Are all large (pet) dogs capable of killing?

All dogs are capable of killing regardless of breed or size.

Honestly, although you may not like his actions (killing/eating squirrel), you should always respect an animal for being an animal. The repulsion you feel is a human emotion and has no impact whatsoever on your dog. Why would you love him less because he acted like a dog? He is, after all, a dog! The lovey-dovey, cutsie-wootsie, inter-species photos, and tv shows, and movies, etc. are phony and in my opinion, do more harm than good to our pets. Why? Because people believe them, then at the first mis-step when an animal acts like an animal, their owners are shocked, upset, punish the animal, or worse get rid of the dog, etc.

I'm not pro-predators or anything, just don't judge and condemn your dog for being a dog. He doesn't judge and condemn you for being a human does he?

Sweetie, even a small terrier can kill a squirrel. ;)

Your dog was just being a dog-they do hunt, you know.

I can understand being a little startled by the squirrel incident, as many people forget that dogs are indeed hunters, but there's really no reason to love him less or be frightened of him. The fact that he will chase and kill a rodent when given free reign to do so is in no way any indication that your dog is abnormally aggressive towards people or animals.

It is a sign that you ought to supervise him in the yard if you don't want him killing and eating chipminks, squirrels, etc.

This is a dogs natural instance to catch things and either kill it and walk away or eat the pry Since all dogs are carnivores,Hes not a killer hes a hunter and he does this well so don't feel like hes a killer and do love him he did you no wrong.BESIDES THEIR ARE MANY GROUPS OF DOGS AND THIS ONE FALLS INTO ONE OF THEM LIKE THE ...hound,terrier,utility,working,toy,sporting,non sporting,herding, campanion, and guanridian group You have a great dog and just clean up after it and keep loving it He will love you back and this does not mean hes a bad or a killer dog...

...but my dog is a killer. I feel like I don't have the same level of love for him.>>>

Humans are killers too, it is just the way of the world. I'm sure about a month after my dog killed a squirell Karma got her back when she badly injured her knee chasing another one.

Not wanting another big vet bill keeps her leashed in that area now.

Add: Trolls? -1 TD trolls can sometimes act like bots. Increase your security.

Small dogs do too. We live in an old farm house and every spring and fall we get mice. My cat chases them out of their hiding place and my terrier snaps their necks. I think it's awesome when a dog has the instincts it's supposed to. You don't say what breed(s) it is. It makes a difference.

honesty, all dogs are capable of killing. whether its a chihuahua or a great dane..some dogs are taught not to eat animals like squirrels since their puppies and some dogs just dont feel like killing--some have that hunting instinct - it really depends on the dog though whether he/she likes to kill, but all dogs are CAPABLE of killing. hope this helps :)

Your dog is doing what comes Naturally my Shih Tzu have caught and killed Rabbits and eaten them mice and a Squirrel .

Whilst they don't have high prey drive i just let them get on with it .

All dogs are CARNIVORES.

Carnivores kill to survive.

Breed(or lack thereof) gender & size are immaterial.

yes all animals are capable of killing

dog equals hunter, small animals equals prey, they have to be trained and supervised to get along

That depends, dogs kill anything unusual on their " territory". By leaving your dog do this he will think its okay to do so. By giving out to your dog when he does this punish him by taking away his favourite chewy. He will learn that it is wrong unless it's too late, trust me we trained out puppy to stop peeing on my mother by making him pee on my mother in law