just wanted to say my dog has just killed a squirrel in the park. she was off lead and saw it suddenly- they normally run up the fence or a tree but it just hopped about on the grass so she caught it easily. i managed to make her drop it but then she slipped her collar off and ran after and killed it. then she ran around like she was proud as punch and i was really scared i wouldnt be able to catch her. eventually another dog came over and whilst she was pre-occupied with that i managed to get her collar and lead back on. she didnt want to leave it and i had to drag her to the car. the place was full of kids but none nearby so i hope no one saw her. i just feel sick now-poor thing. this dog is a real softie and i really couldnt believe my eyes.
im off for a fag. i feel so guilty

Clever dog! She deserves a reward for helping cut the numbers of treerats. :)

We had some very stupid squirrels when I lived in Kent - they would run down from their nice safe tree tops, down towards the jaws of several Ridgebacks.  Check her for fleas - they can jump onto their new host very quickly.

It's just instinct, don't blame yourself or your dog, to be honest for the squirrel not to have run perhaps it was old or unwell anyway, a dog usually doesn't get the chance to catch one, mine tries often enough :-D So perhaps your dog did the squirrel a favour, at least with a dog kill it is quick and to be honest if your dog caught it once and then you let it go it may have had internal injuries or would have died of shock afterwards so it was best your dog then got it again to finish it off.

Grey squirrels are classed as vermin so well done.

Dogs are hunters so why the surprise?

As a child, I can remember our labrador catching squirrels ....even at 9 or 10 we were quick to get the tail from him - we got 6d (two and a half pence) from the Min of Ag for every tree rat's tail!    On a good weekend, we might even half a crown!  And THAT was money!;)

Margot

thanks for the reassurance. although quite large i think it was a baby and so not very quick. it was scary because she was killing that squirrel and that was that-- never seen her so determined and nothing would stop her- especially not her stupid collar. does anyone know of a make of collar that WONT slip off in an emeregency?

Half check collars (part chain, part leather or fabric) seem to stay put on my Ridgebacks.

Yep, I have half checks for mine to stop them backing out - but do be careful, as I've heard of a dog getting strangled by a half check when another dog was playing and tugging its collar and got its mouth stuck and both dogs panicked. :( I still use them, but mostly for when on lead.

my Flo killed a squirrel, she was only a pup but knew what to do- very instinctive!

i wouldnt personally use any check collar, so if your dogs not a puller, use a harness.

Henry chases them, but he's far too slow to catch them. :-)

I try and discourage our Golden from Chasing squirrels (possibly fighting a losing battle here :rolleyes: ) they can be vicious little s*ds and can injure a dog quite badly.  Having said that I agree with the others they may look nice but they are in effect tree rats and I wouldn't feel to bad if I were you.

To be honest, squirrels are mainly tree rats with good PR.

And yes, they can be vicious so aren't a target to encourage but on the other hand I wouldn't lose any sleep if Nips got one although since they generally bolt up trees at the speed of light it's unlikely.

My Dads cat killed one today and brought her prize into the kitchen for them :D  they were not suitably grateful for some reason.  She is only a little cat.

Hi Sara,

I went through similar with Miss Thing when we first got her. She was/is a very assertive little madam and the first terrier X I'd ever had. She had already shown she wasn't going to take any cr*p from gobby little JRTs in the park, to the point of leaping up and snapping in their(and their owners') faces when they flew up and away to Armpit Land and then she killed a squirrel and a rat.  OMG, I thought, where would the blood lust end?

Happily, people on these boards calmed me down and we managed to work things out.  She still chases with great enthusiam but is a quick and merciful despatcher so c'est la vie.