Thursday, January 16, 2014

A Game of Dog and Mouse

~Sheba and Todd~
Up until 2011 when Todd came along, we never had a dog that could catch and try to kill something with such extraordinary focused ability.  And up until September when Shadow came, I never had a Golden that could do that either. This afternoon both Todd and Shadow each caught and killed a mouse.  Both were tiny, harmless creatures that were going about their business along the edge of our barn.  The other dogs were totally unaware of the small lives being lived just inches from where they had been walking.  I too would never have known of their existence, had I not been outside and heard Todd exclaim in excitement and saw a small tail hanging out of his mouth.
I managed to get the mouse from Todd with a little bribe that he foolishly fell for.  Then a few minutes later, it was Shadow's turn.  The life of the mouse he caught ended along the edge of the barn without his even breaking stride.  Shadow had snatched the poor creature and was busy administering the fatal chomps when I grabbed him and made him "drop it."
I have to admit that I was saddened by the death of the two little mice which I buried just inside the woods. Todd moved on from the excitement this afternoon but Shadow remains totally convinced that the mice must somehow still be along the edge of the barn.  Even in the darkness he was staring where nothing had happened for hours--He is such a Golden!

50 comments:

  1. Samson keeps the mice at bay here, if they come into his enclosure. I put the dead mice out, away from the house, and the ravens get them. Circle of life, my friend Rachael calls it. Todd was bred to catch small critters close to earch, wasn't he?

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  2. Sounds like Shadow has a one track mind. Jill catches and kills things on a regular basis, mostly moles. I think she thinks it is her job - Tacky is the same way. They will sit and listen, and then scratch at the dirt then scratch some more. Partners in crime, kinda. I haven't seen a rat or mole in quite some time, I guess they are good at their jobs. Todd should be a natural hunter.

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  3. uh oh. they're ready to move up to wood rats like my crew, now. :)

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  4. Hi Kim,
    Even though its a sad story-- you kept our interest,,, at least the Todd and Shadow gave the miceys up,,, our cats are not as cooperative.
    The photo of your barn and is that snow? So beautiful! Of course Todd and Shadow are beautiful too,
    love
    tweedles

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  5. Oh Kim, we are quite the kindred spirits. I understand that the pups think it is either their job or great sport, but I understand the sadness and burial.
    You have a tender soul my friend-that's what makes us all care so much about coming here to see what you and yours have been up to.
    As always, GREAT pics!

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  6. A while ago Walter startled me by plucking a mouse out of the grass without any warning he was even stalking it. The mouse squealed I told Walter to drop it and amazingly he did. The mouse was able to retreat down the hole he had poked his head out of and life went on for all of us. I couldn't believe how quickly Walter plucked that thing out of the ground.

    Cindy

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  7. Terriers are known as killing machines. We've only ever had one mouse in our house. We terrorised it so much that it left and must have told other mice. But we haven't killed one.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  8. Stella seems like more of a "live and let live" kind of pup. What she really loves to do is find a big bush that is full of birds and jump into it, then barks as the birds all fly away!

    Cheers and hugs,
    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  9. We had a very similar experience this summer when Chloe grabbed a chipmunk!! I thought I would have a heart attack! I managed to get her to drop it and the little guy got away! Happy Weekend Kim!

    Your pictures are awesome!!

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  10. My border collie caught a huge rat and killed it in one deft shake. We had never seen her do anything like that and didn't know she had it in her. It was very upsetting to see the rat killed, poor little thing. xxx

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  11. I'm surprised that Todd is not out there waiting too. Carrleigh was an expert at chasing and killing lizards and she always remembered every place she had seen one and looked there to see if she could find another one.

    xo
    Lynn

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  12. Oh my goodness, poor mice. Hopefully they get the picture and move from where they are, because it doesn't seem like Todd or Shadow are going anywhere. I get so upset when Roscoe grabs a lizard and just kills the poor thing. I try getting him to let it go, but once he does it is way too late. His paws alone kill them once he stumps them.
    Have a wonderful safe and warm weekend. Ana

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  18. Oh oh - poor little mice! But, such is the circle of life. It's good to know the pups are looking after their territory though! :)
    Happy weekend Kim!
    xo Catherine

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  19. Shadow has an amazing coat - looks like a super model :)

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  20. Oh my, but a hunter is always a hunter.....Love the pictures but the last one is so beautiful Kim, Hugs Francine.

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  21. So sad about the poor babies. But I guess at times like this we stop and realize that our own babies are not children with fur coats but rather canines with their natural instincts kicking in.

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  22. No worries, Kim, of mice ever getting inside and staying with those two around!What a great shot of Shadow sitting and staring!

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  23. I too am a great mouse and vole catcher. I however rarely kill them, just hold them in my mouth until MOM says, "Drop it." I once caught 3 at one time, one in my mouth and by slamming my paw down on the the other two. Sadly the two that got the paw died.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  24. We had a Great Dane years ago that loved to catch mice. He was heavy enough that he would kill them by stepping on them. It always made me so sad.

    Harlow is very adept at catching birds - she has caught two in mid-flight so far.

    Monty and Harlow

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  25. It's at times like this you realise you have dogs and not furry 4-legged babies! They are only doing what feels natural to them.

    In her younger years Rosie Mae dispatched many rabbits, rats, a squirrel and a pheasant - I always felt bad for them but Rosie clearly felt GREAT about it!

