My two female labs killed one of our cats today. They have a high prey drive, should I put them to sleep?

Question

The labs live in a large outside kennel. We have over 15 acres enclosed by an underground electric fence. We have them out with us for over 4-5 hours during the day, usually more. The dogs have killed groundhogs, groundsquirrels, baby rabbits and catch birds in mid-air. When they have chased the cats, we have scolded and grabbed them by the scruff of their neck. Today, they grabbed my 17 year old cat from the shed and drug her out into the yard and killed her. I saw the end of it and it wasn't pretty... I don't want to pawn these dogs onto an unsuspecting person and I don't want them to kill another cat. It made sick...

They are 18 months old.

Answer 1

You can't train prey drive out of a dog. Correcting them for killing wild animals or cats won't stop them from doing it again when you're not there. This doesn't mean that they will turn on a person - but a child or infant might be at risk. Either put them down or keep them better confined and don't get any more cats!

Answer 2

That's a tough one to answer. There has to be more to the story than just what you've told us. Are the labs always in the house all day pent up with the cats. Do the cats eat the dogs food or try to eat the dogs food, a territorial issue. I know that labs need alot of excersize and a big yard to run in. I don't know why the dog went after the cat but I don't think it's because it wanted to kill it for prey. It probably was annoyed by it or like I said the cat could have taken one of it's toys or gotten near it's food, a territorial thing. I would suggest you either get rid of the cats or you find new homes for the dogs. If you can't devote enough time to both and give the dogs the excersize and walking they need than you should do the right thing and find them a home with someone who is willing to take on that type of responsibility. Their are always alternatives to doing something that's best for everyone involved in the situation. I hope you will come to a good decision. Best of decisions to you.

Answer 3

No. No, it's ok. Please read carefully, I know this is long, but I'm here to help.. All dogs are made of energy. Some have a higher energy than others. Labs have very high energy. First thing to think of is what was happening right around the time that this happend. Which by the way I'm sorry to hear. Do you take your dogs for a 30 minute walk everyday? All dogs no matter their size need to be walked at least 30 minutes a day. This is one way to use up some of their energy. If they still seem to have high energy, you can get them doggie back packs and put a couple of bottles of water in them for weight. This will help greatly. Do you have other cats? Do these cats go around the dogs? If so, you need to show your dogs now more than ever that you are the pack leader. You need to be calm/assertive with them at all times, and they need to be calm/submissive. If you are able to, bring a cat in the house with them, unless already there. Stand near to your dogs with your head held high in an athoritive manner to show you are their pack leader. You are the #1 dog in other words. Let the cat come near to them etc, if they make a move to go to the cat, etc at that instant, you must correct them, and here's how to do it. Take your hand and make it into the form of a claw, not a fist. Now you would take your hand like that and make a firm striking motion to the throat of the dog that wanted to go after the cat, at the same time you would make some sort of a noise like, "tsk". What you are doing here is telling your dogs "I am the pack leader, and this is unacceptable behavior". Each and everytime they make a move to go to or for the cat, repeat the striking to the throat with a noise. The strike to the throat if you were the alpha dog, would be a bite or a nip. Eventually the dog receiving this nip would understand that the alpha dog does not want him to do the behavior and would stop. This may take a bit of time, but they will learn it and stop doing it. Which is going for the cat. Remember in all of this you must be calm/assertive, and your dogs calm/submissive. If you feel you might need help in doing this, please call a trainer or behaviorist in your area. This can be stopped now. Please be the pack leader they need, and help them. There is no need to put them down.

Answer 4

You should absolutely not put these dogs down. Labs are hunting dogs, it's instinct for them to have a high prey drive. If you didn't want a dog that would hunt and bring you small animals, you shouldn't have bought labs, or any other sporting breed.

It's ashame that they killed your cat, however, this doesn't mean that they will start attacking babies and kids etc. My advice would be to not get any more cats or find the dogs a home where they will be allowed to do what they are naturally born to do and given the opportunity to hunt.

Answer 5

I just wouldn't want to deal with the mess and I honestly would feel bad for the animal because I am soft like that in some ways. However dogs do kill animals, they are carnivores and most dogs will kill a small prey animal if they have the chance and are not trained out of it. Its part of life and the circle of life. Does everyone have a problem with people hunting and using dogs? They do the same thing guys! Its not your fault if they kill something that comes into your yard. Your property, your dogs, your decision. My BF use to own a hybird wolf. The dog brought home a whole deer once and left it on the pourch for a "prize" for the family.

Answer 6

No, don't put them to sleep.

separate the dogs from the cats, if possible.
When 2 dogs are together, they do things they would not do by themselves. Alone, one might just chase the cats, but when 2 are together, things get out of hand.
And.... for all the answers you got about these dogs being dangerous because they killed a cat....a Lab would not hurt a person, especially not a baby.

Answer 7

Was the cat in there backyard?? Where did this happen. Because I have 4 rare breed of shepherds they are called Shilohs. They are mother, father and there 2 sons and only the mother killed 2 cats a few years ago. They went in her back yard that is there domain. My males would never think of hurting another animal but females r very different. I have never worried about her hurting another thing and let in her the house all the time. You have to also look at how they killed it. Did they play with it and accidently do it or were they doing it out of anger? There is a difference Molly would never hurt anything on purpose but they were in her backyard and she thought it was to play with. My biggest male is about 150 lbs. and I know he would never hurt anything. Mind u I have 4 kids.

Answer 8

You should have given more information. How old are they? Have they ever done anything like this before? Have you had them since they were pups?

I wondered because you said, "they have a high prey drive." I wasn't quite sure what that meant? How would you know that if they hadn't attacked something else?

I would not keep two dogs if they killed another animal. I don't believe it's instinct for any dog unless they are bred to kill. They are not hungry and seaching out their own food to live.
Most Labs are house dogs now, they don't even hunt any more.

I would most certainly contact my Vet and discuss it with him/her and get their opinion before I did anything. Your Vet should know your dogs well enough to discuss it with some knowledge.

BUT, again, this IS MOST certainly not NORMAL behavior.

Answer 9

Here is the contact for lab rescue: tell them the dogs are not cat safe. heck tell them everthing you posted here you are not pawning them off on an useuspecting person then- they will have delt with this before - dog can be taught to tollerate cats. This is NOT considered AGRESSION

http://www.thelabradorclub.com/rescue/

SInce clearly you did not train them to tollerate cats this is not a surprise. The emnity between cats & dogs is legendary. Would you put down the cats for catching your hampster thinking it a mouse? Consider the cat unsafe in a new home? fear they would attack your children next?

Never get another large dog - you clearly can not deal with the fact that dogs are preditors

Answer 10

No, but you need to make sure your cats are securly OUT of harm's way, and post signs on your yard so neighbors also know not to let their cats wander in your direction. If you can't effectively monitor that cats and dogs won't cross paths, a GOOD new home needs to be found for one or the other! You also have to start immediately training the dogs that that is ABSOLUTELY unacceptable!!! Consult with a trainer ASAP.