Young Cocker bitch chasing and killing rabbits. Help needed for a friend.

I am posting this for a friend.

She has a young (about a year) cocker spaniel bitch. Over the last week she has chased and killed three rabbits which the owner is none too happy with.

He recall is normally pretty good but goes out of the window once she has started the chase.

Please can anyone with experience of rabbit killers/cockers give any help?

The dog is very at ease with the family rabbit with whom she plays with quite happily.

Laddie used to hunt rabbits - and other stuff. If I didn`t want him to hunt I kept him on lead or close. She must be fast!

She has caught three since Sunday!

Evidently this dog has the drive and the skill to catch the rabbits. If they want her to stop, they need to stop letting her off the lead where there are rabbits to catch! My two would give their eyes for a go at a rabbit and, even speaking as a vegetarian, I wouldn't begrudge them it if I accidentally let the opportunity arise.

ETA
Do rabbits maybe get a bit slow and stupid at the end of summer... like wasps?

This is a new behaviour that has only started this week so I think she was hoping she might be able to stop it before it becomes a habit.

Weirdly yes.... it's the height of the myxy season.... sick rabbits everywhere, unable to smell, hear or see a dog coming

So best to keep her on a lead for the time being anyway. What is the risk to the dog from an infected rabbit? When would the mixy season be over as it were?

No risk to the dog at all, although if you have pet rabbits at home be very careful about flea treatment at the moment!! Myxi is mainly spread by infected rabbit fleas which the dog could pick up, bring home and pass on.

It's also spread by midges and mozzies, but both them & the fleas like warm humid weather to breed, so I think the season may go on a bit longer this year as a lot of the country had a very warm September. It won't start declining til we've had a few frosts.

If she catches any more I'd be happy to take them off her hands - it's my dogs favorite meal

Could you teach her to "hunt" or retrive on command?? otherwise keep her on the lead some others might give you better advice thou
ATD x