Our GSD Just Killed Our Guinea Pig Behaviour

Hello All,

sorry to bother you again but our GSD who has an absolutley brilliant nature, was kennelled for a week while we were on holiday. He was looked after very well by all accounts, but now he is home he is quite skittish and also trying to be dominant even though he has been castrated.

This morning he managed to open the gunea pig cage and attack and kill one of our guinea pigs in front of my 3 children so I'm a bit worried as this is so out of character for him.

While he was kennelled we gave the kennel a bag of his food (James Welbeloved Rice Kibble) so I don't think its a diet problem.

Does anyone know what I could do?

Thanks in advance.

It doesn't matter about how good his temp is, it's just nature, sorry for your loss.

Thanks for your help. I was told the same thing by a friend today, but its always comforting to hear from an expert

Thanks again

I agree with Random these things can happen When I got my rats I assumed my oldest Beardie would be fine with them as he's really laid back..........WRONG!!

The rats were running free on my bed and if I hadn't been quick Cava would have jumped on top of them, I managed to grab him mid leap and he's never been allowed in the room while they are free.

Sorry about your piggy and really sorry your kids saw it

Sorry to hear of your loss and that the children had to witness it. It is the nature of animals unfortunately. I remember years ago we had a budgie, and out of the blue one day while we were out, our golden retriever pulled the budgies cage down and thats all that was left of the poor soul was a feather left sticking out of the dogs mouth. It was upsetting, but I think probably the dog had had enough of the bird chirping and decided enough was enough.

I agree, one of my girls helps put our small furries away, but then I wouldn't really like her to do it unsupervised as I think it is nature for them to do things like that.

So sorry for your loss. :-(

when we were little one of our labs killed the giunea pig and you really couldnt fault his temprement, just one of those things unfortunately x

Sorry to hear this but I agree it is just one of those things.
I was alway told never to leave a dog alone with children how ever good they are as children get excited and then the dog gets blamed, I would never leave mine with any, I just could not go though having to give them up.
How old is he?, my mother in law always says they play up because you left them and they are showing you not to do it again ;-) our cat is the worst.

Suki managed to get into my rabbit hutch and we had the same out come, Its instinct im afraid sorry for your loss
ATD x

I would agree with all of the above. i know Selkie used to let my pet rats climb all over her and never gave them so much as a nibble. But I've also seen her grab and kill the mixy bunnies on the field. All dogs are capable killers, they wouldn't make such good hunting companions if they weren't and may never have been domesticated in the first place. I guess no one told their instincts we had decided to change their roles.

So sorry your children saw this *hugs* but as has been said, it's just nature, really. Not much you can do as the dog was just acting naturally.

So sorry for your guinea pig but as others have said, it is just instinct in a dog. Many years ago our springer spaniel broke into the guinea pig run and grabbed one. He raced round the garden with it in his mouth. We maged to catch him and it was still alive but died moments later. On closer inspection there was not a mark on the skin and I think the poor little thing must have had a heart attack. It is just the dog doing what it was born to do. My sympathies to you and your family.x

Sorry for your loss X

I'm afraid it just one of those things, dogs have a deep instinct to kill small furry things. Our Husky opened a hutch and killed a Guinea pig, she also got hold and killed my ferret as well. Otherwise she is the most unagressive soppy thing in the world . .

As everyone else has said, it is instinct and nothing to do with your dog's temperament. Sorry your children witnessed it and that it happened at all, but that is just nature :-(

Try to keep the guinea pigs and dog apart from now.

I'm afraid it is instinct, & its the fun of the chase. Have had two GSDs whose natures with people especially children were fantastic but one of them wanted to chase & catch the rabbit & guinea pig on all occassions, the other one played with the rabbit but wanted to chase the guinea pigs, think it was their squeak.

One of my dogs has a superb temperament with people, he'd ride on your shoulder like a parrot if he could and loves nothing more than a bit of fuss.

When I say he loves nothing more than a bit of fuss, what he does actually love more is hunting and thinks nothing of killing various wildlife. He sees small furries as prey, not something to dote on so being man's best friend doesnt make him wildlife's best friend.

Needless to say, I could never have ducks, rabbits etc and would never trust any of my dogs with such animals.

Totally agree with all that has been said, especially the fact that he's getting his own back for you having left him in that kennels! So sorry the kids had to see it, but it's nature, he doesn't know it's their pet. Hope he's given a reprieve by the kids;-)

It looks like many of us here have had the same experiance, Jake had a great temprement but once killed a squirrel in front of a mum and her little girl. Boomer is the same, if he had 30 seconds alone with my Degus i'm sure they would all be dead, he's banned from that room now. Its just doggy nature like everyone has said, I know that it still feels horrible to see though and i'm sorry for the loss of your guinea pig

my huskymute has caught birds before as in sparrows.she just lays there still letting them land then lets them get close then dives for them .i have taken the bird off her it is still alive but then i think shock gets them then they die .she does not chew them and i have looked and there as been no mark on them .im dreding her getting a frog as i have a pond in the garden .i heard a high piched noise one night about 10 o clock went out and she was pawing at one dont fancy taking a frog off her.

How sad for you all :-( especially the children x