My 3 year old Shepherd and 7 month old Doberman are killing wild animals!

Question
Hi,

Love your answers and hope you can help me!!!  Our German Shephed, Max (male) is honestly the most loving, loyal, benign, friendly well behaved dog.  People who hate dogs love Max!  His loyalty to us, especially my husband is what alot of people say is abnormal.  If Mark is outside all over the yard Max follows him everywhere and will lay right where he's working, then, get up when he moves somewhere else and lays there. He will do the same with me if Mark is not there.    BUT...7 months ago we got a beautiful "sister" for him, Lexi.  She is a Doberman.  We believe it was the best thing for both of them. Right from the start, Max accepted her and I know they truly love each other now.  Lexi is much more adventureous and will roam aroung the property more.  

Since we got Lexi 2 animals have been killed in our yard which never happened before.  Max would chase a squirrel in the yard but has never killed anything.  In June I looked out my kitchen window and they both were laying very calmly on the ground.  When I looked closer a dead woodchuck was between them!  They were not eating it, they were not even looking at it!  My daughter says they don't want to eat it but they bring it back to the house so you can see their prize!  Considering the size and distance it had to be acrried, it was Max who had to carry this out of the woods.  

This morning I let them out and I heard Max barking.  The ONLY time Max barks is when the tiny dog next door comes out.  They both bark at each other for 15-30 seconds and then its over.  After he continued to bark I knew it had to be something else so I went out and discovered he was barking from our wooded area.  We have a 1.5 acre fenced in backyard and 1/4 of it is wooded.  I called him several times and he didn't come which he has never done!  He ALWAYS comes!  He kept barking so now I'm thinking that he is caught on something or hurt.  When I go back there he is pacing and barking over an animal that is groaning (don't know what it was becasue I won't look).  He still wouldn't come to me!  Lexi came when called and was very excited.  She wanted to go back to Max but I held her.

I need to know if this is normal.  Both of these "killings" have happened since we got Lexi.  Never before!  Are they operating as a pack now!  Max is the "boss" between the two of them (goes out the door first, etc) but I'm worried.  Is it dangerous for them? Is it normal behavior?   One interesting fact is that both of the times they did this my husband was out of town.  

I'm hoping this is all just normal when you have two dogs in a household but I anxiously await your response.  Thanks very much!  

Answer
You have to remember, dogs share 97% of their DNA with wolves.  Some have more prey drive than others.  Dobermans aren't noted for high prey drive, but Lexi never read that.  I am not sure there is much to do to stop it, and unfortunately, it can be dangerous.  I hope the neighbor's dog stays on the far side of a fence.  

My son just got torn up rescuing a cat from his Fox Hound's mouth.