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Old 04-12-2008, 05:56 PM   #4 (permalink)
LaRogue
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 534
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Do any of you have a Corgi who catches small prey, wounds it, but doesn't kill it? What did you do with the wounded animal?

Charlie managed to catch two baby blue jays today, and at minimum broke their wings and/or legs, but didn't kill them. The dilemma of whether to put them out of their misery quickly, or let them die really sickened me. I know it's natural prey instinct on Charlie's part and survival of the fittest, but I really don't have a very strong stomach for this sort of thing.
I'm sorry you had that experience, it sounds horrible.

I don't know if trying to train him would help, but when I lived in poisonous snakes on my doorstep and Palmetto bug country, I was very successful with teaching my corgi to leave creepy, crawly things alone. When we moved up here, I was able to carry it over with deer, rabbits, squirrels, stray cats, etc. That being said, that dog was always supervised outside and I'm not sure if the training would've held up if he was in a fenced in yard unsupervised.

I've been trying to teach Pip to leave such creatures alone, but it's not gone well, so far. We've already had one trip to the emergency vet for a terrible allergic reaction to a bug bite. I'm not sure why we've not been successful. He does seem more prey driven than my other corgis have been, but I suspect, the lack of progress is because I don't have the shear terror I used to have opening up my door, getting ready to step out with the dog, and seeing a copperhead staring at me.
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