Killing Rabbit for Fun

Question
My husband and I bought two Dainiffs, both sisters, from a reputable breeder in Nebraska.  We originally got the dogs to be guard dogs.  I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in the military, and the dogs were supposed to be a comfort to me while my husband was away at work.

Just after buying the dogs, we learned I was also 2 months pregnant.  So we immediately enrolled them in a puppy class offered at our local Petsmart.  The pups did well in class, learned all the basic Sit Stay type commands, etc.  They also got along well with all the other dogs in the class and  pets in the store.

Since the end of puppy training we've been saving up to enroll our puppies in the next stage.  During that time I'm the one who has the most interaction with the puppies.  I make them practice the commands they already know at least 10 mins a day.  I'd like to say the pups are very loyal to me, and will often obey a command from me the very first time it is given.  They do not, however, listen to my husband very well.  He fails to use the proper hand signals, and the pups are often misunderstanding his commands.

At any rate, they've always been fun loving, sweet little puppies, if not a little too protective of me.  (EX: They'll bark at any unfamiliar thing that comes my way until I tell them it's alright.)  I have refrained from trying to give them training as guard dogs, as I've been advised such training should wait until they are older and more mature.

Now to the root of the problem: my puppies are now about six months old, and I'm about six months pregnant.  I've had a constant worry as to how they will react to the crying baby, but I've told myself it will all be alright.  I bought a baby doll that mimics baby crying pretty well, and walk around with said doll in my arms wrapped in a blanket.  Whenever I have the doll I keep a close eye on my pups, making them sit and stay while I walk the doll around the room.  I've even sprinkled baby powder on the blanket and let them sniff it.  

At first, the dogs were noticeably upset that my attentions were elsewhere.  After a few weeks, though, they calmed down and stopped trying to get near me and the doll.  Once, and not that I'd EVER do this with a real infant, I set the doll down within the pups' reach on a chair and left the room.  The pups stayed back.  I then made the doll cry and left the room.  Again, the pups stayed back.  But they did show signs of interest in the doll, such as sniffing around as close as they dared to get.

I thought this meant all was going well.  After all, my pups have gotten along well with other dogs in the neighborhood, and even some outdoor cats that strayed into our yard.  They left the baby doll alone, and even came to find me when it wouldn't stop crying.

Then, this morning happened: I let my pups out for their morning potty break, and didn't hear a sound from them.  Since they normally play around outside, I glanced out the window to see what they were up to.  I was horrified!

My pups had cornered a rabbit against the fence and were ripping the fur off its leg.  The rabbit was screaming fiercely as it tried to escape.  To me, the most disturbing part was that my pups tails were wagging and they weren't barking.  To me, this indicated two things: the tails wagging meant they were enjoying listening to the rabbit scream, and the lack of barking meant they weren't just defending the house.  As far as I could tell, they were just playing with the poor rabbit, despite it's awful screams.

I opened the door and called them in, at which point they both released the rabbit and slowly trotted into their kennel.  I don't know why that was the first place they went, but they seemed to know something was wrong even though I did my best not to yell at them.  (I did yell for them to "Leave it" when I first opened the door.  But aside from that, I tried to behave normal until I knew what to do.)

Now I've got a new thought in my head: The rabbit has been hanging around my yard for just as long as the pups have been here.  They used to bark  at the rabbit when they saw it, but never chased it.  Perhaps after getting used to the rabbit they mustered the courage to attack it?  And if that is their mentality, what might they do to a baby once they get used to it?

I don't know much about training dogs, but I do know that dogs usually don't just kill other animals that are in their yard.  They'll chase them off, maybe snip at them, but they don't pin them down and cause needless pain while the animal is screaming.  If anything, they finish it off quickly.

With that story out of the way, here are the basic facts about the puppies:
Samus is the first one.  She was the breeder's favorite.  We got her when she was 14 weeks old or abouts, and she is now six months.  She is not spayed.  She was the dominant one from her litter.
Verney is the second one.  She was the runt from her litter, and I suspect abused by some of the breeder's farm hands.  She's very skittish when someone is angry, and therefore I find I must handle her gently, even when punishing her.  She is also not spayed yet.

Both pups spent the first 14 weeks on the breeder's farm.  They were well looked after, though left totally untrained.

I refuse to feed them scraps straight off a plate, though they do get leftovers.  When giving them leftovers I usually wait several hours after dinner, and serve them any tidbits from their own food dishes.  

They are allowed to sit with me on the couch, but are not allowed on any other furniture.  (Definitely NOT on our bed!)  Up until 1 week ago they've been sharing a kennel to sleep in.  The kennel is used for punishment only when necessary.  Other than that, the kennel door is always open, and I'll give them a treat from time to time if they willingly go in there to chew a bone or nap.  However, the kennel got too small for both of them, and now they sleep on two large dog pillows on our bedroom floor.  I plan to buy another kennel and have one dog sleep in her own space versus sleeping out on the floor at so young an age.  

I rarely strike the pups, and when I do it is always an open palm on the snout, more of a stun than a sting.  I save this as a drastic measure when they are doing something dangerous, such as jumping up at me and putting their paws on my belly.  I've taught them to sit and stay when greeting new people, but they're in their "terrible twos" stage and will sometimes revert back to bad behaviors.  When they do, I practice the basic commands with them until they are more obedient.  

