[Potential Trigger]

I have lived at uni for a pretty long time so rarely see our cute Dobe. He is almost 3 and a 1/2 years old and is very protective of the family and a bit guarded when it comes to strangers.

My rents live in a slightly rural area but what is worrying is his prey drive. He has chased smaller animals in the past but my brother told me today that he came back with a death fox in his mouth. I am worried that this may escalate and I don't want him to hurt for example a neighbour's cat or something. I know this could get him into trouble and it worries me because I really love him. At the same time, I feel bad stopping him doing these instinctive things.

He hasn't really been exposed to babies but when the neighbours or anyone come with kids he is ok.

I know he is very well behaved with the family and he gets good exercise, is obediant, has a good diet and is well looked after tbh.

[UPPSY]

damn dobe eating all the foxes

[mahaneap]

Get it put down. Otherwise it will probably kill and eat babies. It's not worth the risk.

[Idle]

A lot of dogs will go for foxes, it doesn't mean they would try bite a baby

[Potential Trigger]

(Original post by Idle)
A lot of dogs will go for foxes, it doesn't mean they would try bite a baby

Hope not but do a lot of dogs kill foxes? I don't think so..

[Tabers]

He may have been protective of your land and home. We have a feeling that if a fox came over into our garden after the chickens one of our dogs would have something to say to it as he is very overprotective of him. It is like with dogs with other dogs and humans. You get dogs who do not like other dogs but then they are fine with other people. I would keep an eye on the situation and hope that it is a one off.

[hellobonjour]

(Original post by Potential Trigger)
.

Has he been neutered? Often dogs have an aggressive side to them, and then after the procedure they don't. We didn't have to do it to my dog as he is so docile, but I have some friends who had to do it to their dogs.

[Potential Trigger]

(Original post by Tabers)
He may have been protective of your land and home. We have a feeling that if a fox came over into our garden after the chickens one of our dogs would have something to say to it as he is very overprotective of him. It is like with dogs with other dogs and humans. You get dogs who do not like other dogs but then they are fine with other people. I would keep an eye on the situation and hope that it is a one off.

Yeah I hope so. Oh he is very territorial and protective but I just didn't expect this. I don't think he would be that great with other animals. I think you have to socialize them from a young age. He is our only pet. I have to admit he is very clingy and needs a lot of attention but that's why I like him

[Potential Trigger]

(Original post by hellobonjour)
Has he been neutered? Often dogs have an aggressive side to them, and then after the procedure they don't. We didn't have to do it to my dog as he is so docile, but I have some friends who had to do it to their dogs.

Good point but he is. The only procedure that was done. No ear cropping or tail docking which is common for US dobes.

On a side note do people still do declawing for their dogs? It's something I would never dream of doing because it's natural for them and a part of who they are.

[hellobonjour]

(Original post by Potential Trigger)
Good point but he is. The only procedure that was done. No ear cropping or tail docking which is common for US dobes.

On a side note do people still do declawing for their dogs? It's something I would never dream of doing because it's natural for them and a part of who they are.

Ahh well, sorry I can't think of anything else then. I wouldn't worry about it too much, with my dog we've introduced him to babies and children and he's wonderful around them. Regarding the babies thing - anyone would be stupid to leave a baby in a room with a dog or even a cat. No matter how docile the animal is they have base instincts. So that's all you need to do, is be aware.

Definitely would never ever declaw my dog.

[Scumbaggio]

(Original post by mahaneap)
Get it put down. Otherwise it will probably kill and eat babies. It's not worth the risk.

His dog killed some vermin.

Why the hell would he get it destroyed?

[Potential Trigger]

(Original post by Scumbaggio)
His dog killed some vermin.

Why the hell would he get it destroyed?

He is a thick troll.

[MaverickVet]

You could consider muzzle training him and getting him to wear one when you take him out on walks like ex-racing greyhounds often do.

[Kamaljot]

This is what we call breed specific legislation, people dont realise ALL dog breeds have the potential to kill. But they target bull breeds (Staffordshire bull terriers, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Bull terriers, etc..) just because they were trained and bred to have a 'high' prey drive or were used for fighting. Does any one here about the Collie or Lab that killed a baby? No.

