My Boston keeps killing birds. He's killed about 5 (that I know of) since we've had had him which has been for almost 4 years now. He's sweet and lovable--except to most other dogs and birds. He's like a cat when he kills a bird he brings it into the house or the garage. Since we are bird lovers with several bird feeders, this upsets us. Our yard is fenced, but it's a big fenced in area. My family members say he's probably just finding them, but this is too many to be dropping dead on their own. Does anyone else have a killer on their hands? Or know if there is any way to stop this kind of behavior?

Kelly
http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog

poor birds i know that fausto also had cat behavior. he will pounce and his toys like a cat. he also holds the toys between his paws and lay on his back and scratch with his hind paws on the toy . but he's not quick enough to catch a bird. but how to stop this behavior.........
the thing is that he has success with catching the bird. he gets his reward by catching them. scolding wont help in this situation. it's just like when theysteal food. the reward is more satisfying than the punishment.
i'm wondering if the birds are healthy.
dirricult situation. i'll think and ask around here how to solve this....

Yes, Buster is very cat-like. He also pounces on toys--then continues to destroy them. I know at least one of the birds he killed wasn't healthy because we'd seen it around and it would just sit in the same place for long periods of time. I would rather have seen a hawk eat it then my dog kill it for nothing, but I guess it was only a matter of time. I'm not sure about the rest. My bulldog would never be able to catch a bird no matter how slow the bird was. I knew someone else with a Boston that would chase mice, but I don't know if he ever caught any.

Thanks for your reply.

Kelly
http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog

fausje also chases birds but never caught one........

I have a similar problem with one of my bostons. My female kills cats. I don't know how to stop her from doing this. Of course this happens only if a cat gets into our yard.

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Danielle

Buster killed a cat that got in our yard once, too. I saw the cat and said if Buster could get to it, he'd probably try to kill it. The next day he came walking into the garage with it in his mouth--dead. I didn't think he'd really do it. He has what my sister-in-law calls "small animal aggression."

It's a good thing he's cute. And he's so sweet otherwise.

Kelly
http://www.cafepress.com/karmicbulldog

oooohhhhhh yep it's a real terrier. this is what there bred for......... but if that's a good thing for the poor cat you should put up a sign...... beware of the dog.... cats and birds enter at own risk

Rocky will chase squirrels all the time. Our yard is fenced in, and he thinks he is the king of the yard. When its warm out in the summer, he will literally just sit out there looking up the tree waiting for a squirrel. He has really come close, but never really got one. I am not sure if he would want to kill it or play with it.

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Train Your Boston Terrier!
Meet Rocky on Dogster - http://www.dogster.com/dogs/709297

Our yard is fenced too and when Buster sees a squirrel (or our resident groundhog), he sits at the sliding door and shakes (he doesn't bark). He gets so worked up, but he doesn't move. He looks like he's stalking his prey. I usually look to make sure no animals are out there before I open the door, and he's been kill-free for over a year now. I hope it stays that way.

Kelly
http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog

Yeah Buddy tends to go at anything like birds, cats, squirrels and Mongooses out here in Hawaii. When he launched for the Mongoose I think that was the fastest reaction I ever had. I picked him and backed up. Mongooses were imported into Hawaii to fight rats. They sure don't look like Riki-Tiki-Tavi. More like an oil, slicked haired orange looking rat. Either way I didn't want Buddy to mess with it.