Dogs Aint Predators

[spottedtail]

Good point Willie. I'd agree with that.

A dog is a predator whether it intends to eat it's victim or not.

IMO...stalking or attacking with intent to harass or kill is predatory.
The motive is not important.

spot

 

[f8thnjc]

Quote:

 

[mamabahre]

I don't think anyone would say a house cat isn't a predator, no matter how fat and happy it is or if it only kills a bird for fun and leaves it there. A cat is predator because what defines a predator is the instinct to chase/kill a prey animal.
Just because a dog doesn't eat a chicken doesn't mean it is any less of a predator. I don't think there is any stipulation that to be a predator you must eat what you kill. A predator is something that hunts another animal with the intent to kill it. Eating is secondary.
I find it amusing that there is even an argument that dogs aren't predators...What are they? Fluffy little dress up buddies who just happen to chase squirrels, chickens and other prey animals because it seems like a good time? No, their predator instincts are urging them to do what predators do. Hunt, chase, kill...

Think about a human predator...Those sick people who prey on other humans...Are they any less a predator because they don't eat that person they are victimizing? No, we still call them predators because the meaning of predator doesn't bear a relation to the act of eating the prey.

 

[dawg16]

I may be new to this site, but I'm not new to living on the farm. Here is my 2 cents. I have 2 labs and a pitbull. They get put up every night, but run during the day. Good training is what it takes with any animal. I have cows that have calves, cats that have kittens, and we all seem to get along......BUT...some training has to go on....I've learned so much from watching the dog whisperer on TV that I feel I can work with my dogs. That being said, they are new to my chickens.....I have worked with them while they are in the brooder, to where they are in a calm submisive state when they are around them....they can't get to them, but they feel "comfortable" enough that they don't worry to much about them. Now when I move them to the coup, that will be another stage of trainging......Isn't it great to live on the farm..........yes it is!!!!!!!

 

[woodmort]

dawg16 good luck but be careful a dog is a dog.

 

[wsmith]

Fences and supervision.

When I was a little kid we had barred rocks. One day we looked out and saw a couple of neighbor dogs in the chicken yard going from one to another shaking the chickend until they were dead or sevearly injured. Out came the shotgun and the dogs died that day. They had been nice dogs, but they were killing livestock. Best to keep things secure. Dad spent most of three days repairing the fences where the dogs got in. It looked ugly when he was done, but we didn't have any more problems with errent dogs and chickens after that.