Why do female dogs kill kittens?

[4theloveofzoe]

My XSIL, has a female black lab, who has recently started to kill new born kittens. Any idea why she'd be doing this?

[lv4dogs]

It has nothing to do with the sex of the dog, nor the breed. Just some dogs are more prone to aggressive &/or territorial &/or prey drive behavior.

[4theloveofzoe]

It has nothing to do with the sex of the dog, nor the breed. Just some dogs are more prone to aggressive &/or territorial &/or prey drive behavior.

SO you think it's a agressive, terriotorial, prey kinda thing?

I forgot to say that she lives in a 2 bedroom apartment with three other dogs, and a bunch of cats. Could it be a "space" kind of issue?

[lv4dogs]

SO you think it's a agressive, terriotorial, prey kinda thing?

I forgot to say that she lives in a 2 bedroom apartment with three other dogs, and a bunch of cats. Could it be a "space" kind of issue?

Yes, most likely one or more of those behaviors is causing her to killt he kittens, that is unless she is really trying to play with them but she doesn't know her own strength.

A space issue would be the same as a territorial issue most likely.

[4theloveofzoe]

Yes, most likely one or more of those behaviors is causing her to killt he kittens, that is unless she is really trying to play with them but she doesn't know her own strength.

A space issue would be the same as a territorial issue most likely.

I was thinking along the lines of...

TOO many animals in a small space. SO, let's kill off these smaller creatures, before it gets WAY too crowded up here.

[lv4dogs]

I was thinking along the lines of...

TOO many animals in a small space. SO, let's kill off these smaller creatures, before it gets WAY too crowded up here.

Yeah I understand, but I still think that would fall under the territorial catagory.