Puppies that hunt

[dedeeboru]

So we've had Jackie a month. She's housebroken (more or less), obediance trained, and has been doing really well with little to no problems.
Here's the issue...in the past week she's killed at least 1 wild animal a day. Yesterday it was a possum and all of her babies.
I know dogs are predators and with her being a terrier mix, that urge is going to be huge.
I'm just worried because some of these animals are so much larger than her and because these animals aren't exactly vetrinarian-maintained pets. I'm worried about her getting sick, injured, or worse, killed.
I've been watching her closely, and it all happens so quick, you don't realize whats happened. She's on her leash, heeling, and sniffing all around like a good, normal dog, when she'll dart into a hedge or bush and dart back out with something that's still very much alive but mortally wounded.
Any ideas?

[GSD]

It sounds like you need to brush up on your leash handling skills. i can understand a fast dog, but to be able to get into the brush and come out with an animal at least once a day is little on the high side. Don't give so much leash and don't walk so close to things she can dart into. Sounds like your dog might be a good candidate for a working terrier group. She obviously has prey drive so use it to your advantage to train her.

[Chelsea]

Well, you have a jack. That's to be expected, as you've said. This is going to be something you and her will deal with for as long as she can walk. Honestly? I wouldn't fight it - you'll lose. Working terriers have and do get killed in the ground and above it. If you're really worried about her, I wouldn't allow her outside in a heavily wildlife-populated area unsupervised. You might want to try to teach her a "off" command, though I'm not sure how well that would work. I might suggest tying/clipping the leash to your belt loops so that she can't escape you so easily.

If she's AKC reg'd, I'd suggest getting involved in earth dog. It's very different from actual, real working, but it's great for terriers who have the drive for it. And, if you'd like to put her to work even further, I know some people around the US who work their dogs often that I could get you in touch with (via email).

Since you own a jack, there's a russell forum I frequent: brillwood.com/forums - it's great for russell owners, especially those that work/show their dogs/do performance events.

Good luck.

[Kade]

It's extreme, but a muzzle might keep her out of trouble on walks. Just make sure her panting isn't restricted.

[flyndog]

Or, just improve your leash handling skills, like GSD said.

[dedeeboru]

Oh, she's not a full Jack, so AKC is out of the question. She's only half. The other half is poodle. She just seems to take after the jack so much more. We're getting her into flyball so she has an active "job". It's the only activity around us I can find that allows mixed breeds to participate.
Also, she isn't exactly escaping me. I walk her on a 6 ft lead and never let go.
Issue is our whole neighborhood is heavily wildlife populated (there are 3 rabbit warrens, a fox den and a duck pond in our yard alone). The only safe-to-walk area (meaning not road) that isn't another persons private property is a walking path that's a bit wooded or our yard. She only has to stray about a foot or two from my ankle to dart into a shrub.
I'm working on her lead training to never stray from a perfect "heel" but I'm just panicking. I'm somehow imagining her finding a black bear, I think.

[Kade]

Well, if there's a black bear within range of your 6' lead, you've got a lot of problems!