical. Got the shovel, put the poor little thing out of misery and took care of the remains.

I guess now that I have a better glimpse into his perfect, God-given nature, I should work on the "drop" command.

 

[GSDLVR76]

Shilo has never killed any furry creatures but she has a couple of grouse under her belt!

When we lived in the Netherlands, Skye (my argentino/greyhound) killed numerous fledlings that had the misfortune of landing in our yard.

 

[drkcloud4u]

Well a little over 10 yrs ago our family dog Queenie (Belgian Malinois mix) sought out & killed a skunk.
You'd think the spraying would have made her stop.
She was a fairly aggressive dog though. We got her from the Animal Services pound. She was sweet as can be with us, but other animals & sometimes people she'd attack (although with people she'd nip).
We got her when she was 2 & we tried to socialize her, she was found on the streets, so who knows what she went through. I do know she was terrified of brooms at first.
She also once ripped the siding off of the house with the run line when she saw a cat across the street.
Invisible fencing didn't work for her either--she'd brace her self & then run through it.
When she got in her "senior" years she seemed to relax more, no more attacks.
But I love/loved Queenie.

 

[onyx'girl]

I just saw Samson's pic in the April contest, he has been working hard to eradicate the squirrel population!

 

[Liesje]

Dee Dee can I borrow him for a few days? I have some relentless pests in my yard! Two weeks ago I was sending Kenya out to flush out some annoying ducks. I also have her chase rabbits since they poop all over and Coke likes to snack on it.

 

[dhonner]

oh Lies, I would GLADLY loan him to you ... but I do have to warn you, it was a little "messy" - thank GOD Paul was home...

A lesson learned today. I needed an adult beverage to take off the edge. Next time, which I am certain there will be, will be less traumatic. Thanks again.

 

[Timber1]

Good for Samson. It is difficult to explain why, but your dog did what nature intended.

My dog, Timber, chases them all the time, but has never caught one; like the pictures someone posted.

 

[doggiedad]

was your dog ok after the porcupine incident? i hear when they shoot those quills it can be rough getting them out.

 

[sleachy]

My first GSD used to chase, kill, and eat critters all the time. I think rabbits were her favorite. She would snatch birds right out of the air. The only thing that she never brought down was a deer....and that wasn't from lack of trying!

I know someone who had a GSD with a taste for cats. Another friend of mine has a GSD who catches fish and eats them...eels too!

My current GSD doesn't go so far as to kill the creatures she catches. She has a squirrel (I think she caught that one by complete surprise), a possum, and a goose under her belt and there isn't a sheep alive who can outrun her! She has also come nose to nose with bears on 2 different occasions...had a tussle with the second one too! It was pitch black so I am not sure exactly how much contact was made but the autumn leaves from the ground sure were flying!

 

[Bluecatdemoness]

I say good for Samson too. Kisses hasn't caught anything yet, though that isn't for lack of trying.

 

[StGeorgeK9]

The squirrels used to tease my Heidi. One would run down a tree on one side of the yard and chitter, she would chase and it would run up the tree and his cousin would run down another tree on the other side of the yard and chitter........well they kept this up for weeks until Heidi got quicker, she could cover the back yard in two strides and have a squirrel picked off the tree before they know it's coming....I used to have a little squirrel grave yard in my back yard. One shake and they were gone......I figured the squirrels started it, she finished it.

 

[BellatheDog]

Bella took down a rabbit last year. The rabbit almost made it but leggy Bella was just too fast. It was sad but the rabbit didn't suffer. I had to remind myself that she has a high prey drive and these type of things will happen.

Earlier this week she ran a cat up a tree. Later that evening after her potty break I notice that her nose was scratched. I think that kitty came back and took some revenge.