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Malamute hunting instincts...this is getting scary

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juneausmom:
My 15-month old male malamute has provent to be an excellent hunter; he's been catching voles and field mice on our farm for nearly a year. Unfortunately, he's also recently taken a small fawn, and I worry about him turning this instinctive behavior on other dogs, etc.

On walks, he responds well to sit, stay, down, come--unless he sees a duck or a rabbit and then he nearly yanks my arm off and I struggle to control him when he's in that hunting mode. It's as if he's on a very fast autopilot.

We keep him kenneled at night (when he responds to the call) and when we're not home, but otherwise he has free reign of 40 acres and usually stays pretty close to home.

I know I can't change his genes, but I was wondering if any one had a similar experience and any success in moderating the behavior.

Thanks in advance.

LuvmyMal:
My mals hunt, rabbits, squirrles, and other small animals. They are wonderful with smaller dogs, but never left unsupervised

KJUNMAMI:

--- Quote from: juneausmom on July 17, 2007, 06:16:37 pm ---My 15-month old male malamute has provent to be an excellent hunter; he's been catching voles and field mice on our farm for nearly a year. Unfortunately, he's also recently taken a small fawn, and I worry about him turning this instinctive behavior on other dogs, etc.

On walks, he responds well to sit, stay, down, come--unless he sees a duck or a rabbit and then he nearly yanks my arm off and I struggle to control him when he's in that hunting mode. It's as if he's on a very fast autopilot.

We keep him kenneled at night (when he responds to the call) and when we're not home, but otherwise he has free reign of 40 acres and usually stays pretty close to home.

I know I can't change his genes, but I was wondering if any one had a similar experience and any success in moderating the behavior.

Thanks in advance.


--- End quote ---

Have you had obedience training? It wouldn't stop him from going after these smaller animals but may make him listen when he sees these other animals. Just a thought.  ;)

GoldenPyrs:
Since he's hunted a fawn, I'm concerned that he may turn his attention to lambs & calves.  If so, in many rural areas, the farmer's are allowed to shoot to kill a dog to defend their livestock and that would be tragic.  Is it possible to fence him in a smaller area (an acre or two) that you can see more easily to make certain that he's safe?

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