Lightning&Stomps

At age 9, Lightning just made his first kill, I think. He and Stomps were barking madly at the wood pile, where I know a mouse lives. Then a little while later, only Stomps was barking. Something in the tone of his voice made me go check to see what was going on. Stomps had disappeared into the back yard, but Lightning was standing there with something that appeared to be wriggling in his mouth. But he wouldn't let me close enough to see what it was. Then he ate it. I'm hoping it was the mouse, but I'm worried it was a frog (see "drooling"). I don't know whether to be disgusted or proud. I think I'll be proud, but I won't let him kiss me for a while.

shakerag

Yep, no telling how long they have been after that mouse---wait until they bring in their kill to put on display for you!
don

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dhatt

My gang had quite a coordinated effort going a couple of years ago when mice moved into the unkept yard of the empty house next door. The cat would chase the mice into our yard (or they'd come in for the water in the dog-run), the Border Terrier would quickly (VERY!) dispatch them, and Rebel would eat them. More than once I danced around the yard with Rebel hoping to relieve him of his prize before he swallowed. Nope, no such luck.

The mouse problem resolved itself by the end of summer (overhunting), but I got really friendly with the vet because everyone needed a couple of extra tapeworm treatments. You may want to talk to your vet about that, especially as there probably is more than one mouse living in that wood pile :P

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EccentricGirl42

My Dixie does the same thing - eats it because she knows I'll take it away from her - yuk!

When I let her out in the morning, she goes straight for a big tree out back where there are two squirrels living. They chatter and tease her from up high and she barks and barks. I don't think she'll ever catch one - at least I hope not.

Lightning&Stomps

I didn't even think about worms. He's going to the vet tomorrow, so I'll ask about that. Thanks for bringing that up. I got a cat a few years ago to control the mice in the barn, but the cat got one taste of air conditioning and refused to step outside of the house. So it's nice to know that Lightning's very latent hunting instinct finally woke up and it might work to my advantage.

Elvismom

Elvis is a "ferocious" rabbit hunter. He's actually caught them over the years and we've always taken them away from him. Our vet warned us that the rabbits are carrying a disease that can be transmitted to dogs (I know it's not tulemaria, but can't remember what it is). So we watch them very closely now.

It's so hard to take away his trophy after he works so hard to get it!

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