Huskies Maul Dog Owner's Jack Russell To Death In Savage Attack

[Danielle]

These dogs killed another dog! How many chances do they deserve? They didn't just bite it or rush it, they ripped it apart!

Far out. So what if they get out again and kill another dog? What then? Blame the owners again and let the dogs off for a second time? They killed this dog guys, they have proven that they are dangerous, I hope they are both put down, and not because they deserve it, purely to get them out of the community, we cannot have dogs like these roaming our suburban streets.

Sorry but once a dog KILLS another dog it needs destroying. And all this crap about seeing the jrt as a prey item...come on, give me a break, it was a dog, they knew it was a dog, but they still killed it. I highly doubt it that they mistook it for a bunny, dogs are not stupid, they knew what they were doing. They ripped it out if that womans hands. This also shows what little regard they have for humans, to ignore this ladies screams and to take her dog out of her arms and kill it. Dogs like that go on to do far worse things.

[Mum to Emma]

Given that other dogs roaming and escaping yards etc is beyond a dog walkers control and these nasty incidents will continue to occur from time to time, perhaps it's an idea to choose a breed less vulnerable to a fatal attack. Prey driven dogs triggered by small dogs, don't react like that to dogs of similar size minimising the potential of loosing a pet.

I get the impression that this attitude is reflected in the arrogant behaviour a handful of big dog owners display - i.e. "I don't particularly care if my dog is out of control and may get into a fight - MY dog won't get hurt!"

[Danielle]

Given that other dogs roaming and escaping yards etc is beyond a dog walkers control and these nasty incidents will continue to occur from time to time, perhaps it's an idea to choose a breed less vulnerable to a fatal attack. Prey driven dogs triggered by small dogs, don't react like that to dogs of similar size minimising the potential of loosing a pet.

Wowee...so if by chance my toy poodle is attacked whilst out walking on lead I really shouldve chosen a much larger and tougher dog? Get real. Sorry but even a big rott could be killed in the same situation if two large dogs get hold if it.

What a ridiculous and thoughtless comment.

Edited January 9, 2011 by Danielle

[geo]

These dogs killed another dog! How many chances do they deserve? They didn't just bite it or rush it, they ripped it apart!

Far out. So what if they get out again and kill another dog? What then? Blame the owners again and let the dogs off for a second time? They killed this dog guys, they have proven that they are dangerous, I hope they are both put down, and not because they deserve it, purely to get them out of the community, we cannot have dogs like these roaming our suburban streets.

Sorry but once a dog KILLS another dog it needs destroying. And all this crap about seeing the jrt as a prey item...come on, give me a break, it was a dog, they knew it was a dog, but they still killed it. I highly doubt it that they mistook it for a bunny, dogs are not stupid, they knew what they were doing. They ripped it out if that womans hands. This also shows what little regard they have for humans, to ignore this ladies screams and to take her dog out of her arms and kill it. Dogs like that go on to do far worse things.

OMG! what if my dogs were attacked then killed said attacker? do they need to be PTS? No dogs aren't stupid, but they act on instinct, regard for humans had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Just read Cosmolos comments they really sum it all up, without all the melodrama.

[Danielle]

This response is laughable.

If a dog is defending itself of course it's not at fault! Do you really think the huskies were defending themselves against an onleash jrt? Wow.

These dogs were not going on instinct, this jrt was not a prey item. Humans aren't prey items either and they can distinguish between the two. You don't see dogs going round hunting humans as prey. These dogs knew what they were doing.

Melodrama aside, they need destroying and that is what will happen thank goodness.

These dogs killed another dog! How many chances do they deserve? They didn't just bite it or rush it, they ripped it apart!

Far out. So what if they get out again and kill another dog? What then? Blame the owners again and let the dogs off for a second time? They killed this dog guys, they have proven that they are dangerous, I hope they are both put down, and not because they deserve it, purely to get them out of the community, we cannot have dogs like these roaming our suburban streets.

Sorry but once a dog KILLS another dog it needs destroying. And all this crap about seeing the jrt as a prey item...come on, give me a break, it was a dog, they knew it was a dog, but they still killed it. I highly doubt it that they mistook it for a bunny, dogs are not stupid, they knew what they were doing. They ripped it out if that womans hands. This also shows what little regard they have for humans, to ignore this ladies screams and to take her dog out of her arms and kill it. Dogs like that go on to do far worse things.

OMG! what if my dogs were attacked then killed said attacker? do they need to be PTS? No dogs aren't stupid, but they act on instinct, regard for humans had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Just read Cosmolos comments they really sum it all up, without all the melodrama.

