Dog Community

I was wrong-dog got punished!

Posted : 4/24/2007 5:14:16 PM

What started out as a great ravine run turned into a pretty severe correction/punishment for my dog today. Kobi's biggest delight on our walk through the ravine is squirrel chasing. Of course this time of year they are all over the place. I have always alllowed Kobi to chase at will as he has never even been close to catching one. Well today we were in a particular spot in the ravine where the footpath narrows between the river on one side and a high bank on the other. Kobi spotted a squirrel a short distance ahead and took off running. Normally the squirrels are up the tree before Kobi even get close but this time the squirrel kept zig-zagging on the ground. At first I was in awe of Kobi's quick turns and speed as he chased the poor little thing. I soon realized that Kobi was definately gaining ground. I managed to reach him just as he grabbed the squirrel. I was so paniced by the situation I grabbed his collar and gave it a nasty yank, yelling "LEAVE IT!, LEAVE IT" He let go of the squirrel but was still lunging forward. I yanked him again! and the squirrel finally headed up the tree. I let go of the collar but Kobi was barking and jumping all around the tree. Next thing I know the squirrel falls back on the ground and Kobi grabs him again. I grabbed the collar and yanked him right off his front legs this time. The squirrel managed to make it back up the tree. I just started crying. I felt soooo bad for yanking so hard on the collar. I know I should have called him off earlier or grabbed him before he got the squirrel, but I never imagined he could ever catch one! I just feel so guilty for being so physically harsh with my dog.

janet_rose

Posted : 4/24/2007 5:49:46 PM

I am sorry that you had to use that much force to stop your dog, but consider this. The squirrel was acting strangely and that means it may have been sick.

Catching and killing animals such as squirrels and rabbits is not unusual for a dog. Some Basenjis, for instance, can easily take a squirrel off the top of a 6-ft fence. You need to get used to the idea of this killing being normal.

Until you have a better "leave it" command, I suggest you put a harness on the dog with a short handle. That will give you a way to apply force without the chance of damaging the dog's neck. In his excitement, grabbing and pulling on the collar like you did can get you bit.

spiritdogs

Posted : 4/24/2007 6:11:57 PM

Listen to Janet, she knows her stuff. [

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Ixas_girl

Posted : 4/24/2007 6:15:13 PM

I feel for you.
I hope you find a strategy that works better for you, so you and Kobi don't have to go through that again.
And, remember, we humans carry that stuff with us; Kobi's long forgotten it by now!

glenmar

Posted : 4/24/2007 6:28:32 PM

I'm gonna sound like an old grinch here, but this is exactly why I've worked so hard with mine on recall. I can and do call them off any wildlife just because they *might* be able to catch something. My dogs can run for an extended time...not sure that a deer can.

Plus, I'm such a softie that I feel the terror those poor critters must feel being chased by a big old monster dog.....

willowchow

Posted : 4/24/2007 6:30:35 PM

I recently got this harness. It's got a handle and if needed I can life her right up like a suitcase (or hold her back very easily with it) It's well worth the money. [linkhttp://www.ruffwear.com/Web-Master-trade-Harness?category=16]http://www.ruffwear.com/Web-Master-trade-Harness?category=16[/link]

marynh

Posted : 4/24/2007 6:32:05 PM

I honestly don't see the point of encouraging the squirrel chasing to begin with.
I know it's instinct but encouraging it just seems mean to me. I like squirrels....And squirrels can pack a mean bite if they need to defend themselves.

DakotaSpirit

Posted : 4/24/2007 6:35:36 PM

I have no problems with my dog chasing (or killing) rabbits and squirrels. We don't have all that many squirrels, but rabbits are EXTREMELY overpopulated in our area and dogs are just as effective as guns. He is NOT allowed to chase deer and will be hollered at if he even thinks about it. My retriever is the same way. She's trained to "hunt" wild birds (has only ever caught one on her own), but is not allowed after anything else.

I would work some more on his recall or "leave it" commands. Hopefully the next time you won't have to use so much force and risk possible injury by being bitten by your dog.

paulaedwina

Posted : 4/24/2007 6:58:25 PM

I have absolutely no problem with my dogs chasing squirrels and rabbits. They are predators, and those are prey and fair game. My dogs eat meat- cows are cute too. In fact we have some wascally wabbits currently trying to set up house in a briar patch in my yard and every morning the dogs try to get them before the zig zag out of the yard (through the fence). One day they will get them.

