Buckwheat is getting too good

Yikes, that's pretty impressive for a 10 y/o.  I remember she got nailed by one last year, didn't she?  Hopefully that won't happen again.  

Buckwheat, just play with Cleo and leave the squirrels alone!

yes she did...on her foot. Another 'net acquaintence had their dog take a hit on the tongue and yeah...I don't want that to happen to Buck. Crotchety as she is she doesn't need to be bitten.

I've been bringing her in during the day to distract her but she SO crotchety she'll go after the cats now...and she will also snap at the kiddos if they're home so she'd be crated a lot...I'd use an expen but she'd jump out. She can jump HIGH lol..that's how she's catching the rodents.

I dunno...she's irking me at this point...obsessing majorly. Why now?....weirdo.

Jealousy???? or maybe she is just like us humans when we start getting older.   We by golly do whatever we want to do, when we want to do it, cause we can....lol

 Any chance she's protecting Cleo?  She sees the squirrels staring at the big scary dog and thinks her friend is being threatened? 

Nah it's prey drive. She's always had SOME prey drive...she is a Terrier X Husky so that's a given LOL. But I think now that she's managed to CATCH so many...it's really whet her appetite.

The last Akita I had a long while back...Buck was a young dog then...they would hunt together...as a team...they'd flush & she'd tag the prey. But even they were not as successful as now.

I think it might just be opportunity. There have always been squirrels wherever we've lived, but thinking about it our last house did not have NEARLY so many...we had more possums than anything else. We've been here what...3 years so I guess some complaceny from the squirrels has developed and Buck is now more motivated having caught some?

shadows...I know some of her crotchetiness with my kids (not all tho...she is all Terrier when it comes to kiddos, and does not tolerate nonsense well whatsoever) is likely her arthritis which I don't KNOW that she has but I assume she does...since she's older now.

She just flat out doesn't like them touching her...at all. I have started her on some supp's for that (arthritis)...maybe she is feeling those and well, feeling her oats more LOL? Didn't think of that....hmm...

yes she could be hunting more, because she is feeling better...and is crotchety in here because it's not where she wants to be and she is frustrated? Hmm...

Or maybe she's over-exerting herself with the squirrels and then is ouchy afterwards? I'm sure a large part of it is the time of year, as you mentioned. I've seen a dramatic increase in the number of squished squirrels on the roads this last few weeks, too. Hopefully in another few weeks they'll start holing up for the season and your problem will be solved! 

rwbeagles

But I think now that she's managed to CATCH so many...it's really whet her appetite.

Cita

Or maybe she's over-exerting herself with the squirrels and then is ouchy afterwards?

I doubt that only because of the WAY she hunts...lol. She is a cat...she lays in a tiny ball in some shadowy corner and waits. I watched her today...thankfully she missed both so far...

She curls up tiny...waits..watches...they come down and start burying things....she oh so slowly..unwinds into stalk pose...

She stares and stares and once they turn their back she launches...it's rarely more than 10 feet straight ahead and it's over...they're up the tree...or I guess...in her mouth LOL.

She's not running the fences or running about...it's all very economical *shrug*

If you don't want her catching them, maybe you could put a bell on her like they do cats.  I know two JRT's who were seriously injured by squirells, one had an artery on his leg punctured!  Both squirells paid a lethal price though.

Bells are a great idea. If you're present when she starts to fixate on the poor squirrel, try an E-collar. It worked great on my German Pinscher that had to chase cats that people let out in the neighborhood during walks.

The bell perhaps...the zap? No way...not going to e collar a 10 year old dog doing something correct for her breed...but the bell...just might work, if she'll leave it on.

ah ha! thanks! I was wondering where I'd find one bigger than the cat bells they sell. thankee! I hope Cleo doesn't decide to try and take it off...she'd lose her face...LOL.