[Ulfhednar]

These dogs were not going on instinct, this jrt was not a prey item. Humans aren't prey items either and they can distinguish between the two. You don't see dogs going round hunting humans as prey. These dogs knew what they were doing.

What do you classify as a prey item?

To compare a JRT and human, that is just laughable

Edited January 9, 2011 by Ulfhednar

[Cosmolo]

Danielle- dogs can see anything as a prey object, yes EVEN people. Its one of the reasons why at times, children running or yelling become a target for a prey driven dog that has not been socialised to distinguish between prey objects. In other countries where dogs are not socialised with people they can hunt people, particularly when there is more than one dog.

Dogs do NOT naturally distinguish between prey items- its early socialisation and training that dictates the dogs ability to do this. Some dogs can distinguish very well- i have one dog here who is great with cats but would (and unfortunately has) kill a possum- so we know its possible. Most of the dogs i know have no ability to distinguish in such a way.

Do you understand what happens to a dog when they go into prey drive? Its not possible for them to get to the dog, realise its a dog and change their mind- we are talking about physiological responses.

We don't know what happened here- it may not be prey drive at all. But when people start throwing around comments about prey drive that are inaccurate it is a clear indicator that there is just not enough understanding about this issue.

Killing dogs achieves nothing. Declare the dogs dangerous and require compliance to ensure the public is safe.

[poodlefan]

You don't see dogs going round hunting humans as prey.

Actually, you do. Dogs not socialised with people/wild dogs have hunted people - particularly children. We had a wild dog attack on a hiker near here a week ago. Attacks on neonatal babies are generally considered to be a predatory action.

When you fail to socialise and train a dog with people, you fail to create a social bond with people. Fail to create that bond and to a dog you are either competition or prey.

[Diva]

I'm suprised you haven't seen more dogs who distinguish Cosmolo, I don't think they are that rare.

I have had several high-prey drive dogs who would chase, catch, and sometimes kill, rabbits and/or foxes but who were completely safe with cats (even stray cats) and certainly with small dogs. Because they learnt what was acceptable prey and what wasn't at a young age. Trying to introduce a different free-running animal to them as adults and teaching them it wasn't prey was much, much harder, but as puppies they picked it up quickly, and it stuck solidly.

Same for possums, I've had a number I wouldn't trust with a possum but who were safe with cats. Dogs who know the family cats and are safe with them but not with other cats, who they distinguish from them easily, are an example a lot of people would be familiar with too.

I have even seen groups of field-hunted large sighthounds running free before a show with italian greyhounds and other small dogs - once in person, once on tape. Those last examples floored me as I always allow for the risk of predatory drift in free running situations, but culturally at the time it was very normal for that area. Those handlers would have been suprised by a dog who couldn't tell the difference.

If you have a dog in suburbia that completes the prey sequence and kills, and is also triggered into full drive by an on-lead, walking, small dog, and has in addition not been taught to defer to people and will attack even an accompanied on-lead dog - it's a very dangerous dog and it should be housed and muzzled like a very dangerous dog, or pts.

Edited January 9, 2011 by Diva

[abed]

Given that other dogs roaming and escaping yards etc is beyond a dog walkers control and these nasty incidents will continue to occur from time to time, perhaps it's an idea to choose a breed less vulnerable to a fatal attack. Prey driven dogs triggered by small dogs, don't react like that to dogs of similar size minimising the potential of loosing a pet.

This is not a sensible suggestion at all. This type of thinking creates an us and them mentality between owners of large and small dogs.

It's as bad as someone suggesting that eveyone own small dogs as they are unable to cause as much damage.

If you are prepared to acknowledge that your little dog can be easily killed in these situations and accept the loss of a pet as a result then my suggestion may not be sensible I agree. However, if you prefer your dog not to be killed and have a fighting chance if faced with a situation like this, a bigger dog makes a lot of sence in risk management, in fact, a bigger dog will often prevent a like situation occurring in the first place as they don't present the prey trigger that a small dog does.

Edited January 10, 2011 by abed

[Rebanne]

Dogs do NOT naturally distinguish between prey items- its early socialisation and training that dictates the dogs ability to do this. Some dogs can distinguish very well- i have one dog here who is great with cats but would (and unfortunately has) kill a possum- so we know its possible. Most of the dogs i know have no ability to distinguish in such a way.

I know more than one dog that is good with cats but has killed a possum ( or two )

[megan_]

Given that other dogs roaming and escaping yards etc is beyond a dog walkers control and these nasty incidents will continue to occur from time to time, perhaps it's an idea to choose a breed less vulnerable to a fatal attack. Prey driven dogs triggered by small dogs, don't react like that to dogs of similar size minimising the potential of loosing a pet.

This is not a sensible suggestion at all. This type of thinking creates an us and them mentality between owners of large and small dogs.

