Friday, July 31, 2009

Does my dog need training?

My female dog, Macy, is a little over 3 years old. She goes out back in our yard and kills bunnies... mostly babies b/c they are easier to catch. My husband says we shouldn't chastise her b/c it's "nature" but I don't like the idea of constantly discovering dead bunnies in my yard. Any thoughts? Should we train her not to do this? Or is there some way to deter the bunnies from my back yard in the first place? Thanks for any help!

Does my dog need training?
Place a bell on her collar to help warn the bunnies of her presence.
Reply:You should say " good dog" and give her a cookie. She is doing what comes natural.





Oh and to answer your question......ALL dogs need training.
Reply:Its the process of natural selection. Soon, only the smart bunnies who are not stupid enough to go in a yard with the dog will survive.





My dogs eat the bunnies *shrug* .... then I have to worm them... ewwwwww...





You can try warning the bunnies she's coming out.. but I've never found bunnies to be smart enough to get the hint.. squirrels and birds do though.
Reply:It's probably just your dog's instinct to kill the rabbits. My Bassett Hound also likes to chase rabbits and squirrels. Hasn't caught one yet.
Reply:The behavior comes from the wolf in the dog. I doubt you'll be able to change that.





Sometimes wild animals respond/stay away from areas where there is a human smell. Try going to a local hair salon and asking them for their hair each day... to get enough to put around the perimeter of your back yard. It is bio-degradable and needs to be replaced about every two weeks.





Another trick might be to use moth balls or pepper around the perimeter of your back yard. Good luck!!
Reply:WalMart or KMart should sell something.. Also try carrots spread out in other parts of your yard, to encourage the bunnies to come THERE, instead of in the b/yard. That should help.





Also, if you can find something that bunnies don't like at walmart or kmart, they should have ALOT of stuff, b/c it's a world-wide problem -- bunnies getting into gardens..
Reply:This is natural behavior from dogs.. its what they do.. Hunting is in every dogs blood. But if u dont want this, it is ideal to catch her in the process of killing the bunnies and take displinary actions RIGHT AWAY .. otherwise she will not know what ur talking about and she will have no idea what your trying to imply.
Reply:That is very unfortunate. There is no sure way to get rid of the bunnies in your backyard. Unless you limit Macy's ventures to the back yard by leashing or chaining her, you are probably out of luck. Still, I would contact a dog behaviouralist and see if there is a way to curve this instinct.


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