Paula

janet_rose

Posted : 4/24/2007 7:10:20 PM

In fact we have some wascally wabbits currently trying to set up house in a briar patch in my yard

Don't forget that those wascally wabbits can carry tapeworms. If they get one, you probably need to worm them.

denise m

Posted : 4/24/2007 7:29:39 PM

I have no problem with my dog chasing squirrels. It is great exercise for him. Otherwise he likes to just walk with me on the path - and I'm not all that fast. The squirrels get his heart pumping. We have occassionally come across deer as well. He has no interest in them. Doesn't even bark. In 4 years he has never caught a squirrel. Either he got lucky or the squirrel was not right. If this was a regular thing I would definately not allow it. I will work on his recall more. He is actually extremely good, but I've never tried calling him off a squirrel. I have successfully trained 'leave it' when I leash walk and he spots a squirrel - so maybe he'll pick it up off leash as well. The harness is a great idea as well. I have one I use for leash walk so I'll just hook his 'handle leadh' to it. Thanks everyone.

paulaedwina

Posted : 4/24/2007 7:41:15 PM

That's just part of life - parasites I mean. They get fecal samples tested - if they have worms we'll treat them. And it's the fleas the rabbits have that are part of the tapeworm lifecycle btw. My dogs are predators, worse they're sighthounds. A little wild meat is good for them I figure. Like I said; it's not like they're vegetarians - at least the rabbit has a fighting chance, unlike the animals we raise for meat.

Just saying.
YMMV
Paula

Xerxes

Posted : 4/24/2007 8:06:30 PM

To be honest, I could care less if Xerxes chases squirrels. They are well over populated in my area, and that leads to more predators like foxes and coyotes coming around. I wouldn't even have a problem if he caught one-or a rabbit or any other local rodent.

But if I did, I wouldn't have gotten a sighthound.[

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Janet had some really good advice, that's a great place to start.

janet_rose

Posted : 4/24/2007 8:42:33 PM

And it's the fleas the rabbits have that are part of the tapeworm lifecycle btw.

There are many different species of tapeworm. The Dipylidium caninum uses fleas as an intermediate host, but the Taenia pisiformis [font=verdana]uses the rabbit as an intermediate host. E. multilocularis (rodent intermediate host) is the one that worries me - see below.[/font]

[linkhttp://www.dr-dan.com/tapeworm.htm[/link]>http://www.dr-dan.com/tapeworm.htm]http://www.dr-dan.com/tapeworm.htm[/link]

[font=verdana]You will notice in the images below that tapeworms use an "intermediate host" to accomplish transmission from one dog or cat to another. There are three common species that affect dogs and cats: Dipylidium caninum which can infect dogs, cats and people uses the flea larva as an intermediate host; Taenia pisiformis which infects dogs uses the rabbit; Taenia taeniaeformis which infects cats uses the rat or mouse. To make a long story short, if you can keep your pet from eating fleas, rabbit, mouse or rat viscera it won't get a tapeworm. The intermediate host is required.

[/font]
[linkhttp://www.beaglesunlimited.com/beaglehealth_canineintestinalworms.htm[/link]>http://www.beaglesunlimited.com/beaglehealth_canineintestinalworms.htm]http://www.beaglesunlimited.com/beaglehealth_canineintestinalworms.htm[/link]

[font=verdana]Tapeworms (Taenia pisiformis, Dipylidium canium, Enchinococcus granulosus, and Echinococcus multilocularis) are found in the intestine of dogs and are a major hygienic concern because they are transmissible to people. ... In conclusion, Echinococcus multilocularis, may cause a mild problem in pets but if people get infected, the results can be fatal. In order to minimize the risk of human infection the public must increase its awareness of the potential complications that are associated with the parasites.

[/font]
[linkhttp://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/content/full/41/1/257[/link]>http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/content/full/41/1/257]http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/content/full/41/1/257[/link]

[font=verdana] Echinococcus multilocularis is a public health concern. The pathway to humans is most commonly through ingestion of eggs from feces of dogs ... Humans are believed to be infected at a young age and preclinical periods can be 20–30 yr. The median age at which alveolar echinococcosis was detected during the Saint Lawrence Island study was 53 yr ...

Detection of eggs of E. multilocularis in canid feces is difficult; however, detection of E. multilocularis in the local environment is possible by monitoring small rodent hosts such as the brown lemming.

[/font]

janet_rose

Posted : 4/24/2007 8:50:07 PM

Just a reminder, heartworm "preventatives" do not kill tapeworms.