It's as bad as someone suggesting that eveyone own small dogs as they are unable to cause as much damage.

If you are prepared to acknowledge that your little dog can be easily killed in these situations and accept the loss of a pet as a result then my suggestion may not be sensible I agree. However, if you prefer your dog not to be killed and have a fighting chance if faced with a situation like this, a bigger dog makes a lot of sence in risk management, in fact, a bigger dog will often prevent a like situation occurring in the first place as they don't present the prey trigger that a small dog does.

Well following on from your suggestion, why do people get large high prey drive dogs? Maybe those should be outlawed too?

Cosmolo - great post. The problem is that the vast majority of people have no idea what prey drive is. I was doing some jumps training at the park yesterday, and a large bullbreed dog (who I know) was playing in the distance. He suddenly went stiff, focused on my dog and dipped his head. To me, classic prey drive. I put my boy on lead, pulled him into me and we calmly left the park then and there. The owner of the other dog thought I was being silly - he had no idea what prey drive was or what the consequences of it could be for my boy.

There are a few high prey drive, large breeds that frequent my park (huskies, GSD's and malamutes) and I won't take my dogs there when they're around. Most people think I'm silly because of it. I have no issue with these breeds, but in my experience most dog owners don't have a clue about prey drive, body language etc. They think only "bad" dogs attack.

[abed]

Given that other dogs roaming and escaping yards etc is beyond a dog walkers control and these nasty incidents will continue to occur from time to time, perhaps it's an idea to choose a breed less vulnerable to a fatal attack. Prey driven dogs triggered by small dogs, don't react like that to dogs of similar size minimising the potential of loosing a pet.

Wowee...so if by chance my toy poodle is attacked whilst out walking on lead I really shouldve chosen a much larger and tougher dog? Get real. Sorry but even a big rott could be killed in the same situation if two large dogs get hold if it.

What a ridiculous and thoughtless comment.

In this situation it depends on what you prefer to return home with, your dog or a leash and memories. It's foolish not to acknowledge that small dogs lives are vulnerable to fatality far more so than larger dogs and the problem is, you can't control other peoples dogs or how they manage them and you have the choice to be a sitting duck or have a fighting chance if faced with that predicament. A larger dog reduces the risk of occurrance tenfold is what I am saying which essentially is common sense.

[Malamum]

Given that other dogs roaming and escaping yards etc is beyond a dog walkers control and these nasty incidents will continue to occur from time to time, perhaps it's an idea to choose a breed less vulnerable to a fatal attack. Prey driven dogs triggered by small dogs, don't react like that to dogs of similar size minimising the potential of loosing a pet.

This is not a sensible suggestion at all. This type of thinking creates an us and them mentality between owners of large and small dogs.

It's as bad as someone suggesting that eveyone own small dogs as they are unable to cause as much damage.

If you are prepared to acknowledge that your little dog can be easily killed in these situations and accept the loss of a pet as a result then my suggestion may not be sensible I agree. However, if you prefer your dog not to be killed and have a fighting chance if faced with a situation like this, a bigger dog makes a lot of sence in risk management, in fact, a bigger dog will often prevent a like situation occurring in the first place as they don't present the prey trigger that a small dog does.

The flip side of your argument is that everyone should own little dogs so that the potential to kill another dog is not there.

I don't have a little dog, I have two very large dogs (so I'm not taking it as a personal affront), I just think it's a stupid suggestion. If peopole want little dogs they should be able to have them and not feel at risk.

The issue at hand is containment, not whether people should or shouldn't have certain types or sizes of dogs.

[huski]

Danielle- dogs can see anything as a prey object, yes EVEN people. Its one of the reasons why at times, children running or yelling become a target for a prey driven dog that has not been socialised to distinguish between prey objects. In other countries where dogs are not socialised with people they can hunt people, particularly when there is more than one dog.

Dogs do NOT naturally distinguish between prey items- its early socialisation and training that dictates the dogs ability to do this. Some dogs can distinguish very well- i have one dog here who is great with cats but would (and unfortunately has) kill a possum- so we know its possible. Most of the dogs i know have no ability to distinguish in such a way.

Do you understand what happens to a dog when they go into prey drive? Its not possible for them to get to the dog, realise its a dog and change their mind- we are talking about physiological responses.

We don't know what happened here- it may not be prey drive at all. But when people start throwing around comments about prey drive that are inaccurate it is a clear indicator that there is just not enough understanding about this issue.

Killing dogs achieves nothing. Declare the dogs dangerous and require compliance to ensure the public is safe.

This, exactly.

I am lucky because of the way my dog has been raised he doesn't see cats as prey items - we've had no problem introducing two kittens to our household, and he's lived in harmony with cats his whole life.

