| Dogs have not traveled far along the | | | | However, when dog packs operate as hunting |
| evolutionary road since the time they hunted | | | | groups, much larger animals become the prey, |
| and killed for food. In fact, some breeds are | | | | sometimes even people. |
| still selectively bred for their tendency to | | | | |
| chase or stalk prey and at least capture, if | | | | Most dogs that have killed people, either by |
| not kill and/or eat them. | | | | themselves or in packs, select children as |
| | | | their prey. Child killings (especially those |
| Notable among these are the Terriers, | | | | committed by lone dogs) have usually occurred |
| Dachshunds, sighthounds and various hunting | | | | at or within the dog's "territory," or have |
| breeds. It is no wonder then, that pet dogs | | | | involved a child who screamed shrilly when |
| occasionally succumb to their ancestral | | | | first approached or knocked down. |
| tendency, even without special training. | | | | |
| | | | A small percentage of dogs appears to be |
| Dogs are often inadvertently trained to kill. | | | | stimulated in the most primitive way by the |
| For example, many dog owners have urged their | | | | screaming of any animal: their reaction is to |
| pets (sometimes playfully) to chase cats, | | | | kill that animal. Wild canines have killed |
| squirrels and stray dogs, and are often | | | | members of their own pack that cry out after |
| horrified when their dogs bring home the | | | | they have become trapped or are injured. |
| neighbor's Teacup Poodle as a trophy of the | | | | |
| chase. | | | | Dogs that kill other animals should be |
| | | | differentiated from those with a fighting |
| Sometimes other animals, usually cats, have | | | | problem. Most dog fights end before either of |
| "trained" dogs to become killers. These | | | | the combatants is seriously injured. |
| animals do this unknowingly by sitting on | | | | |
| fences, rooftops, in trees or beyond fences, | | | | These episodes rarely result in the death of |
| tantalizing the dog from a safe vantage | | | | either dog. Predatory attacks aimed at |
| point. | | | | killing the prey animal are deliberate, with |
| | | | the fangs aimed at the base of the prey's |
| After enough of this teasing, the dog becomes | | | | neck just above the shoulders. If the prey is |
| sufficiently frustrated to attack an animal | | | | on its back, the soft flesh of the throat or |
| when the opportunity presents itself. | | | | belly is attacked. |
| | | | |
| Dogs that kill other animals are usually, but | | | | A predatory attack also usually includes |
| not necessarily, of the excitable type and | | | | violent shaking of the victim. Rarely does a |
| react aggressively or dominantly to other | | | | domestic dog actually eat its kill, though |
| species or smaller dogs. | | | | some that prey on chickens and other fowl |
| | | | tend to do so more often that cat or dog |
| The killing of smaller dogs or cats by larger | | | | killers. |
| dogs is usually the case in urban areas. | | | | |