We’ve recently had a string of record-breakingly hot, dry days (and nights!) leaving the landscape brown and yellow with only a touch of green. This normally happens each summer, but we’re ahead of schedule. And the scarcity of greenery brings out Australia’s most notorious pest: the grey rabbit. Not native to this continent but introduced by an Englishman in 1859 for sport hunting, its numbers have exploded to plague proportions in some regions.
Until her very last days, our border collie Rosie worked hard to keep the rabbit population in check. She became highly skilled at stalking and swiftly exterminating those on our property. In the early years, however, she was not so adept and, on one occasion, I found her prey in a somewhat less-than-dead state. I shouted out to Phil to please come help me drown the poor creature. Somehow it was understood that my role would be to fill a bucket while Phil’s would be to carry out the rest. To his relief, the rabbit vanished while the tap was still running. [read more below]
[wpvideo OqBL7HWf w=484]
And now our puppy Lila has arrived on the scene. She has a strong curiosity about rabbits, but no killer instinct. Maybe it’s her laid-back Labrador nature, but she’d much rather admire a bunny than chase one. Or God forbid have one for breakfast. (My apologies for capturing her attitude through a flecked windowpane.)
[If you have received this post by email, please click “dog downunder” or “a labrador with no taste for rabbit” in order to view accompanying video in a web page.]
No, I wouldn’t expect Lila to be your bunny killer…their “soft” mouth would only likely retrieve a dead one and that might be iffy. We have a beagle and 2 labs…the beagle has taught the labs that bunnies and squirrels are to be chased…but the beagle is the leader and the labs follow behind blindly…they have NO clue why there is so much excitement about the squirrel or rabbit…just that the beagle is SO excited so they just join in. Now, our youngest lab is definitely interested in birds and has caught a few doves (very slow dumb birds). So…guess you’ll continue to see bunny rabbits. Thanks for the video.
November 30, 2009 @ 12:10 am
Well, despite it probably being the wrong thing to say in Australia, I’m a bit relieved that Lila won’t be killing rabbits…I have a soft spot for them. And I enjoyed the image of your two Labs tagging along after the beagle on a mission!
November 30, 2009 @ 5:12 am
Lila is very unlike her mum!! Lilly can smell a rabbit from a mile away and it certainly would not have been leisurely eating away if Lilly had been anywhere near. Lila is getting such a big girl, and 6 months old today.
December 1, 2009 @ 5:32 pm
Yes, I remember you telling me about your girls going on rabbit-hunting expeditions. Wasn’t it Lilly who knew to bring back just a baby rabbit to give her pups?
December 2, 2009 @ 6:16 am
It was Carlotta who gave her bunny to the puppies. The girls will share anything except a rabbit!! Very fresh and organic.
December 7, 2009 @ 10:16 am
Perhaps I won’t share this information with Lila…
December 12, 2009 @ 5:10 am