    I suspect you're going to be digging a few more mouse-sized graves now those 2 have got a taste for it!

    x

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  26. I stopped feeling sorry for the mice that our Sophie kills ages ago. They cause a great deal of damage in the seed storage room and just when I think they don’t have access then I find more damage. I started leaving the doors open to the garden house so that Sophie can hunt to her heart’s desire. Dachshunds are very quick and efficient hunters.

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  27. LOL! I am so happy to know that there are other mouse killers among us! Moon and Copper are brutal!!...:)JP

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  28. That is funny. My cats have been camping the kitchen and pantry for weeks now...they will just sit and stare at the oven or the refrigerator for hours. I'm sure there must be a smart mouse in the house but they have not been able to catch it yet. Hummmm
    I too hate to see the little creatures die and will just watch and wait.

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  29. We have lots of stray cats that keep the mice in check and Miggs keeps the cats in check around our feeders and chases the odd squirrel to . Good to hear all is well there with you and your clan . Thanks for sharing . Have a good weekend !

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  30. Well...way to go todd, busy doing that Scottie Rodent patrol. Yep kinda rare in a Golden. we are always catching them little buggers here, it's like pawty time, and yes Dad takes them away!

    The Mad Scots

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  31. this little episode made me smile.
    very much just nature. and yet...
    i've always been partial to tiny mice people. from probably the first time i saw one on a greeting card!
    i made a pet of a little field mouse once. i named him ralph.
    he would take cheese right out of my hand.
    he came to a sad end too.
    you don't want to know.
    the life of a little mouse is hard.
    beautiful... beautiful pictures as always dear heart.
    you and your goldens and terriers and your own gentle heart. ♥

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  32. Oh, I do love the Golden stare. Still believing.

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  33. Many people would be happy to have the mice gone.
    Many would not.
    *hugs* ♥
    :-)
    Have a wonderful weekend, Kim.

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  34. I use to feel sorry for the critters Zoie killed too, and she so loved to kill them!!

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  35. It's really spreading among your pack. I'd be upset too but the dogs are just following their instincts. I watch coyotes pounce on and kill small rodents all the time. I guess it makes sense that our domestic ones have the same instincts.

    I love that first photo.

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  36. They actually caught a mouse ? Perhaps they could come and give lessons to Bob and Sophie.

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  37. My Goldie Girl is more of a sissy..She might bark or run at a squirrel, chipmunk or mouse and try half-heartily to catch one. I do love your cuties, have a happy weekend!

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  38. Oliver and Emerson I don't believe have ever seen mice so I'm not sure what they would do. They love to track scents but I'm not sure how they would respond if they actually found what they were tracking. :) Our chickens, however, attack immediately. They leave everything else alone - chipmunks, caterpillars, etc.

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  39. Oh no! I have to laugh at that serious look on Shadow's face though. Oh my goodness! What a gorgeous golden. Beautiful shot of your barn.

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  40. When it comes to mice or rats Kim, I would have been giving the dogs treats for a job well done. Of course you don't want the pups to catch some disease. Maybe living near the forest or on land, gives one a tollerance for rodents. We dealt with roof rats in Ca. and it was horrid hearing them in the ceiling of our house. Yuck.
    Terriers are known to be ratters so it doesn't surprise me at all that Todd would follow in his genetic footsteps.
    Have a great weekend my friend.
    Noreen

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  41. Wow! I need to pick up some tips from Todd! We have a bit of a mouse problem in our house and the peeps would love it if I took care of them!

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  42. My daughter's BF's golden Tucker had a badly upset stomach and we were all very worried - until he vomited up a mouse, lol! My dogs have left me dead moles in various places in my house (including one on my bed!!), and have killed lizards and frogs by playing with them too much, haha, but the really upsetting thing was when one of our young cats found a nest of rabbits and brought two babies screaming into the house!! I tried to keep them alive but couldn't - it was terribly upsetting :(

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  43. Tsar was my mouse and mole killer and it looks like Sebastian may be following in his paw steps. The others like to chase and dig but aren't that serious about the catch. Then there's Sydney who is totally focused on catching a squirrel. I hope the squirrel population is staying alert because I know she won't give up.

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  44. It's good to have a mouser. If you have one mouse, you have two....and then twenty....and then fifty. It's best that they don't even get started.

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  45. You know how much I love furry critters, but I draw the line at mice. Our Dorothy is a very good mouser, and we haven't had nearly as many of them this year as in the past.

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  46. I don't like mice, but it bothers me when I see a pup kill another creature. Just part of the chain of life in the wild, but it leaves me feeling horrible inside.

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  47. My peep has had Scotties her whole life. Each one has had their specialty...mice, lizards, flies, turtles (no fatalities!), you get the idea. My peep is a little worried what my specialty is going to be. My peep has always buried the victims, too.
    Hopefully, they got it out of their system and will stick to flies!
    oxox
    Daisy

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  48. When Thunder was a young dog he used to catch field mice while he was out pheasant hunting. In a stride or two they were down the hatch before anyone could even think to say "drop it". Freighter and Storm don't seem as fixated thank goodness.

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  49. Hi Y'all!

    I've never brought mice, but I've brought some baby birds...unharmed and very much alive, I might add.

    Y'all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

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Speak--I really enjoy your comments! Thanks for stopping by today!!