Killing behaviour

[Ann White]

Hi, we have a cattle x GSP aged 8 months and an older cattle dog aged 4 years, we have acreage and in the last two weeks the puppy has been bringing home all kinds of wildlife, rats, quails, bandicoots - she has just been playing with those no puncture wounds have been found obviously she was reprimanded but in the last two days has brought back large lizards (the common backyard kind) and is chomping and eating them running off when we try and get them off her.  They have the run of the property and are free to roam , we have alot of bush. Our older dog never wanders far he is a housebound fellow and usually sits at the front and monitors the driveway for strangers he has never had this behaviour and looks at her like she's stupid.  We have tried containing her in the house yard but she digs out every time (fast and deep digger) with snake season coming we are concerned she will wrangle a snake and the outcome wont be good; we also dont want her bringing a snake back to the house - any suggestions would be greatly appreciated - we have spoken to a behaviourist who has given us some ideas but some are just not practical; including rehoming her.  We are going to try extra feeds and bones during the day as suggested but if anyone has any other ideas please let me know. Thanks in advance

[Rebanne]

I'd be reinforcing the house yard. One day she may not come back or trespass onto a neighbours property and they may not be so welcoming. She's running away with her current "prizes" because you have been taking them off her. Your older dog may decide to join her on her adventures as well. Up her training, teach her tricks, interact with her more, brain tired is more important then body tired.

[BDJ]

The only real solution is to reinforce the house yard.  I imagine you are in the bush for the 'natural' world it provides,  but you now have a dog which is slowly (or not so slowly) destroying it.   It is not your pups fault - it is in her nature and she is basically been given unlimited access to the 'lolly shop'.  I cant believe that bones etc could ever replace the 'fun' of the movement, taste and noise of a real animal in distress (she may not have the intent to kill and maim - it may be play to her - but it sure isnt to the animals she is killing).  Sorry - in my view you need to either control/stop her access or realise she is not the right dog in that environment.  May sound harsh, but i dont imagine she is suddenly going to change and for it to become safe for the wildlife or for her

[persephone]

You really do need to put a wire "apron", or concrete or something along the fence to stop her digging out , then provide her with plenty of mental stimulation. She is a mix of herding/hunting breeds and has the instinct to chase. she WILL do it. 

[_PL_]

Fix your house yard or buy a large run!! It can be done. It just takes effort.  One day it won't be an endangered or protected species, it will be an angry brown snake and you will kick yourself for having had the chance to save her but ignored all the warning signs.

[sheena]

Just because you are on acreage doesn't automatically give you the right to let your dogs roam where they will.  Sorry.  We are on acreage too (200) & we don't let our dogs roam.  They have their own fenced yard with a hot wire from the electric fence running around the top & if we ever had problems with them digging out (which we don't) then we would run another hot wire around the bottom about 15cm from the ground.  They will only touch it once. 

[persephone]

We live on acreage , have working and pet dogs and have pens and chains to keeps ours from wandering. There is just too much danger out there for a free ranging dog.
Snakes, the possibility of picking up a 1080 bait  dropped by a bird (happened  very close to our house to one of my dogs) , irate neighbours ... We have the responsibility to keep our dogs safely contained. 

[tdierikx]

Eating, or even just mouthing, lizards and the like can also give your dog a nasty bout of Salmonella poisoning... another issue you could be facing... with the vet bills to match...

 

She may need to be put on a run, or penned when she can't be supervised... better still @Rebanne's advice is solid - tire her out mentally as well as physically - she could just be bored...

 

T.

[Dogsfevr]

Dog is creating its own fun ,sounds like you expect it to sit and do nothing like the other dog and maybe not enough enrichment for its brain so it’s made it’s own fun .

Bones and food won’t  do anything .

You need to be prepared to actually put in the effort to retrain what has been a great game off fun .being told off means nothing when the dog has no idea that catching critters is not allowed or provided with an alternative and simply put some dogs can’t be changed.

So the humans need to do some Changing .

 

 

Sounds like you need a snake trainer too but the simplistic  approach would be a safe yard or run set up to be snake proof .

 

Edited August 28, 2021 by Dogsfevr

[Deeds]

Most of the GSP's i've known need a lot of exercise & stimulation.   Plus she's only 8 months old.