Is it normal for a dog (she's a lab/retriever mix) to hunt and even kill smaller animals and frogs?

Answer 1

Both breeds of dog are natural hunters so it seems that she would naturally want to hunt something. I don't know about the killing part, though. Maybe she has an aggression issue or she is just curious and becomes too rough. I would really watch what she is doing because she might get hold of something that doesn't die easily and gives her a good fight. Rabies shot!!!

Answer 2

Dogs are predators; this is about as normal as it gets.

The suggestion to squirt your dog with a water bottle cracks me up. You can't override hard-wired predatory behavior with a wee bit of water.

Dogs can distinguish between "prey" and "not prey". This is why some dogs are aggressive toward dogs but not humans and vice versa. Dogs typically learn what is "prey" and "not prey" at a very very early age which is why it is an extremely good idea to make sure puppies are exposed to babies and toddlers so that it becomes much more likely that they will instinctively recognize screaming, flailing little folk as "not prey".

You know how you jump when the phone or doorbell rings but you would not jump if someone says "Hey, phone's ringing"? The level at which dogs "know" what is or isn't prey is far deeper and more hardwired than that -- it does not happen at a conscious level.

Answer 3

Have the same type Dog myself--Wonderful dog- and great with kids!
Her presents she leaves for us are not so pleasurable though!
She kills everything that gets into her lot---that is why the family cat is in the house!
It is in their genes and they also think that they are protecting you and pleasing you--Praise Her even though what you may find from morning to morning will not be a pretty site!(LOL!)
WE always have to go out in the backyard and do a search for what she got the previous night!
She's totally normal---and will be a great dog!
Make sure you keep her on a heart-worm medication as this helps with other worms that she can get from killing these wild animals--
Keep your shovel handy---and learn the inside out (hand-in)the garbage bag trick to dispose of these nasty findings!

Answer 4

Yah its normal, I have a Lab and my husband is always trying to stop him from killing the frogs that come on the back porch. Our dog as far as we know has never tried to kill smaller animals.

Answer 5

Hun we have Boxers they go out chasing and eating all kinds of animal we use to have a Labordor Retreiverand he went everywhere with us and then (I guess when he got bored) he would run of and chass things find a trail and take it so he is a dog u got to remeber that so let him just watch out make sure it does not mean he can do it every day oh and if u are married and your husband likes to hunt send the dog with him.

Answer 6

yes it is. retrievers naturally hunt and retrieve small animals. I have a yellow labrador retriever and a golden retriever and it happens all the time.

Also i disagree with Joanne. You shouldnt punish the dog for just doing what his breed was trained to do and bred for.

Answer 7

Totally normal. It's called Prey Drive.

Answer 8

Yep. I used to have a mutt that would bring home all kinds of nasty stuff, like rabbits, skunks, possums, etc. It's their instinct to care for their family. Just make sure she isn't eating them, and if she is, get her on good worm prevention med. And keep her shots up to date.

Answer 9

all dogs are preditors no matter what breed so yes it is normal but you should discourage this behaviour as it could lead to killing peoples pet.
punish it when it does it by squirting it with water a tak away what it has caught.

Answer 10

yes. if they are small. now if they are killing other dogs or something... thats bad. its instinct. they hunt. and most of the time they are playing and dont realize they are even hurting it. they think its a toy.