Today he managed to chase down a rabbit and kill it. Re: how to stop my dog from killing rabbits I have a Boykin that I hunt both rabbits and birds over with no issues. So when I go to my backyard and see decapitated and mauled rabbits, it's not a good sight. I guess it's his breed and nature. Killing a rabbit is not going to change your dog into a savage beast. The most immediate way to keep your dog from chasing rabbits is to put them on a leash. How To Stop My Dog From Trying To Eat a Rabbit? Rabbits are naturally fearful of dogs. This means that rabbits usually make a hasty retreat when a dog is around. Some animals are known to play dead, so make sure that what your cat or dog has brought home is in fact dead. He's killed wild rabbits & Squirrels & tried to take down a skunk. In short, rabbit droppings won’t harm your dog, but they are a clear signal that rabbits are visiting your environment, and making sure that your dog is protected with a flea and tick product and discouraged from hunting rabbits, is a good idea. Unless your dog and the rabbits have been raised to coexist, your best friend may keep the rabbits away. If you are concerned that your dog is going to keep killing animals and want to stop this behavior, your best bet is to take the dog to a professional dog trainer. Its perfecty natural for a dog to catch and kill wild prey if it can. Answer (1 of 15): Dogs are naturally carnivores and there is nothing unusual about your dog’s behavior. He bit it, broke rabbit's bones in the process I assume, and left it on the ground. Basically your dog doesn't kill your cat because your cat doesn't run, it's not triggering the chain of events that leads to the killing. However, there are some things you can do to help keep your dog from eating a rabbit. Usually when mine manage a kill like that I accept the 'gift' and then distract the dog with some other treat while I dispose of it. Trying to stop a dog from doing what comes naturally to them can be an uphill battle. Dogs are loud, easily kill rabbits, and often just as fast. I don't let them keep it or eat it. The way I have been training her is when headed out to the fields for either training or hunting, I let her hold either a wing or a piece on tanned rabbit fur, depending what I … They get the fur in their mouth, get excited about it, reinforce what they are searching for, but we still keep the meat and eat it. If the animal is still alive, decide whether it can be let go again or if animal control needs to be contacted to handle it. It's helpful for the young ones. Redirection training is another option. Keep Rabbits Away By Unleashing Buddy. Lol. Dog keeps killing rabbits My dog is a chiweenie... not a hunting dog at all, and he keeps killing baby rabbits for fun, not even eating them. While they are certainly not as skilled at killing birds as cats are, some dogs derive great pleasure from chasing them. Dr. Teresa Hershey is a veterinarian at Westgate Pet Clinic in Linden Hills. A dog that chews the legs off the rabbit isn't really a great hunting dog, right? I have a Rat Terrier. Rabbits are pretty quick so it may have been sick or injured before your dog got it. A cattle dog can include a modified bite/grab response & you get a heeler that nips at cattles heels. Dog seemed way too slow and rabbits ran into bushes making it impossible for my dog to follow them. < > Showing 1-15 of 21 comments . I let them get a mouthful and gnaw on it a little bit. Because dogs are carnivores, the ultimate aim is to catch and kill the bird, and occasionally your dog might get lucky, especially with poultry, water birds or newly fledged wild birds. My dog is not trained to hunt or chase. If it is a wild animal like an opossum or a rabbit, try not to handle it.