My large dogs killed a small dog that slipped through our back yard fence, does this mean that they are mean?

Question

We have a cat that the dogs addore and I think that the small dog might have come in the back yard to attach my dogs. My dogs are normaly very sweet and love people they even let two people in the back yard that they did not know who pulled the dead small dog out. One of my neighbors suggested that now my dogs were visious because they had killed a dog. I'm not sure what to think or do. The space that the dog got through is very small and very convoluted, he had to work at it very hard to get in and I know that my dogs were probably barking at him at the same time while he was trying to get in our yard. My dogs play very gently with our cat and they westle with each other in the house I never would have emagined that this could have happened. My dogs are mixed breeds -Golden retreiver/Saint Bernard, Rotwiler/Collie and Lab mix. I'm confused and don't know what to do or think.

Answer 1

My dogs are very very polite to the cat I have in the house. If she wants to eat their food they will back up and let her.
Outside cats are fair game to them. They are different and not part of their pack. So mine will chase and tree outside cats.
It is normal and does not mean your dogs are viscious. Just territorial and maybe not good with other dogs that they do not know.
This other dog was in their yard and not supervised so it was to them an invader and they dealt with what they saw as a problem.
It happens and dogs will be dogs and that means that they can and sometimes do kill things. Just be sure to be careful about having them around other dogs.
If you are really worried see if you can find a behavorial trainer to come and make a tempermant assesment of your dogs.

Answer 2

Um, I think the official line is that they could now be classed as dangerous dogs. Around here, any dog that has bitten a person, attacked other animals (usually sheep, cows or other livestock) or caused some other harm has to be registered. They must be kept under strict control, not allowed off leads in public spaces without a muzzle and, in some cases, are put to sleep.

I agree it's really puzzling under the circumstances you describe but I'd be very careful from now on if I were you. Have your dogs met any other 'new' dogs since? You should be very wary of letting them socialise too freely, it'd be one thing if they just got a bit annoyed with another dog but to actually kill it is one step too far.

Most dangerous dogs in the UK are bull terriers of various kinds, german shepherds, rottweilers, etc. and collies are also known to be a bit spikey. Sounds as though at least one of your dogs has some of these breeds in it and they both sound like big dogs so do please beware. In this country, any dog caught even worrying livestock, let alone killing it, would be shot on sight without questions. The thinking is that if they've done it once they're capable of doing it again.

I'm guessing you're in the US, in which case the following example might help, taken from the second source below:

At the state level, statutes rarely prohibit or restrict specific breeds. Instead, the statutes tend to focus more on the dogs' and owners' conduct, and on dangerous behavior regardless of breed. For example, Michigan's state statutes define a "dangerous animal" as:

[A] dog or other animal that bites or attacks a person, or a dog that bites or attacks and causes serious injury or death to another dog while the other dog is on the property or under the control of its owner.

Please do be careful and if possible, have an 'off the record' chat with your vet.

Best wishes....

Answer 3

well what i really think is that they were probaly messing with the other dog and because it was so small it got killed. Do i think they are vicious? I really don't think so but now that that has happened you MUST keep an eye out for them. They are going to be discriminated against as well now by being labeled the dogs that killed the runt. I mean if they are good dogs on a norman basis and never attacked a human then i would just watch them and try to keep an open mind about the whole situation.

I own a pit bull now and i owned another one before hand and the one i had before was the sweetest thing but if i had a smaller dog or a cat i think she would of eaten it because they have a high prey rate do i think she is vicious no but i do know that that the dog had to be watched around other animals. we gave her to our best friends because two pits is too much. The dog i have now would let a cat sleep on him and he is a massive pit bull but as mellow as yellow. Do i trust he won't hurt a smaller animal...no. I don't trust it because they are a breed that have that prey rate.

what i am trying to get to is that if you know your dogs killed another dog keep your eye on the dogs. you can still love them and know they are good but you must be realistic they are animals and if they kill another animal or another pet of someones then you are looking at a possible lawsuit and your dogs can be euthanized.

