Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It's no different than getting hit by a car, which would be another way that kitten could have died. Any number of aniumals could have gotten it too. They are not pets, and they live a frightening existence. It was a mercy, in my opinion.
The more I think about it, the less I like the idea of training her not to chase. I live in the city, not out on a farm. My dog is leashed when we are in public and this kitten incident was a fluke and unlikely to happen again. My previous dog, an 11 y.o. shepherd mix never got a hold of any wild animal.
I don't want to un-canine my dog (just like I would never declaw a cat). Right now, she's barking at squirrels running along the top of a block wall. If I was to train that out of her, what is she to do during her occasional stints outside?
I understand why such training might be necessary for some dogs in some environments but for my normally docile dog, her prey drive gives her an adrenalin rush. Who am I to squash that?
My old dog had killed a few squirrels and a possum and the racoons he fought likely died not soon after. He wasn't a cat killer; he loved cats dearly. He was as canine as they came. teaching dogs social structure does not un-canine them. Social structure is what makes them pets.
The cat incident will happen again and it is quite clear you have already recovered from the tragedy. Tell your son the truth, so it will be easier for him next time, too.
Teach your dog how to cope with 'high drive' situations before it gets run over by a car or put to sleep by the Animal Control for biting someone.
It's no different than getting hit by a car, which would be another way that kitten could have died. Any number of aniumals could have gotten it too. They are not pets, and they live a frightening existence. It was a mercy, in my opinion.
I've seen cats get run over before and have a hard time believing what you say. Kitten could have been run over by a lawn mower too. Not a pretty image, is it?
We have feral cats where I work. They eat pigeons.
My dogs killed a cat once, we were walking through the cornfield and my dogs saw the cat before I did. I wasn't happy, but it just happened too fast. There was no time to call them off.
atina33, I'm glad you don't hold it against your dog, I've been on forums where people have gotten rid of a dog for killing rabbits.
My old dog had killed a few squirrels and a possum and the racoons he fought likely died not soon after. He wasn't a cat killer; he loved cats dearly. He was as canine as they came. teaching dogs social structure does not un-canine them. Social structure is what makes them pets.
The cat incident will happen again and it is quite clear you have already recovered from the tragedy. Tell your son the truth, so it will be easier for him next time, too.
Teach your dog how to cope with 'high drive' situations before it gets run over by a car or put to sleep by the Animal Control for biting someone.
How the heck does high prey drive= aggressive towards humans?
Why are you assuming that the OP is letting their dog run round without a leash where there's traffic?
And up is up with the eye rolling? The OP didn't seem particularly giddy about this event.
The more I think about it, the less I like the idea of training her not to chase. I live in the city, not out on a farm. My dog is leashed when we are in public and this kitten incident was a fluke and unlikely to happen again. My previous dog, an 11 y.o. shepherd mix never got a hold of any wild animal.
I don't want to un-canine my dog (just like I would never declaw a cat). Right now, she's barking at squirrels running along the top of a block wall. If I was to train that out of her, what is she to do during her occasional stints outside?
I understand why such training might be necessary for some dogs in some environments but for my normally docile dog, her prey drive gives her an adrenalin rush. Who am I to squash that?
Squirrels are my dogs favorite things. We have a few places in our woods where the pine squirrels live, I know they cant catch them, but they sure have fun trying!
I actually use this (lets go find squirrels) as a reward for things, including not chasing animals that I don't want them to.
My Basset swallowed one of my parakeets. He didn't mean it. He overturned the cage and caught one. He was carrying it around gently in his mouth when my husband got home. But my husband's overexcitement rushing towards him to take it away caused my Basset to swallow the parakeet whole like he would if you were trying to take a chicken thigh away from him.
I couldn't look at my Basset the same for a while. Eventually I started to adore and love him again. They are dogs. This is what they do when they have the opportunity. It's hard for us to accept when they do something like this, but it's really up to us to limit their opportunities.
RIP parakeet but this made me LOL!
Sorry about your dog. No one even asked what kind of dog you have. That does factor in. Dogs will be dogs. Glad you forgave him.
I hate the kitten got killed.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
