We don't have rats, we have SQUIRRELS! And she won't stop killing them!

[stedmansmommy]

So a couple of weeks ago my husband and I were standing outside in the backyard and we heard a bunch of scratching around going on somewhere in the back of our house. Well, of course we at first thought it could be mice in the attic (YUCK!) - but come to find out, it was SQUIRRELS! A whole family of them up there, that is where they made their home. So we were getting a little annoyed by them because my husband and I can hear them scattering around up there at night when we lay in bed. So a few days ago we went up in the attic to see if we could find out where they were living. Well, we never found them but we did find a hole where we think that they are going into.

Anyway, to make a long story short we see these little Squirrels ALL the time. They crawl up the telephone poles and run across the telephone wires in the back of the house. They also perch themselves up on our roof and stare down at us. They run across the fence I don't know how many times a day - they are just the cutest little things!

However...just this weekend my husband went outside in the backyard and he found one dead laying in our yard. It had blood and a bite mark on it's neck. Well today (just about 20 minutes ago) I went outside and found ANOTHER one, dead in our yard Our dog Peaches is killing them. I just don't know what to do with her, she is so MEAN sometimes. She has attacked and bit our other dog Pippi (Mini Doxie) twice, both times drawling blood. Peaches is a dog that showed up at our house about 4 or 5 years ago (we think she has Pitt in her) and we just took her in because we felt so sorry for her as it was Summer and it was extremely hot and she looked like she was dying of thirst, and was hungry. Anyway - this is the second Squirrel she has killed in the last couple of days, and I just don't know what to do about it. I feel so bad that she is killing them all, but I don't know what to do to stop her! I scold her and tell her "NO!" as I am picking up the poor little Squirrel and putting it into a bag (I know that sounds gross) - but I just don't know what else to do, and my husband is getting P!SSED! He is so sick of her being mean and killing things (she has killed a Possum before as well) and we are just at our wits end.

Anyway, I guess I just wanted to vent more than anything because I am so frustrated So thanks for listening Here are some pictures of the adorable little Squirrels that we have living with us - they have so far, lost two babies

[TootiesMom]

O MY!!! If she has pitt in her(or many other breeds) and she has "tasted" the kill, chances are she will do it again and again! Please be careful with your little ones....
good luck!
d

[ARCHIE]

I really find it amazing that she is even able to catch them!
The little buggers are so fast. I had a terrior mix years ago and
his main purpose in this life was to catch a squirrel. He never did however
fortunate for me but he never gave up a good chase. The squirrel always
made it up the tree. Do you have lots of trees in your yard? How is
the dog getting them? I hope she dosen't get the whole family!
Feel bad for you because you have to clean up the mess.

[Rae Rae]

Moth balls are supposed to keep squirrels away, try those in your attic.

[bruizersmummy]

Any animal that tastes blood (mostly large breeds) will keep killing and biting for the taste of blood. Most people would recomend putting an animal down after they get the taste of blood. I personally couldn't do that. But be careful with your other pets and yourselfs, and don't let your guard down.

I would recomend moth balls! Good Luck.

[Yorkiedaze]

I had a Boston who would actually chase down and kill jack rabbits. Once they get that prey drive going, nothing stops them. But be extra careful with your little Doxie. I would never leave them alone together. My son has a Pit mix that has always been the most gentle and sweetest dog on the planet for 6 years solid. Now all of a sudden, she wants to bite or attack dogs at the dog park, so my son is now hireing a behavorist to help out. The Pitties do have a nature about them that you must always watch for.

[BubblPopElectrc]

I'm sorry but, saying that any breed of dog "gets a taste for blood" is one of the worst myths I have ever heard.

[rrosenberry]

Well they were bred to catch rodents..and she's doing her job..
I'm amazed she can catch them too.. those suckers are fast.. Bailey trys .. daily.. but never succeeds.

He can however catch adorable baby bunnies.. So I know how you feel.

Sorry,., thought she was your Yorkie. I'll read better next time.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by ARCHIE

I really find it amazing that she is even able to catch them!
The little buggers are so fast. I had a terrior mix years ago and
his main purpose in this life was to catch a squirrel. He never did however
fortunate for me but he never gave up a good chase. The squirrel always
made it up the tree. Do you have lots of trees in your yard? How is
the dog getting them? I hope she dosen't get the whole family!
Feel bad for you because you have to clean up the mess.

Tell me about it! That's exactly what I told my husband. I cannot believe she can catch the things because they are sooo fast...but then again, so is our dog, LOL. I'm telling you, that girl can run like the speed of LIGHTENING! Especially when she is after something, unfortunately I am so scared that someones cat (meaning a pet) will come into our backyard, because I can guarantee you that she WILL kill it.

