Puppy's first kill. Well, sorta... almost...

[AtlLaw]

Every morning our 3 yo Great Pyrenees hits the back yard at a dead run when let out the door.  And she doesn't slow down until she has made a complete circuit, with particular attention to the back fence which separates the yard from a wooded area.
 
I can almost hear her saying "Pleeeeeese let there be a coyote back here! pleasepleaseplease.   
 
Alas, no coyotes, but she keeps the birds, squirrels and bunnies hopping!
 
Yesterday I called for her to come in before I left for work.  Another part of the morning ritual.  But she wouldn't come!  I could see her moving around on the patio, but she wouldn't come up the stairs to the deck.   
 
I looked into the yard and what did I see?  seemingly as dead as a door nail?  A 'possum!  Angel didn't want to leave it although she would sniff it then look at it with disgust.
 
I finally got her in and sent her upstairs to check on Kathie while I watched the uh, deceased possum for a while.  It never twitched.  I even began to think it was dead and not just "sulled up" as they say in Jawja.  But, after I went into the house, and by the time I got upstairs, Elvis had left the building!   
 
Angel still won't talk to me... 

[powderman]

ATLAW. HEH, once again playing dead has fooled man and beast. My Dad and I were fox hunting one night many years ago and coming accross a field we spied a possum, it suddenly died. Pop bent down showing me the dead possum explaining how that was a way to defend itself. Got to the car and Pop had lost his lighter. We backtracked, came to the still dead possum and there was the lighter shining under the full moon, ol possum never budged. Waited 10 min at the car and went back, possum gone. POWDERMAN. 

[billy_56081]

Get a rat terrier or mountain cur, the possum won't be playing dead after the shaking they give them.

[williamlayton]

I have seen possums and coons riled up.
Normally, one dog can't handle a riled up possum.
Just shoot---one of us needs some relief.
Blessings

[Dee]

Just about everything but squirrels avoid my fenced in yard. Huff, my Jack Russell is a terror, and whether it be possum, coon, cat, mouse, snake, or whatever. If they wanna fight, Huff is the go to guy on this half acre. He will stay in it till it's over. Like someone said: The possum wouldn't be playin dead, he would be authentically dead.
Did I mention that he really don't like people either. That's the reason for padlocks on all the gates.

[billy_56081]

The only thing I ever saw give Buddy the rat terrier and education was a mink. That was pretty funny.
 

[rockbilly]

My old German Shepard’s first kill was a porcupine.  That was a $97.00 visit to the vet.  His second kill was, you guessed it,. another porcupine, another visit to the vet to the tune of $150.00.  We had a good talk after the second one, I told him next time you are on-your-on, he hasn’t tangled with one since.

My Vet told me most dogs will leave a porcupine alone after the first experience, but often they don’t and will continue to attack them time after time, he said he had seen a Black Lab about 6-7 times to have quills removed.

[gstewart44]

Well, well Sir Richard,
 
It seems that Angel got a confusing dose of reality with marsupials (NA style).      My Dobie had the same experience about 15 years ago - used to chase them from tree to tree acros our back yard.... one night he caught one shook him twice till he went limp, then brought him to the back door stoop.    Dobie came in and 2 hours later MrPossum was gone.   Dang crazy quirks of nature.   Howebber (plagiarism acknowleged    ) once my big Dobie (105 lbs) tangled with a big boss Coon in 3 feet of water in the lake behind us, he jes bout drowned!!       Old Dobie never picked on a critter 'round water again.     

[hillbill]

ive heard them ole hillbilly stories of the possum running off after he got skint.bet he was a cold possum cum winter!

[powderman]

A coon will get right on top of a dogs head and drown them if given a chance. POWDERMAN.