Answer 4

It's plan and simple! Another dog came on your property who's to say that dog didn't show aggression first or acted in that manner. Just because it was little doesn't mean it was innocent.

The owner's of that dog is responsible for keeping their dog in their yard.

Your dogs did exactly what dogs do protected their space from an intruder who was not part of the "pack".

I'm sure you feel bad for what happened but you can't not expect a dog not to act like a dog. Your dog's are no more vicious than any other dog.

Answer 5

Your cat belongs there and your dogs know it. The small dog was invading their territory. Dogs do not look at size when it comes to protecting their teritory. If you had had a small dog and a large one came into your yard, the small one would also try to protect his territory. He would lose trying, but he'd do it. That is their nature. Just close up the hole that the little one got in so it doesn't happen again. Your dogs are not dangerous, just doing what dogs do.

Answer 6

No, they're just territorial as all dogs are. This incident happened to us several years ago when my daughter was seven years old. Our neighbors had two Rottweiler dogs in their back yard. Normally very sweet and gentle. Well, Katie put our small dog, Jesse, up to the fence to look at the neighbors dogs. Jesse squirmed out of her arms, fell over the fence and that was the end of him. The worst of it was her having to witness the whole things. It affected her mentally for the next few years.

Answer 7

I agree with what everyone is saying. Your dogs are just territorial. But please make sure there are locks on your gates so that no small children can come in unsupervised. I know you said your dogs let strangers in the yard to retrieve the dead dog but they were grown up I assume. There is a good chance that it would turn out tragically for you both if a child got in the yard by themselves.

Answer 8

your dogs are not "vicious". that dog came into THEIR territory. my dogs are the same way. very sweet and loving with OUR cats, but if a strange cat comes into the yard...and they get a hold of it, its a goner!
your dogs shouldn't be labeled as dangerous or vicious, they were contained in your yard. if anything...your dogs protected your family from a dog, that could have been prone to bite humans, or have carried a disease.
come to think of it, you might want to call your vet to see if they need any updates on shots...god knows what that little dog could have been carrying.
and don't worry about what your neighbor thinks...legally...your dogs were on YOUR property, and the other dog was the trespasser.

Answer 9

alot of little dogs like shitzu and chiwawa have to big of balls for the sack. they will bark at a bear and not care. if a dog growls at all near me and my brother my dog will let it have it and scare the hell out of it! my dog is a big baby but is also protective of my house and family. my dog has tried to bite a dog twice her size because it wouldnt stop barking at my brother. and the dog was on your property so your dog had every right to kill it if it felt threatend by it and you should be happy because this means you and your lids have a dog that will protect you and your home! and my dog is even protective of someof our freinds to! and if the owner of the little mut tries to sue you are gets mad or anything the law is on your side on this one and they cant do anything to your dogs. they sound like beutiful nice happy dogs that were just protecting there house family and little feline freind! cuz any dog that will play with a cat cant be mean so relax and go play with your wonderfull dogs! and dont wory about what nena said! i promise that they cant put your dog down! you have two sweat dogs that are doing the right thing wich is not letting a dog that is threatining there family or home get close

Answer 10

Your dogs are only protecting what belongs to them, the thing is your dog is used to your cat and they will protect what belongs to them with their life, No your dogs are not mean, why would you even think that, what would you have done if it was a intruder that your dogs got hold of, I don't think you would think it then. To them this dog was an intruder. Don't think or do anything with your dogs it is purely instinct to protect, the mixes you have in the dogs are not vicious types so stop worrying, it wouldn't be fair to chastise the dogs.

Answer 11

You might have to be VERY careful, if the person who own's that small dog, chooses to, they could sue, and possibly have your dogs put down siting that they are vicious! I hope it doesn't happen, but it could. I'd get some kind of insurence, just to be safe, and pray that they dont do it again, since most places have like a 3 strike kinda thing. A friend of mines pit got put down because it killed 3 smaller dogs, 2 of which had come into their yard!