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sallzsxc444 · Sep 28, 2007, 06:28 PM

My dog always rushes in my room and stares at my mice in their cage. Once I was holding one of the mice and she snapped at it. What can I do to stop her obsession with the mice?

labman · Sep 28, 2007, 08:34 PM

Even if your dog isn't a terrier or other breed noted for its prey drive, it may see the mice as little furry snacks. As soon as you see it focusing on the mice, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and offer it a chew toy. It is difficult and takes time to train a dog out of an instinctive behavior.

Such corrections will be more effective if the dog sees you as the pack leader. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss

sallzsxc444 · Sep 29, 2007, 04:04 PM

Yeah but she doesn't really think of them as a snack she's just a gentle kelpy but she always wants to play with them

labman · Sep 29, 2007, 04:12 PM

Well, could be. I have never been sure what dogs think of cats either, but dogs may play too rough for the cats or the mice.

RubyPitbull · Sep 30, 2007, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by sallzsxc444

yeah but she doesn't really think of them as a snack shes just a gentle kelpy but she always wants to play with them

Uh, not to be rude, but how do you really know what your dog is thinking? Kelpies are a working breed and live to herd. But, dogs will be dogs when it comes to their prey drive and targeting small animals. Most dogs, no matter how nice and gentle they are with people, will go after and kill smaller animals if they haven't been desensitized to them. Your dog's snapping at the mice is a clear signal of her intentions. Desensitizing her to the mice will take a lot of work, time, and effort on your part, and you still cannot be assured that she won't kill them if you leave them alone with her. The easiest and most quick thing to do would be to ensure that your dog cannot get into the room when the mice are roaming around. So, if you are playing with your mice in your room, close your door first, and don't let her in until you have put the mice safely away in their cage.