Aww sweet piccie - although it is a bit small I have a few pics of my dogs with lambs. My elderly shepherd in particular is very maternal towards the small orphan lambs we bring in to feed, but I wouldn't completely trust her outdoors with them when they are bouncing around

A dog owner has been ordered to keep their pet under control after it attacked and killed a terrier.


The six-year-old terrier was being taken for a walk when he was attacked and killed by a dog.

Following council and police investigations, magistrates ordered the owner of the offending dog to keep the pet dog on a lead and muzzled at all times while in a public place.

Executive councillor for environment said: "Although incidents like this are infrequent, as the vast majority of dog owners do behave responsibly, there has been a growing trend of attacks like this that have to be cracked down on.

This was a seriously upsetting incident and there have been similar cases recently. We need to remind all dog owners of their duty to control their animals.

It's simply not right or fair that other people's loved pets are being killed in this way."

The order was made under section 2 of the Dog Act 1871, which gives courts the power to make owners keep pets muzzled and on leads in public places. In extreme cases, the court can order that the dog be destroyed.

Predatory Drift

As you read the above , did you think “shocking, these dogs were obviously aggressive” “they should never have been let off the lead in public” “my dogs would never do such a thing”?

If you did then I hope that the following information may help you look at this event in a slightly different way and in order to prevent a similar occurrence. Whilst the dogs in question may have a history of predatory behaviour, the actions may well have been as a result of something slightly different; predatory drift.

What is it?

Predatory Drift is a sudden, and drastic change in a dog's demeanour that is characterised by behaviours associated with hunting small prey.

The term is usually used to describe a medium - large dog which has suddenly and uncharacteristically targeted a smaller dog as prey (dinner).

Predatory Drift is NOT aggression, but it can mean injury or death for small dogs (or puppies).

Predatory Drift happens when the larger dog's instinct to hunt are triggered when play escalates or gets too much like the real thing (an out of control chase game). It can occur when a small dog/puppy gets scared or injured and squeals or wriggles in a way that makes them look like prey, It can happen just because the size difference says, "You are comparatively bite-sized, or move like something that is bite-sized, and I am a canine predator."

The most alarming fact about Predatory Drift is that it can happen even with well-behaved, well-socialised dogs who play well and often with no aggression.
Dogs which are triggered into predatory drift, may never have been in a dog fight, and be generally obedient. This is no protection against predatory drift. It is not a “good dog/bad dog” problem.

Predatory Drift is not about how brave, strong, feisty, or fearless the small dog acts. Or how well your large dog plays and listens to you, or even how many times they have met, played with or been around a small dog.

Predatory Drift can even happen between two dogs that know each other well and have lived, played, and or known each other for years. In the right situation, a sudden shift happens and the predatory sequence (like dominoes falling) is triggered and completed with lightening fast speed.

While it is not a problem seen every day, all it takes is the slightest trigger -an injury, a fight, a response to something startling or scary. Predatory Drift is a SIZE MATTER! It usually involves a grab and shake, which instantly breaks the small dog's neck. There is no time to react. This is not a fight, it does not escalate. There is a trigger and then it is over.

What can we do about it?

Exercise particular care if you have a large dog interacting with a very much smaller one (including a puppy) and be aware that when you have 2+ dogs they often “pack up” and are more susceptible to the phenomenon. If you have a dog with high prey drive in the mix then the risks increase.

I often meet a lady with 4 Bichon Frises where I regularly walk; because I have one dog with an extremly high prey drive and another with a reasonably high one I only allow one of them to interact off lead with these dogs to avoid any possibility of such an event.

It is worth remembering that is sometimes easier to label dogs as x, y or z than to educate ourselves about dog behaviour!