He also lives with a 5kg chihuahua cross and definitely doesn't see her as a prey item.

But he's killed numerous bats, possums, rats and mice that have entered our yard over the years.

This is bigger than being about the two dogs that killed the JRT. It is clear just from reading the posts in this thread how little people understand about prey drive and how prey drive works. That in itself is so dangerous it's scary.

[geo]

This response is laughable.

If a dog is defending itself of course it's not at fault! Do you really think the huskies were defending themselves against an onleash jrt? Wow.

These dogs were not going on instinct, this jrt was not a prey item. Humans aren't prey items either and they can distinguish between the two. You don't see dogs going round hunting humans as prey. These dogs knew what they were doing.

Melodrama aside, they need destroying and that is what will happen thank goodness.

These dogs killed another dog! How many chances do they deserve? They didn't just bite it or rush it, they ripped it apart!

Far out. So what if they get out again and kill another dog? What then? Blame the owners again and let the dogs off for a second time? They killed this dog guys, they have proven that they are dangerous, I hope they are both put down, and not because they deserve it, purely to get them out of the community, we cannot have dogs like these roaming our suburban streets.

Sorry but once a dog KILLS another dog it needs destroying. And all this crap about seeing the jrt as a prey item...come on, give me a break, it was a dog, they knew it was a dog, but they still killed it. I highly doubt it that they mistook it for a bunny, dogs are not stupid, they knew what they were doing. They ripped it out if that womans hands. This also shows what little regard they have for humans, to ignore this ladies screams and to take her dog out of her arms and kill it. Dogs like that go on to do far worse things.

OMG! what if my dogs were attacked then killed said attacker? do they need to be PTS? No dogs aren't stupid, but they act on instinct, regard for humans had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Just read Cosmolos comments they really sum it all up, without all the melodrama.

No I don't. But i quote,"Sorry but once a dog KILLS another dog it needs destroying". So i that is why i replied the way i did.

Laughable i think not, your judgement is clearly clouded by the fact you either have a small dog (and feel threatened), or cannot comprehend dogs behavior by the simple facts you've learned nothing from the very reasonable and educated comments that have been placed on here.

You seriously think those dogs are cold calculated killers? 'cause if you do you still haven't learnt a thing! and when you do learn something you can better protect your dog as well.

[Cosmolo]

Read the rest of my post guys- i didn't say dogs don't distinguish, i said they don't naturally distinguish and such differentiating is a result of socialisation and training.

Diva don't forget, most of the dogs i know are not well socialised and trained- i always have to keep this in mind when i make statements so you are right, its probably not rare, its just that many of the dogs i see can't do it. Critical period socialisation done well means amazing distinctions can be made by high prey drive dogs- but many dogs don't have this.

[huski]

Read the rest of my post guys- i didn't say dogs don't distinguish, i said they don't naturally distinguish and such differentiating is a result of socialisation and training.

Diva don't forget, most of the dogs i know are not well socialised and trained- i always have to keep this in mind when i make statements so you are right, its probably not rare, its just that many of the dogs i see can't do it. Critical period socialisation done well means amazing distinctions can be made by high prey drive dogs- but many dogs don't have this.

Sorry Cos, didn't mean to sound like I was disagreeing with you - I agree totally that it is very reliant on how the dog has been raised, socialised and trained.

[geo]

Read the rest of my post guys- i didn't say dogs don't distinguish, i said they don't naturally distinguish and such differentiating is a result of socialisation and training.

Diva don't forget, most of the dogs i know are not well socialised and trained- i always have to keep this in mind when i make statements so you are right, its probably not rare, its just that many of the dogs i see can't do it. Critical period socialisation done well means amazing distinctions can be made by high prey drive dogs- but many dogs don't have this.

I agree, we worked on socialising our male from a young age. However, we have to watch him as as soon as something catches his eye whether it be a dog, bird or ride on mower he will stoop down low and sprint towards them. If this happens to be our friends Small black fluffy then he really wants to play and get it to chase him but this all changes when our other dog is around, she is the boss and dominant (though friendly and will steer clear of bigger dominant dogs). They totally get a pack mentality when together, not so much the bitch but our boy just has to follow her and then be dominant of other dogs. He seems to think that she is always going to fight when around other strange dogs, Obviously they're not off lead together.

[Mum to Emma]

If you have a dog in suburbia that completes the prey sequence and kills, and is also triggered into full drive by an on-lead, walking, small dog, and has in addition not been taught to defer to people and will attack even an accompanied on-lead dog - it's a very dangerous dog and it should be housed and muzzled like a very dangerous dog, or pts.

EXACTLY!!