[kiss_me_now9]

(Original post by Kamaljot)
This is what we call breed specific legislation, people dont realise ALL dog breeds have the potential to kill. But they target bull breeds (Staffordshire bull terriers, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Bull terriers, etc..) just because they were trained and bred to have a 'high' prey drive or were used for fighting. Does any one here about the Collie or Lab that killed a baby? No.

http://www.dogforums.com/general-dog...ics-breed.html

Labs come in with 26 child maulings, 18 adult maulings and 9 deaths. Doberman come in with 11, 7 and 4 respectively. Check the thread out...

[Kamaljot]

(Original post by kiss_me_now9)
http://www.dogforums.com/general-dog...ics-breed.html

Labs come in with 26 child maulings, 18 adult maulings and 9 deaths. Doberman come in with 11, 7 and 4 respectively. Check the thread out...

Exactly my point, thank you for backing it up

[farawayheartbeat]

Hi, a lot of dogs have high prey drives and will try and catch other animals, sadly including cats, but that doesn't mean they'll go after kids/babies/people. Honestly, killing other animals, while horrible, doesn't mean anything about its aggression toward people.

What does worry me is you say he came back with the fox - not caught it in front of you. Please don't let him wander off alone, he could get into so many types of danger.

Anyway, you could channel that prey drive into something more "friendly" - massive games of tugs (things like this work fantastically http://www.elitek9.com/Jute-Tug-16/productinfo/TJ16/ ) and ball games. Think of the police dogs grabbing arms and really going for it - they are tapping into the dogs' prey drives and simply having intense games of tug.
Work on a strong recall, leave it, and channel that prey drive with anything he can move and "kill" (ie that jute tug) and your control should skyrocket especially for something like a dobe, the extra mental & physical stimulation will do him wonders!


Edit: Why was I negged for this? I'm genuinely just curious, I really can't see why

[Potential Trigger]

(Original post by farawayheartbeat)
Hi, a lot of dogs have high prey drives and will try and catch other animals, sadly including cats, but that doesn't mean they'll go after kids/babies/people. Honestly, killing other animals, while horrible, doesn't mean anything about its aggression toward people.

Oh yeah of course. I was just wanting to take precautions as it were

What does worry me is you say he came back with the fox - not caught it in front of you. Please don't let him wander off alone, he could get into so many types of danger.

Oh I don't think I was very clear here so sorry about that. He is very good off lead but because of the large woodland area sometimes we let him wonder off ahead. Not by much, he may be out of sight but if you call him he does come back. I think he enjoys that freedom and there is that trust between us.

Anyway, you could channel that prey drive into something more "friendly" - massive games of tugs (things like this work fantastically http://www.elitek9.com/Jute-Tug-16/productinfo/TJ16/ ) and ball games. Think of the police dogs grabbing arms and really going for it - they are tapping into the dogs' prey drives and simply having intense games of tug.
Work on a strong recall, leave it, and channel that prey drive with anything he can move and "kill" (ie that jute tug) and your control should skyrocket especially for something like a dobe, the extra mental & physical stimulation will do him wonders!

Thank you! You really do know your stuff. Particularly this breed requires serious mental and physical stimulation but that just makes him more awesome in my opinion. We always take him for not just for a walk but good throwdowns too. This tug thing is something we haven't done. I'll tell my brother. I do see police dog training videos and as you say, this will hopefully quench his thirst for prey. Let you know how I get along!

[farawayheartbeat]

(Original post by Potential Trigger)
Oh yeah of course. I was just wanting to take precautions as it were



Oh I don't think I was very clear here so sorry about that. He is very good off lead but because of the large woodland area sometimes we let him wonder off ahead. Not by much, he may be out of sight but if you call him he does come back. I think he enjoys that freedom and there is that trust between us.



Thank you! You really do know your stuff. Particularly this breed requires serious mental and physical stimulation but that just makes him more awesome in my opinion. We always take him for not just for a walk but good throwdowns too. This tug thing is something we haven't done. I'll tell my brother. I do see police dog training videos and as you say, this will hopefully quench his thirst for prey. Let you know how I get along!

Glad to hear it all. And thanks hahaha
Yeah, the fantastic thing about the tuggers - or balls, or rope toys, or whatever your dog shows the preference for once all the games have been introduced - is that he is getting to quench that prey drive, but it's channeled, controlled. The reason the trainers have that massive control over the dogs with the real high prey drive, is because their desire for the toys are so strong. And voila. For example, the dog will be SO into biting on the "arm", but he will happy recall off of it because he's coming back to bite the tug that the handler is holding - so, imagine if he spots a fox, and you've worked on it so you can call him back to have a good old tug instead!
Good luckkk and let us know how it goes!

[Sir Fox]

How does he dare ...