persephone

:) I have owned a mini foxie , and a minfoxie X dachsie , both died at around 16 .. both were terrific hunters/watchdogs ,tough as nails- and one would also work sheep in the yards and on trucks . I love terriers ! We have been brought up that our dogs are confined/restrained at night , that's all ... as dogs are not equipped with the senses of cats , injury from an animal or something concerns me. Our Koolies are the hunters now :) I only have to whisper "mouse" ..and there is a rush ! Agree!! :) if a dog is socialised correctly .. it should only target that which it is meant to . Like your Gundog :D Our dogs kill feral cats ..and share beds with ours. It's not difficult ... as for snakes ... they climb, and compress their ribcages so they can fit thru very small spaces . They love sheds full of hay & rodents ..and where there are water sources .

I think though, that terriers would be much less inclined to kill the family chooks if they were on acreage , and had 'a job' ? We always had a terrier or two , and they killed lots of mice/rabbits , but never chooks or cats .... The lab killed kittens/cats ... and the border collies killed the chooks ....

ratting

Glad it's not me with a problem ..I would be petrified to leave a small dog 'on duty' at night .. so much to go wrong when they are in prey drive and not thinking of much else ... yes, I have seen it - my old mini foxie lost an eye chasing a rabbit down a burrow - she was staked ..and there have been other dogs, other injuries .. How does one train a ratter to dispatch cleanly and without getting itself injured? never having had rats ... I guess they can give a reasonable bite? Those who have ratters .. do the bites get infected more than other bites ? Do rats carry things other than fleas ? I once entertained teh thought of having a 'rat pack' .briefly entertained, and a long time ago ..... Blacjaq have you tried those zap traps? Someone here tried them with success from memory... they are quiet, and effective , and humane ..and work 24/7!! :) Plus the local raptors will LOVE the free meals . ratzapper Hmmm THESEare on special ....

A dachsie hunting around at night ? I would worry so much about back injuries ...

Why do you have to have a terrier? our dogs will catch mice/rabbits/cats /foxes ... very effectively!! ( but are never left alone to do so ...and mostly during the day ... ) If we had rats, I dare say they would LOVE the idea !!! our dogs are koolies.. not 'big' dogs ......

A carpet snake would love it ( and possibly eggs & chooks as well )

yes, but snakes also love hidey holes, and disused mouse/rat tunnels are perfect! the disturbance of a dog digging & chasing can and does get snakes moving/scared/territorial. Dogs outdoors do face some risk .. but often a snake will drift by , grab a drink , or a feed ,.and drift away again if there is no interference . having a feisty dog cross paths with a snake in the dark is not a pleasant thought. Dogs hunting at night do not have (AFAIK) cat whiskers or night sight like cats to aid them ..and can easily walk into/off things ..get eyes poked by stalks/wire/sticks .....

Oh..and if you think traps are inhumane - forget little dogs who are not well versed in quick killing ..and prefer to play . :(

..and where there are rats, there are often snakes I much prefer to 'hunt ' the dog/s during daylight hours , rather than leave them freerange at night. I hunt rabbits/mice/cats during daylight mostly - so I can see what's happening , and be there in case of accident/snake/ over enthusiasm ..and to finish off anything humanely. ..and I don't know about terriers being 'not easy' ;)

I give ours egg flips egg yolk & milk whisked together (sometimes the slippery texture if whites are used puts them off ;) ) ,,and peanut butter on tiny bits of bread , and snack sized raw mince ( then again, ours will eat up to/during/after whelping ;o)

stay strong, girl . Do you have some nice energy rich food for her .... as snackies ?

4P4me ..click HERE for everything you want to know about raw feeding :)

100% sure .. mum has always been fed out of reach - either up on the kennel , or ... (very hi-tech here ) I now have crunch! CLICK

Shame you can't hear all the crunching :)

*boils water makes coffee* (seriously- I do hope she,and living pups, will come thru this OK )

bought my F10 HERE Hope the news is positive this morning , RmS :)

:) that's lovely to read . Not eating is the least of his worries ..fluid & rest and no blood is great!!

..anyone care for an iced coffee (with icecream ;) )

Oh hell

I suggest you ask on here for a recommendation to a REPUTABLE and SUITABLE trainer/behaviourist - one who won't have a "quick Fix" ..but one who will assess things , and help explain them to you , then support you in a rehabilitation/management program .

Oh... ..... Hoping Astro responds well to the support - being adult will help , I'm sure ....

My Hamlet used to be a bit like that ... very noisy if there was something exciting in the offing !

just popping in .....