She just killed a baby starling

There was a baby starling in my garden being fed by it's mother on the ground

Gabbi was wondering around as she does, but as soon as she spotted the baby she chased it, grabbed it in her mouth and wouldn't drop it

Now the baby's dead, probably either through shock, suffocation, or both

I'm VERY angry with her for the first time ever

No point being angry. She's just following her instincts. All you can do is work on her "leave" command & hope she listens next time.

Dempsey has so far killed a squirrel & several rats, plus he grabbed a cat by the scruff & shook it violently before I could get him to leave it - luckily the cat wasn't hurt, just a bit embarrassed!

Any advice on the drop command, she just doesn't seem to get it?!

She does sit-wait-lie-roll but refuses to drop

just be firm and dont approach when saying drop it as they see it as a game and will just run off and you will make no headway

Usually you have to offer somethign better. Get some treats and give her the ball or whatever she holds and have her sit and give her the treat and as soon as she drops the object to take the treat say DROP then repeat until you are saying drop first.

It's a gradual thing, I'm afraid.

I tend to work on "leave" for everything - ie leave something alone, drop something etc. I start with saying "leave" quite firmly, but quietly & just gently move the dog's head away from what I want it to leave. Then treat/fuss. If you do that several times a day she'll soon learn to not touch something when you say it. Then, when she has got that, and she has a toy in her mouth, tell her "leave" and gently take the toy away. As soon as she lets go give her praise. Then give her another toy in return - preferably one that she likes even more than the first one!

Always give calm, quiet praise so that the dog doesn't get over excited & ruin things by being hyper!

Thanks guys

My two have had a squirrel and a couple of rabbits up to now, normally when they disappear in the bushes in the woods on our walks

Oh good, at least she's not turned into a violent animal killer... just a normal staffy!

We've made up now anyway

Right, time to crack on with this "drop" command...

Caryll wrote:Dempsey has so far killed a squirrel & several rats, plus he grabbed a cat by the scruff & shook it violently before I could get him to leave it - luckily the cat wasn't hurt, just a bit embarrassed!

He also rolled in a dead rat this morning..........

Oh dear, I squirm at having to get rid of a dead bird never mind anything else!

She's a terrier. You can't be mad at her for killing a small animal. It's very sad, but it happens.

I realise I was wrong to get mad, it was a shock that's all especially when it was squarking in her mouth to be released...! I'm now prepared for worse to come

ella wrote:My two have had a squirrel and a couple of rabbits up to now, normally when they disappear in the bushes in the woods on our walks

But to your 2 thats just like me going into the Bakers and asking for my pasty to be warmed up

My old boy killed a few magpies in his day but like said above its instinct cant be angry with em for following it .. My old boy knew the drop and leave command but once he was ficsated on one thing and them ears went back there was no stopping him.
Once it took me 45mins to get a headgehog out his mouth!! lol .. luckily the headgehog lived!

Gabbiadini wrote:I realise I was wrong to get mad, it was a shock that's all especially when it was squarking in her mouth to be released...! I'm now prepared for worse to come

Janey's Moo has had several squirrels. It's in the nature of a terrier!

davemck3834 wrote:

ella wrote:My two have had a squirrel and a couple of rabbits up to now, normally when they disappear in the bushes in the woods on our walks

But to your 2 thats just like me going into the Bakers and asking for my pasty to be warmed up

Caryll wrote:

Gabbiadini wrote:I realise I was wrong to get mad, it was a shock that's all especially when it was squarking in her mouth to be released...! I'm now prepared for worse to come

Janey's Moo has had several squirrels. It's in the nature of a terrier!

I was staying out of this one!! 7 I think................

@Dave

Sorry, Janey!

Mine all have prey drive. Natural to them... Cat... Didn't make it back over he fence. Poor thing, but it was quick. He worst was telling my neighbor.

Saxon hasn't killed anything yet, but it may just be because he is almost always on leash and when he's off leash it's in areas where there aren't many critters (the dog park, etc.). He pulled to try and chase pigeons a couple of times, but doesn't show much interest in squirrels or outside cats.

My mom's old Lab used to kill squirrels and chipmunks all the time. She even caught and killed a chipmunk after she went blind once!

don't ask your terrier not to be a terrier. expect it and avoid it if you want to but never get mad at the dog for doing what's natural to her.

Awww! Well, nature's cruel sometimes. Skye's not had anything as yet and she plays with cats, well tries. They tend not to like it lol

Troy likes to chase but I'm not sure he would harm the animal of he caught it? He got close to a crow with a broken wing on a field and just sniffed it.

Marley has no noticeable prey drive.
Gets within feet of dozens of rabbits up the fields at night - no reaction.
Just ambles along with his year-old stick in his mouth.

davemck3834 wrote:

ella wrote:My two have had a squirrel and a couple of rabbits up to now, normally when they disappear in the bushes in the woods on our walks

But to your 2 thats just like me going into the Bakers and asking for my pasty to be warmed up

As I do feed the squirrels in our garden, Pixee has yet to catch one, they too quick for her so far. She does chase after rabbits in the woods, but has not killed anything yet.