Is my dog a seriall killer?

[fishtaco]

So yesterday when I was in the pasture with my faithful aussie cattle dog named Hope, I noticed she had stopped at the tall grass that borders it and poked her head in the grass for about two seconds and pulled out a possum. One bite, possibly two and she killed, as a matter of fact I was sure it was just playing possum. No barking, no hackles, no drama at all and after she did it she continued on with her patrol calm as can be. She has killed a few possums before, but I had never seen it happen before and the way she went about it was strange.
Even stranger is she has left three very small kittens alone and even tolerates getting her ears cleaned by them to this day with no aggression. She also leaves our ducks alone and does not chase squirrels or deer.
I got her as an older dog with a unhappy past, but I wonder what it is about possums that makes her react that way?
Fishtaco

 

[al&burke]

We had a dog on the farm she was brilliant with kids and people - Muskrats on the other hand - #1 Enemy - she took pretty good care of them. I think once they get on to something be it possums or muskrats they just keep doing what they do. Bitting people or kids is a different story. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[tizzo]

My dog goes after mice the same way. He catches, and bites about twice. He doesn't draw blood or even shake his head, just a couple of bone crushing chomps and then he drops it in search of a new one. I think maybe these dogs were bred to tolerate some things and not others.

 

[reefaholic33]

That's funny. I have a pit mix that anything she catches she claims as her baby. To this day she has caught rabbits, birds and a kitten and she has never hurt a one. She kinda cradles it and then it gets away.
Don't forget to keep her up to date on her rabies shots with attacking possums though.

 

[stdreb27]

Our beagles would spend days trying to get into our hen house. Finally they would. And they would grab a chicken and chew on it. Like a bone, Would ruffle some feathers, but other than that they'd be unhurt. It was funny. That was after them eating all the chicken poop in the coop...

 

[zman1]

Originally Posted by Fishtaco
http:///forum/post/3268283
I got her as an older dog with a unhappy past, but I wonder what it is about possums that makes her react that way?
Fishtaco
That this lesson - never play possum in front of her

 

[ironeagle2006]

You want a serial killer adopt my mothers CATS. Mewser you want 2 LARGE males that are fixed. These things will kill anything that come into my moms yard. Birds mice RATS RACOONS Rabbits as my mother now says it it is Furry and moves IT IS DEAD. These things are Sadistic they treed a racoon last fall one went high in the tree the other was lower and they chased that sucker til it fell out then BOTH attacked and they ATE IT.