Why does my dog act crazy after killing small animals? How to calm?

Question

Hi, My dog is a Rhodesian Rigeback/Red Heeler mix. She tends to hunt and kill small animals. We can tell when she kills something because she seems to go psycho after! She runs like crazy in circles and does crazy things. Why does she go crazy after she kills, and how do I calm her down? Thanks

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM · Accepted Answer

You should not let her hunt by herself. Apart from endangering other people's pets, she could also get infected with rabies, tularemia, the plague, leptospirosis and other nasty diseases when hunting wild animals. She is probably excited by the fact that she actually made a kill. Rhodesian Ridgebacks were originally bred for hunting lion, so the hunting instinct is very strong and only dogs who get excited about a hunt and making a kill are 'good' hunters. It was a desirable trait to breed for. So likely this excitement is genetic. You can calm her down by not letting her hunt.

Why does my dog act crazy after killing small animals? How to calm?

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