Bel killed a snake today
So some of you may remember that earlier this summer, I had a snake scare, as Toby, my male Shiba cornered a pretty good sized bull snake in the yard (and I was freaking out before I realized it was not the rattlesnake it was imitating, and still freaked out since I knew Toby would not know the difference, and would probably go after a rattler). I managed to get him away from that pretty big snake and save the snake too.
Well today, it was Bel's turn. I was out with her and Oskar, and I heard the wierd, almost rattling sound these snakes make, but before I could even register it, Bel darted past me and grabbed the snake right behind its head. It was actually pretty amazing to watch: she bit hard and fast behind the head, then let it go and leapt out of the way, and while I was trying to catch her to get her away from it (didn't know what kind of snake it was yet), she darted in and did the same thing twice more: fast bite, and then leap out of the way. By then I realized it was a bull snake (not the same one Toby had--it was smaller than that, about two feet long). I still wanted her to get her away from it, but by now she was shaking the snake and tossing it into the air. the whole thing took less time then it took me to write this--it was amazingly fast.
I'm sorry she killed the snake--I'd prefer not to have them kill the bull snakes, and of course it's very worrisome--she could get really hurt if she tried it with a rattlesnake and wasn't so quick. But on the other hand, it was fascinating to watch her technique too, and damn, was she fast!
And it's one of the reasons I love my crazy little girl: she's fearless, and she is SUPER prey driven, which I find fascinating. She's an excellent hunter, and during the summer, usually gets at least one critter a week (sometimes more), and by now, she knows what to eat and what not to eat (she gave up the snake pretty willingly, as she has already decided she doesn't eat snakes or lizards. But she eats birds whole, feathers and all, and eats most of rats/mice/rabbits too, even though I would do try to get them away from her (as I worry about worms/parasites from the rodents).
Anyway, here's one Shiba who hasn't lost her drive to hunt!
(and I kept Oskar far away from the snake. I don't want Mr. Clumsy Puppy to even THINK he should try that).
Well today, it was Bel's turn. I was out with her and Oskar, and I heard the wierd, almost rattling sound these snakes make, but before I could even register it, Bel darted past me and grabbed the snake right behind its head. It was actually pretty amazing to watch: she bit hard and fast behind the head, then let it go and leapt out of the way, and while I was trying to catch her to get her away from it (didn't know what kind of snake it was yet), she darted in and did the same thing twice more: fast bite, and then leap out of the way. By then I realized it was a bull snake (not the same one Toby had--it was smaller than that, about two feet long). I still wanted her to get her away from it, but by now she was shaking the snake and tossing it into the air. the whole thing took less time then it took me to write this--it was amazingly fast.
I'm sorry she killed the snake--I'd prefer not to have them kill the bull snakes, and of course it's very worrisome--she could get really hurt if she tried it with a rattlesnake and wasn't so quick. But on the other hand, it was fascinating to watch her technique too, and damn, was she fast!
And it's one of the reasons I love my crazy little girl: she's fearless, and she is SUPER prey driven, which I find fascinating. She's an excellent hunter, and during the summer, usually gets at least one critter a week (sometimes more), and by now, she knows what to eat and what not to eat (she gave up the snake pretty willingly, as she has already decided she doesn't eat snakes or lizards. But she eats birds whole, feathers and all, and eats most of rats/mice/rabbits too, even though I would do try to get them away from her (as I worry about worms/parasites from the rodents).
Anyway, here's one Shiba who hasn't lost her drive to hunt!
(and I kept Oskar far away from the snake. I don't want Mr. Clumsy Puppy to even THINK he should try that).
Comments
Despite the frustration it causes me to to have to monitor and attempt to dissuade Lucy from hunting, I am fascinated by it. She is definitely the first of my dogs on the scene if there is something moving. I bet it's even more exciting when you can just sit back and enjoy the show like you do with Bel (when it's not a snake). :-)
If I can find the bandwidth to post it, i have a short video of Sage vs a snakeskin that shows the darting shibamistress is describing. I have never seen him move so fast! She's right, it is awesome. When I manually run the slider frame by frame, its neat to see his posture and facial expressions.
Reilly once killed a snake at the bus stop in front of three little girls- it was horrific yet impressive and absolutely definitive.
Apparently this is a big hunting week, because fat and lazy Toby caught a dove. It must of landed nearly on top of him for him to catch it! Bel eats birds whole, feather and all, but Toby "plucked" all the feathers off before he ate it.
Saya tries to catch bees when they are flying, but leave it works on them pretty good now.
It's amazing to see dogs hunt.