Under supervision of a trainer, I've alpha rolled the pups a few times.  This was mainly when Verney the runt suddenly got bigger and realized she could dominate Samus.

I've never allowed them to play with dolls/squeaky toys.  It had been my experience growing up that dogs who played with such toys were more likely to hurt another animal in play, since the toys often resembled other animals and would "cry out" when bitten right.

I also avoid games such as tug of war, wrestling, or chasing.  I was advised by a previous trainer that such games encourage aggression.  All my dog's toys consist of bones, ropes, balls, and other such objects that do not mimic other animals or make noises when bitten.

To sum it up, I've been doing everything I was told by my previous trainer.  It will be several months before I can afford another training class for the pups.  In the meantime, I need to know how to deal with their first ever "killing for fun" episode, and how to ensure they'll know better than to ever try that on my baby.  I'm due March 21, so i haven't got much time....

Any help would be appreciated.  I've come to love these puppies, and they've been a wonderful part of my therapy.  I would do just about anything to keep them, but I'm afraid I'll have to give them up, possibly even put them down, if I can't feel safe having a baby in the same house as them.

Sincerely,
Jessi Headley

Answer
Dear Jessi, Thank you for writing to me. I am in the process of trying to learn how to open a non-profit business which will provide Service Dogs for Service People. My hopes are to supply trained service dogs free of charge for people like you, military and police people who are injured in the line of duty, which includes PTS syndrome. We have trained several service dogs and do not believe military personnel and police officers should have to pay $10,000 and wait years for a dog. We want to provide the dogs fully trained for free. So I do hope I can give you some good advice. I do not know why the breeder waited so long to sell the pups, as bonding occurs best around 6-8 weeks and training should begin as soon as possible. I am glad to started puppy training, but believe you also need to get a dog behaviorist to assist you. Most trainers are not educated in canine behavior. It is rare to find a dog trainer with an education in canine behavior, but certainly not impossible. Interview any trainer you might hire and be sure that you get a behaviorist as well. I know it may be difficult for you at this point, but maybe your husband can help you. The pups must be walked at the heel for at least 45 minutes each day, more if possible. They should not be allowed to stop to sniff around, and only be allowed to take a potty break when they arrive home or before they go. This exercises both their minds and bodies. With the rabbit you witnessed prey drive, which all dogs have to some extent. All of our dogs and our clients dogs are required to be exposed to chickens, rodents, geese, horses...and trained not to touch them. We have a small farm and our own dogs will actually look away if approached by any other animal, besides each other. A good exercise for your dogs would be to borrow a small animal, put it in a cage and train your dogs on and off lead not to bother it, and if possible train them eventually to walk away or to look away. Please email me privately at downesfarm@gmail.com so I can go into more detail with you as my farrier is about to come any minute. Attach your letter above in the email. It is good that you are getting your dogs used to the doll, and smells of a baby. You should  also set up your babies room and not allow the dogs to go into the nursery, but only sit or lay by the open door. Don't make any connection in your mind between the rabbit incident and the baby. That will make you very nervous and your dogs will feel your nervousness. They need a calm pack leader. It is my opinion that dogs never need to be hit anywhere as a correction and that a crate should never be used for punishment. Crates should be like a den, a safe place to go. In your frustration, I know it is hard to refrain from smacking their noses, but dog correct each other by grabbing at the throat. So using your hand in a claw like fashion to grab their neck is more likely to be a punishment they recognize. Your hand becomes like a mother dog's mouth, using a soft touch or harder if necessary. She also would reward them by licking their faces, so petting them on the face is calming to them.  By no means am I bashing your trainer, but I do think you got some information which I feel is a bit incorrect. Dogs know the difference between squeeky toys and people crying or animals crying out. No matter how big your yard is, they will find something to do if you do not walk them. The rabbit was prey and they were doing what dogs do with prey. My personal service dog will kill moles and rats for me around the barn, yet she will protect me and my sister's infant completely. She has been trained that way. She will sit by that baby for hours and not even let another dog near him. She grew up playing with all kinds of toys as well.  It is good that you have exercised putting them on their sides and staring at them to establish yourself as alpha. Also it is good that both dogs are considered equal under the people who lead them. We also do not allow any play fighting or aggression between our dogs. Your pups will learn that you, your husband, and your baby are all the pack leaders, and they are just part of the pack. Preparing them is not silly at all, it is good. I even recommend that the dogs are walked along side of the stroller, so they know that the stroller contents is more alpha than them. If you have or get a baby carrier, practice with that as well and make sure that they know to leave it. Allow them to sit or lay by it to protect the doll wrapped in the powder smelling blanket, but not to touch it. It really sounds like you are doing quite well with them. The rabbit incident shook you up, but you can put it behind you and move forward with the dogs. Do not let fear or anxiety get you now, you are doing so well. Wish we lived closer so that I could come and help you. Please leave feedback, and follow up with me on this board or by email if you need further help. Using All Experts is always better, because they keep track of my progress, but please know I am here for you and those that served beside you. Again thank you for writing, it has been my pleasure to assist you. Regards, Susan