I do have several trees in my yard actually - but the Squirrels seem to be more interested in the fence, the roof, telephone polls, and the telephone wires I actually can't be positive on how she is catching them though. The only thing that my husband and I can possibly think of, is that when they crawl out of the attic (they exit through the vents which you can see in the first two pictures I posted) they try to climb (or jump) onto the telephone wires and they don't make it. I guess when they fall she takes out after them and grabs them by the neck... Oh she makes me SO ANGRY!!

I just don't know what to do with her!!

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by TootiesMom

O MY!!! If she has pitt in her(or many other breeds) and she has "tasted" the kill, chances are she will do it again and again! Please be careful with your little ones....
good luck!
d

We can't be positive that she has Pitt in her, but there is something about her head (face and ears) that strongly resembles that of a Pitt. I know for a fact that she isn't full Pitt, and I don't even know if she's HALF Pitt...but I think it's definitely in there somewhere. Her bone structure is actually quite small (she is only in the 20-25 lb range) and I have always wondered if she was part Pitt, some type of Terrier...and?? Not sure what else...

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by Rae Rae

Moth balls are supposed to keep squirrels away, try those in your attic.

Oh THANK YOU!! I had no idea that these worked for Squirrels I will DEFINITELY try them!

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by bruizersmummy

Any animal that tastes blood (mostly large breeds) will keep killing and biting for the taste of blood. Most people would recomend putting an animal down after they get the taste of blood. I personally couldn't do that. But be careful with your other pets and yourselfs, and don't let your guard down.

I would recomend moth balls! Good Luck.

Yep - will definitely be trying the Moth Balls My husband and I HAVE brought up that subject before...but I just CANNOT ever see myself doing that. Unless she was ill or something, I don't know...I just couldn't I will tell you that she is an extremely loving dog (to my husband and I, and to the Yorkies - she actually PROTECTS them, and us) but to other animals, strangers, and our Mini Doxie she has been anything but loving However, the only reason she ever bit Pippi was because of food...she has some major issues with that. And our poor meter reader lol...she nearly gave him a heart attack when he IGNORED the "BEWARE OF DOG" sign on our fence and came charging in our backyard to read the meter....she almost had him for lunch - LITERALLY He now knocks at the front door lol.

Anyway, she is just extremely protective and she sees our yard as HER territory and she does not like anyone or anyTHING on it except for those she knows. I hate it...but I don't know what to do about it

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

I had a Boston who would actually chase down and kill jack rabbits. Once they get that prey drive going, nothing stops them. But be extra careful with your little Doxie. I would never leave them alone together. My son has a Pit mix that has always been the most gentle and sweetest dog on the planet for 6 years solid. Now all of a sudden, she wants to bite or attack dogs at the dog park, so my son is now hireing a behavorist to help out. The Pitties do have a nature about them that you must always watch for.

Oh I know what you mean. Just like your son, my brother had Pit Bulls (his were full blooded Pits though) and anyway...they were the sweetest things...for a while He had 3 of them and finally one day they turned on his step daughter (7 years old) and bit her. It wasn't nothing too serious (injury wise) but it did wake him up and he got rid of them after that incident occurred. Also, he had them since they were puppies and raised them himself - so it really is just their nature....nothing a human can control.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by rrosenberry

Well they were bred to catch rodents..and she's doing her job..
I'm amazed she can catch them too.. those suckers are fast.. Bailey trys .. daily.. but never succeeds.

He can however catch adorable baby bunnies.. So I know how you feel.

Sorry,., thought she was your Yorkie. I'll read better next time.

Oh gosh, HAHA! I can just see Stedman going after a Squirrel! Just the THOUGHT of that one makes me laugh out loud He is such a little wuss lol HE would totally just RUN from the thing! He jumps back at the sight of a JUNE BUG lol

But oh my goodness - Bailey catching baby bunnies! Awww...it must just break you heart when that happens! I got sad over Peaches killing a POSSUM and I HATE the things, lol.

[red98vett]

I can so relate to the squirrels...we have some that actually play with Cheri...they talk to her ...throw stuff at her and in general pester ME because when they're out there she won't come in the house. They play peekaboo on the fence and drive her just nuts....IF She could catch one she would...I think it's in their nature...but I really doubt she'd kill one and maybe your Peaches is playing but doesn't realize her own strength ?? If she was really hunting them - wouldn't she eat them ? (GROSS I know) but it would seem she's really not interested in the 'blood' but the sport....