OMG!!! My dog just killed a squirrel!!!

Mankysteve

If you capture a grey It has be PTS, you don't even have to do that with rats.

Whippets are bread to chase quickly after small furry things.

zaksmum

Thanks...I feel a bit better now. Of course it's not the squirrel's fault it's a pest - it can't help being a squirrel. And hearing that a vet would have to put it to sleep was reassuring, in a way.

I didn't know whippets were originally bred to chase hares and such. Jack is incredibly fast though, and anything he's chasing would have to be even faster. When he chases rabbits they go to ground or do a speedy u turn which Jack can't quite match, or squirrels go up a tree.

This poor thing just wasn't quite fast enough and I did feel really bad, and also it's unsettling seeing my softie dog as a killer.

But I suppose we always need to remember, when we see our dogs sprawled on the sofa, that they do all have that killer instinct.

YorkiePud_3

Awww poor OP ... I can imagine how upset you feel.

I'm afraid I am in the minority in that I welcome grey squirrels into my garden. They sit alongside the birds on the fence, (not disturbing them), even leapfrogging them to get to the strings of monkey nuts I hang up on wool for them. Up to now, they haven't taken any of my baby birds from the garden and will eat alongside the other birds from the plant pots I fill with seed and attach to the back fence but I think that's more to do with the fact that there is plenty of other food for them so there's no need for them to terrorise the birds.

I also have resident magpies and they too, leave the other birds alone ....

If it is any consolation, let me tell you about the greyhound I had ... I took him on a walk and as he was racing back towards me, a rat came out of the undergrowth and stood there about 4 feet in front of me.

Nope, I am not going to go all soft and say I like rats ... LOL ... but this damn thing reared back on its haunches and looked as though it was going to jump at me! Yikes!
I didn't know what to do! I absolutely froze!

But my greyhound looked at the rat, sized the situation up in a matter of seconds, swooped down mid-gallop on it, picked it up in his mouth and slung it to the side of the track.

I got him on his lead and went to take a look at the rat but it was stone dead ... what I am trying to say is that dogs with the hunting instinct (such as whippets, terriers) seem to have a knack of killing something outright. It was all over for the rat in seconds and I am pretty sure that would have been the same for the squirrel.

So if I were you, I would go give that dog of yours a big fuss .... as sad as it was for you to witness, he did what he thought was "the right thing" .... instinct always overrides everything else.

zaksmum

Thanks yorkiepud! Maybe it's a hunting instinct especially in greyhound/whippet types then? My husband's friend breeds Lurchers and says any kind of whippet or greyhound cross qualifies as a lurcher, and they are most definitely hunting dogs. And apparently any small furry animal is it's natural prey.

That's new to me! Jack's such a cuddly dog who's totally laid back, not a scrap of trouble, so I was amazed that he had it in him to kill the squirrel. Now I think about it, he did seem to do a rapid shake of his head when he first got the squirrel, and hubby's mate says that was probably the killing movement.

I still feel all shaken up and keep imagining the poor squirrel still lying there on the grass in the dark.

picklepick

That's why greyhounds are such effective racers, they have short bursts of energy and can run incredibly fast to catch up with mr rabbit. The little pretend rabbit that speeds along the side of the track always cracks me up when i see it!

Tropez

zaksmum wrote: »

Thanks yorkiepud! Maybe it's a hunting instinct especially in greyhound/whippet types then? My husband's friend breeds Lurchers and says any kind of whippet or greyhound cross qualifies as a lurcher, and they are most definitely hunting dogs. And apparently any small furry animal is it's natural prey.

That's new to me! Jack's such a cuddly dog who's totally laid back, not a scrap of trouble, so I was amazed that he had it in him to kill the squirrel. Now I think about it, he did seem to do a rapid shake of his head when he first got the squirrel, and hubby's mate says that was probably the killing movement.

I still feel all shaken up and keep imagining the poor squirrel still lying there on the grass in the dark.

Yeah, the kill instinct. It is unfortunate but it is true. If you've had yours since a puppy, perhaps you remember it occasionally getting hold of something like a toy or shoe and snapping its head back and forth with the item in its mouth? That's the whippet practicing its killing technique. It is amazing to think that a dog so generally friendly and laid back as a whippet, a breed that spends most of its time trying to get cuddles or snoozing can have such a fierce streak, but it all comes back to its original reason for being bred - to put food on the table by hunting and chasing down rabbits and the like.

