Our dog, mix of Akita and German Shepard, as been getting along well with our Shi-szu, two cats, and two children. 16 months old, it stays outside most of the day and chases squirrels. One can takes its food bowl, toys, etc. without incident. It plays well with kids (puppyish) and with the other pets.

The dog caught and killed a squirrel and was playing with it. My wife came home and the small dog, on the opposite of the large dog and his kill, went towards my wife and this action was interpreted by the large dog as coming after the dead squirrel. The large dog attacked the small dog, not listening to commands, and slightly hurt the small dog.

Questions: Is the behavior part of larger pattern or confined to "killer-prey" territorial issues? Is there is "taste of blood" issue where the dog will continue to dominate the small dog aggressively? Could the dog have attacked a child or person in the same scenario? Should we contemplate getting rid of the dog?

Thanks. We love this dog. Despite this story he is loving, fun, funny, and perfectly wonderful and protective.

It's the way dogs are, just keep the small dogs away as it could be them next it is nothing that cant be controled with training, just dont leave it with the small dogs and when it has food of any sort.

As Corso Girl said, it's the way dogs are, particularly dominant dogs like Akitas. As he normally gets along with all family members, it's a possessive thing when he's got something that's "his". Children & smaller dogs should never be left unattended with a large dog of whatever breed, exactly because this sort of situation can arise without warning (I know yours wasn't on this occasion) . How he gets along with the little dog afterwards, depends how the little dog reacts to him. If the little one is happy to remain subservient, you probably won't have a problem. I wouldn't keep them apart for too long as the longer you do that, the less likely he is to accept the little dogs again. The only time my Akita has ever shown even mild aggression towards his little dogs is if he's got food & I always feed him seperately. I wouldn't contemplate getting rid of yours unless he becomes aggressive for no apparent reason. This occasion it was obvious why he did it & as he only slightly hurt the little dog he obviously wasn't in deadly earnest!

<<<he obviously wasn't in deadly earnest!>>>

True... he could have easily disposed of it the same way as the squirrel

I daresay your little dog has taken as it was intended (a warning) and will say out of the way when he's eating in future!

Hope so anyway :D

Thanks to all for the replies. Helps to understand the situation.