I’ve mentioned my Little Girls, who were raised in the same small travel crate by a “breeder” who wanted them to stay small, even if it killed them. It was touch and go for some time after they moved in with us, but they are much better now. MUCH better. As related in earlier posts, they quickly understood that their duty in life is to kill vermin. Their latest was a squirrel that had gotten into the laundry room through the dryer vent. My room is next to it and I heard something rustling. I figured it was a mouse and called for my daughter to let the dogs downstairs. They are still a bit crippled, but they must’ve jumped down the steps because there was about two seconds between them hearing the squirrel and its first yelp of pain, then another ten seconds between the first and the last yelp.
They usually kill faster–one bite through the heart by the one on the right, Thisbe, but there was less blood, too. They didn’t take the time for their usual coordination, either. Usually, Fiona (left) flushes and Thisbe, the Boss Dog, kills. When there’s no killing to do Fiona is the pushy Muscle and Thisbe is simply regal and accepting of all she assumes she deserves, in a semi-retarded manner. Like the Spanish Royal Family.
Their airplane needs to be marked with symbols of their victories: two squirrels, a rabbit, and several mice. That I know of. Our big dog dug them a nice blind under a bush and Wife likes to keep their bangs long now because a lot of prey animals seem to think that if they can’t see your eyes you aren’t looking at them. More victories to come!
But look at her adorable face! Is that the face of a vicious killer?
We need the coyotes to come back. Too damn many squirrels on the block, and they’re getting uppity. Our collie chased out all the coyotes years ago–she’d look at them and give a quiet “woof” that sent them packing–but she’s been gone for years. I guess word got around that she hated fucking coyotes, but not that she was dead.
By their behavior. Avoid eye contact and you can get closer to a wild animal than you can if it can see you looking at it. All of your x-great-grandfathers knew this. Don’t let this knowledge be lost because you live in a city, because it works there, too. In a rough neighborhood “situational awareness” includes not seeing, or not being seen to see, certain behavior; instead of watching a drug deal you can check out the architecture of the three-flats around you. You’re not looking, so you’re not threatening.
I know I’m awful, but I keep imagining two pretty little blonde moppets in pigtails and pretty red dresses leaping off the porch snarling, chasing the poor rodent down on all fours and attacking it like badly miscast feral monkeys…
While hiking a local pedestrian/bike path, I met a man who had two adorable Border Terriers. I asked him if they were good ratters, and he said before he got them, his hay barn was overrun with rats. He said he hadn’t seen any rats or signs of rats since about two weeks after getting the terriers.
I’d like to see them in action. I’ve seen (on Animal Planet) competition terriers “going to ground” after critters in cages and their ferocious zeal is a wonder.
And they aren’t killing for food, but because vermin offend their concept of a neat and orderly universe. And because they really, really like to kill. And show off what they killed. My Cockers, at least, ate what they killed, playing tug-of-war with the carcass until it ripped in two. I only found out about their hobby because I found squirrel fur in their crap.
A dog that has a purpose is a better pet. Your dog’s see themselves as rodent control officers…a noble profession for a canine.
It’s also good that you more than one dog. Having two or more dogs is easier than having just one and the dogs are usually better behaved and healthier with a comrade.
I’d like to suggest that the next time your dogs make a kill…skip the details. nobody wants to hear how the rodent died or how long it took.
Huh? There have long been competitions where owners pit their dogs’ ratting talents against others, and stats are what make all sports come alive.
Fair warning: While years ago my Little Girls meant my twin daughters, they are now in their mid-20s and hardly little. Now when I mention my Little Girls I mean my twin crosses between a Gobi Desert Kitchen Midden Dog and a wee horror from the Scottish Highlands, and there will be blood. Or garbage spread all over the kitchen floor because somebody left the kitchen midden, er, pantry open. Or pots and pans spread all over the kitchen floor because one thought she heard a mouse in the bottom cabinet. Or crap because they aren’t entirely housebroken. Any way, there will be a mess.
The coyotes around my way either moved or died out from last year’s blizzard. The city dumped snow on the wetlands which is/was home for many of them. We’d had “The Big Guy” and his pack prowl the neighborhood every so often. Nobody has seen either him nor any pack members. As a result the field mice population has exploded. Ditto skunks and raccoons, neither of which had been seen in our area for years. Squirrels seem to be holding steady.
I suspect the coyotes will return in full force in a couple of years. Give 'em time.
Mine aren’t. You turn out the lights and they go to sleep.
Don’t tell CerebrAl, but… [spoiler]They got another. Now that the weekend’s here I can fix that dryer vent. They’ve taken to shaking the tree rats to death in the traditional manner, taking turns to share the fun. Then they presented the corpse to my daughter.
YouTube has many ratting videos, plus others about air rifles with DIY infrared sights so you can get in on the fun yourself. I tried to use my BB gun for a center of mass shot, but squirrels have a lot of close, thin, springy ribs so they aren’t hurt too bad when they fall. A head shot would work better. And a better gun. Or terriers. [/spoiler]
Lovely dogs you have, there. Good job, girls. Squirrels in the laundry room are not to be tolerated.
The barn I used to ride at had a rat problem. The owners dealt with it by calling in a team of 7 jack Russell terriers who were professional ratters. They apparently killed dozens pretty quickly.
We have 4 rescue dogs, but none of them do anything terribly useful, other than amuse me.
I lead a dull life. I get my excitement where I can. Anyway, removing intruders used to be my job and I’m glad I have staff for it. I’ve caught bats and squirrels and mice. There was this flicker that came in through the furnace chimney three times. Idiotic bird. The new chimney looks a bit too welcoming, so I’ll have to screen it over, too.
Squirrels are notoriously difficult to evict, as shown on This American Life’s notorious Squirrel Cop.
