A possible problem in the making????

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WoopsiiD

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We have had Millie for 7 months and she has settled in wonderfully. However now she is comfortable in her settings and knows her place in the doggy walking heirachy she has started to 'hunt'.
A while ago I mentioned that she and a lab shared a rat. Well she did it again today. I thought she was doing her usual hunt game of seeking out stray tennis balls. Nope. She jumped in the river and came back with a freshly deceased rat. I cannot say 100% that she chased and killed it but it was not stiff and we were the only people in the area. She ran towards me with her kill and got so excited that she shook the damn thing and 'it' went everywhere.
I know its not in the same league of sheep worrying but I was always told when they get a taste for blood thats it. She didn't eat it-just got really excited and was determined to give it to me.
I don't want to keep her on a lead while out-she needs a run-but I don't want her thinking its ok.
 
If they get a taste of blood and that's it mine are screwed seeing as they eat raw.

I would probably use a long line for a while so you could stop her going chasing after something and keep her within sight.
 
I wouldn't worry, she's doing the world a service :p

Don't much go for that 'once they've tasted blood' business, my dogs caught and ragged one of our cats a few weeks ago under my mother's watch, today I made B sit while I went and did something in the shed where the same cat was sitting, they were eyeballing each other but he knows what side his bread is buttered on and didn't move an inch - as long as you have boundaries (could you call her off something she was chasing?) I wouldn't have too much of an issue with it.

Almost all dogs have a prey drive, some more pronounced than others (my old dog killed a couple of my rabbits, but once they were dead, she didn't care any more because they had stopped moving), the best thing is to adapt it to our needs or through sport or recreational play, like gundog training or something (provided she is soft-mouthed :p)

You could do a bit of training with her using a flirt pole or a rag on a bit of rope, teasing her with it but calling her off it and rewarding her when she stops chasing it and returns her attention to you, or letting her take it in her mouth but only rewarding her when she gives it up.
 
THANK YOU!!!
You have no idea what a relief it is to have someone say that the 'blood business' isn't as set in stone as everyone says.
She is very soft mouthed and -not for the squeamish-........only got the taste of blood when in her excitement to get me to pick it up she shook it and, well it went everywhere! I fully admit that I was somewhat at fault as I thought at first it was manky tennis ball and when I realised what it was I screamed like a banshee and ran off so adding to the whole adrenalin buzz she was having.
The thought of keeping a spangle on a lead for the rest of her natural life did not bear thinking about....imagine the injuries she could cause me!
 
Agree with Katie, keep her on a long line and practise loads of recall from distractions or try that flirt pole/line thing if you're worried. But I wouldn't panic too much, she's hardly an unmitigated killing machine :p
 
LOL - isn't this a spaniel? If she brought it back to you, you should be chuffed :D Its what they are bred to do!

You have now got to work on her giving to hand (rats or not!!) so when she brings something to you, get her sit and tell her "dead" at that point she should drop her prize into your hand.

You have the makings of a very good gundog :D
 
A long line it is.
I have to say that she had a good start in life and is incredibly obdient. Her recall is fantastic, she actually doesn't go to far away from whoever is walking her. She likes to keep you in sight.
Her sit and stay is fantastic. Usually though when she is out for a walk we take a ball and she plays with it non stop. She brings it straight back and drops it right at your feet. Today I totally forgot to take a ball but she found a manky one. Then she found the rat!!
 
Ravenwood said:
LOL - isn't this a spaniel? If she brought it back to you, you should be chuffed :D Its what they are bred to do!

You have now got to work on her giving to hand (rats or not!!) so when she brings something to you, get her sit and tell her "dead" at that point she should drop her prize into your hand.

You have the makings of a very good gundog :D
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Haha Ravenwood I agree with this. If all dogs that taste blood chased sheep etc. Then all gun dogs and beating dogs would have to stay on a leash most of the time. Mine doesn't she is off lead as much as possible:)
 
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