Becca Fuentes Webboard User Reg: 05-03-2005
Posts: 146
Loc: Wyoming
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I walked my dog pretty late last night to avoid the worst of the heat. It was after sundown but not full dark and young rabbit (it was only about the length of my hand) darted out right in front of us. I didn't see it. My dog bobbed his head down and I heard the rabbit scream. When I jumped, I jerked the leash and he dropped it. The neighbor I was walking with finished it off after I took my dog a little way down the path (He'd crunched it pretty hard; it was going into convulsions). From a training point of view, what would have been the best response? I didn't rebuke or praise him, just took him out of the vicinity of the rabbit.
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005
Posts: 4531
Loc: South Dakota, USA
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I would say that you did not have time to react if the rabbit darted out that close. Unfortunately for the rabbit, the dog was exhibiting his natural "prey" drive instinct.
I think you did fine with what you did as you were totally unaware of what happend.
Does your dog normally chase things like this? Do you use an e-collar?
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Amber Morgan Webboard User Reg: 10-18-2006
Posts: 1849
Loc: St. Louis, MO
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This obviously happened faster than you could have corrected him (although you technically did when you accidentally jerked the leash). That's prey drive, baby.
I think you handled it just fine. If your dog is going nuts after rabbits or cats or other animals that AREN'T bolting right under his nose, then it's something you can work on. What happened to you last night wasn't something you or your dog could anticipate, and it's probably not something that you're going to have to deal with very often (unless you live where rabbits are regularly suicidally brave).
Your dog dropped the rabbit when you jerked the leash. To me, that says good things about your dog's responsiveness to you. Grabbing a bunny that basically darts out over his paws is just instinct, IMO. No correction was necessary, and no praise was necessary.
You (and your dog, IMO) did just fine. It is sad about the bunny, but that's life with dogs.
EDITED: Darn you, Carol! You're always so quick on the draw!
I am with Carol and Morgan on this. My own dog has had to learn not to chase the trillion ground squirrels running all over this time of year. He would really love to! Once a year seems one decides to run under his nose and, well the dog is doing the death shake on it by the time I can say "drop it".
One thing I would mention is that after that success the dog may be more interested in rabbits for a while. Anticipation and even a set up for a correction will be your friends so that the fun bunny catching does not become "sport" for your dog. Just stay on top of it, it sounds like you handled it fine.
Becca Fuentes Webboard User Reg: 05-03-2005
Posts: 146
Loc: Wyoming
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It took a long time to convince him not to head cross country after rabbits and cats. Hopefully this is only a small step backward. The poor thing had such awful timing.
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