Don't tell me that it's okay for my dogs to jump on you or your kids!

[danceswithgary]

Today we've been reminded the hard way that terriers were bred to hunt and kill small furry things.

Last week, they dug out a nest of bunnies located under the lilac next to the house (stupid mother rabbit). They got one before Gary could intervene. He called me outside using that tone of voice that just makes my heart lodge in my throat. I was sure something awful had happened to Molly or Tessa, but instead he presented me with this bit of fluff only three inches long, eyes not yet open and bleeding from one ear, and said, "Fix it."

I told him the best thing to do was to put it back and put a fruit crate over the nest (one with open sides the mother could get through but not the puppies). He did and told me he saw at least two others tucked in the nest (thankfully unharmed). The puppies spent the next day on their leashes or getting yelled at and told to stop trying to dig under the crate. I finally figured out we could use the small invisible fence transmitter (used for spot training) to keep them away in a 6-foot diameter around the crate and life was good.

Fast forward to today. Gary brings another bunny inside, this time with its eyes open and twice as big so I could possibly have fostered it like I have before, but the puppies had hurt it badly enough that all I could do was tuck it inside a soft towel in a dark quiet place and hope, knowing it likely had internal injuries and would die from shock. It did, less than half an hour later. :-(

Gary took the puppies out later and was watching them, aware that there was probably at least one more little bunny hopping around the garden celebrating getting out of the nest. He had to go inside for a minute, so he asked me to take over. Right, ask the disabled woman who can't move fast to watch two puppies who'd seen Gary go inside and immediately decided to go hunting from opposite ends of the garden. I chased Molly out just in time to see Tessa go diving into a clump of flowers.

That bunny just died while Gary was holding it, although it didn't seem as badly injured as the other, at first. We're both working hard not to be angry at the puppies for instinctive behavior.

We'll keep an eye out, but I think that was the last of that litter, and we'll be filling in the nest and making sure another one doesn't get built where the puppies can reach it.

I'll also continue to work on my 'mean old lady next door' persona until the stupid brats in the houses on either side of us stop running through our yard and letting the puppies jump on them. The puppies are barking and snapping too often as they run after the kids for me to feel happy about their behavior. They were bred to chase things that run away and kill them with their sharp little teeth. I'm really working on their training, we're attending obedience classes, but it doesn't help when the little twits' parents say, "Oh, it's okay. The puppies aren't going to hurt them."

Oh yeah? Tell that to the bunnies.

We're beginning to think choosing an 'invisible' fence was the wrong way to go because it keeps the puppies in just fine, but does nothing to keep everything else out.

Comments

[birggitt]

Oh, my hon! I'm so sorry!
And I know it's hard to not get angry at the puppies, even when they aren't doing anything wrong by they standards *sigh*
And, really? That's what the kids' parents are saying? When the owner of the puppies is warning them? Christ! Some people!

[danceswithgary]

Thanks. The parents are too used to their two boxers and can't believe such cute little puppies could do some damage. I hope they're never proved wrong. :-(

[rellan]

Riiiiight. And the first time any dog actually hurts one of their little darlings...can we say lawsuit?

Sorry to hear about the bunnies.

[danceswithgary]

Lawsuit? Exactly. *sighs* Thanks.