As a point of interest, if you ever fancy letting your dog practice its hunting skills in a controlled environment, you might consider joining a lure coursing club. Coursing is an old blood-sport where a rabbit was released and a greyhound or whippet was set after it with people betting on the outcome (whether the rabbit lives or dies). Nowadays of course, clubs use artificial lures as opposed to live bait, and the gambling aspect is greatly reduced, although there are still some clubs that run competitions and have tournaments.

Some clubs will only accept pure breds but there are others who will allow crossbreeds. Most whippets think it is a fantastic day out for them and they greatly enjoy the chance to bolt around a field chasing things for a day. There's a couple of national clubs that run smaller regional clubs and the costs aren't particularly prohibitive - it might be a nice treat for your waggy one, particularly if you're considering lead-walking it from now on, as this way she'll get a chance to sprint around in a controlled and safe environment, and maybe even make some new whippet friends.

HappyMJ

As it was a fresh kill it would have made a nice dinner. yummy... They cost £4.50 online. Me being a moneysaver then I'd take it home and eat it.

zaksmum

Tropez wrote: »

Yeah, the kill instinct. It is unfortunate but it is true. If you've had yours since a puppy, perhaps you remember it occasionally getting hold of something like a toy or shoe and snapping its head back and forth with the item in its mouth? That's the whippet practicing its killing technique. It is amazing to think that a dog so generally friendly and laid back as a whippet, a breed that spends most of its time trying to get cuddles or snoozing can have such a fierce streak, but it all comes back to its original reason for being bred - to put food on the table by hunting and chasing down rabbits and the like.

As a point of interest, if you ever fancy letting your dog practice its hunting skills in a controlled environment, you might consider joining a lure coursing club. Coursing is an old blood-sport where a rabbit was released and a greyhound or whippet was set after it with people betting on the outcome (whether the rabbit lives or dies). Nowadays of course, clubs use artificial lures as opposed to live bait, and the gambling aspect is greatly reduced, although there are still some clubs that run competitions and have tournaments.

Some clubs will only accept pure breds but there are others who will allow crossbreeds. Most whippets think it is a fantastic day out for them and they greatly enjoy the chance to bolt around a field chasing things for a day. There's a couple of national clubs that run smaller regional clubs and the costs aren't particularly prohibitive - it might be a nice treat for your waggy one, particularly if you're considering lead-walking it from now on, as this way she'll get a chance to sprint around in a controlled and safe environment, and maybe even make some new whippet friends.

Yes, he did do the shaking from side to side thing with his toys when he was a puppy...I thought he was just playing with them but he did the same thing to the squirrel, so maybe that was breaking it's neck to kill it? Ohhhh! Poor thing.

I will look into the lure coursing club though. Jack would LOVE that, if they allow crossbreeds. Thanks.

zaksmum

HappyMJ wrote: »

As it was a fresh kill it would have made a nice dinner. yummy... They cost £4.50 online. Me being a moneysaver then I'd take it home and eat it.

Ha ha!! What are you like?:rotfl:

Tropez

zaksmum wrote: »

Yes, he did do the shaking from side to side thing with his toys when he was a puppy...I thought he was just playing with them but he did the same thing to the squirrel, so maybe that was breaking it's neck to kill it? Ohhhh! Poor thing.

I will look into the lure coursing club though. Jack would LOVE that, if they allow crossbreeds. Thanks.

The squirrel wouldn't have suffered though in those circumstances. One thing about sighthounds is that they at least end things quickly.

It is generally the competitive clubs that disallow crossbreeds. The more recreational minded club will generally allow crossbreeds and these clubs usually offer other forms of exercise too such as racing and obstacle courses. The only thing to really consider is that some of the clubs require dogs to respond to "traditional" commands (such as "tally-ho") but it is generally the competitive clubs that have such rules.

If you feel comfortable with doing so, if you would like to PM me your region (no need to be too specific) I can make some enquiries about possible clubs in your area?

And I apologise for referring to your dog as a "she". I have three female whippets myself and save for one dog have grown up with female dogs so it is a force of habit for me to call a dog a she. :rotfl: