Another rescue dog problem - wwyd?

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CazD

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I've had my rescue JRT about five months. She's been very good during that time, apart from a couple of spats over food with my other terrier. I've walked her on lead through livestock with no problems, she hasn't even looked in the direction of running sheep.
On Monday she was walking with me off lead through local woodland when we came across a deer trapped in wire fencing. Unfortunately she saw the deer before I did and went for it. She was like a dog possessed, the deer was screaming and I had trouble dragging her off - had to force her jaws open. Dragged her off by her harness, which then broke and she grabbed the deer again. Both me and her were shaking by the time I got her back under control.
I cant get the image of it all out of my head. I've never been in that sort of situation before and I'm not sure how I feel about her now. WWYD?
 
She's a terrier and she acted like one....not sure there's anything you can do about it....saying that it sounds like a horrible experience where you and her just reacted differently to a trapped animal.
 
She was just doing what any dog would do, my lurcher often killed deer when she was younger if she chased them and they got stuck in the stock netting. It is horrible and messy but entirely natural. Be grateful she is good with livestock - sounds like you have a really good little terrier there.
 
As the others have said, she was doing what came naturally to her. I would have either removed my dogs & released the deer, or if they had injured it too severely to be released I would let them get on with it so they dispatched it as quickly as possible.
 
Thanks both for your replies. They make me feel a bit better. I was just very shaken by the whole situation and by her behaviour as she turned from being her usual friendly self into some sort of demented animal. She's never shown any aggression before and it all came as a bit of a shock.
 
Picklenash said:
As the others have said, she was doing what came naturally to her. I would have either removed my dogs & released the deer, or if they had injured it too severely to be released I would let them get on with it so they dispatched it as quickly as possible.
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I did drag the dog off (along with my other dog which didn't touch the deer). In the pandemonium I managed to drop the dog lead and my glasses so had to ring someone to come and help me. Deer was badly injured (partly fence, partly dog) and the local farmer destroyed it.
 
As others have said she is a terrier and is doing what is natural to a terrier, Im sure if it had been a rat you wouldnt have had a problem with that. That was a very rare occurrence and Im sure will never be repeated so move on and forget about it.
 
She can't help it...it's just her instinct and typical terrier! We have always had terriers from the working kind which would have done what yours has, to our current yapping 'boo boo' who would do no harm but yap at things! Your dog isn't nasty just doing what she was bred to do
 
CazD said:
I did drag the dog off (along with my other dog which didn't touch the deer). In the pandemonium I managed to drop the dog lead and my glasses so had to ring someone to come and help me. Deer was badly injured (partly fence, partly dog) and the local farmer destroyed it.
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Although it was distressing for you, it sounds like you coped really well in circumstances & did all the right things.
 
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