Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Great Ant Hunter


Dogs are hunters by nature.  "Sporting" breed or not, most still display some degree of their original predatory instinct.  Terriers "worry" the prey they go to ground to catch. Sighthounds pursue or point.  Labradors retrieve.  Scenthounds track.  Unbeknownst to most, despite their AKC distinction as a "nonsporting" breed, Frenchies have a unusual field skill: they taunt.

Like a great cat playing with an antelope before it goes in for the final kill, Brutus will relentlessly tease & taunt any creepy-crawly he can find.  It's all about the fun of the chase, not the kill itself.   If any small movement catches his eye, Brutus will snort around, pounce on, paw at, and (alas) eat any unfortunate invertebrate that crosses his path.  Sometimes their fate is to suffer the wrath of his digestive tract, other times they are left to wither away when they cease to amuse their mighty hunter.

Nothing short of a video clip can suffice to demostrate the mighty predator in action. That being said, I proudly present today's feature film:  Brutus, The Great Ant Hunter.

25 comments:

Ziggy Stardust said...

Brutus, I love to chase ants, sometimes they get away, they are fast little critters. It is a very nice afternoon crunchy snack. Your Mom doesn't know what she is missing. Good job, nice hunting techniques, try to hold back on the snorting, it might scare them away.

licks and sniffs, Sasha

The Oceanside Animals said...

hello brutus its dennis the vizsla dog hay yoo hav to be kayrful with ants i heer they can lift like seventeen millyun times there own wayt!!!! plus they hav teeth and armor!!!! they ar like soopervillans or sumthing!!! ok bye

Scooter said...

WTG Brutus,
I had one of those pesty ants today in my house. I mean HOW dare they get into our house... and well...when they do they need to taught a lesson to show the other ants and we are the perfect animals to show them HUH??

Martha said...

Good work Brutus, that is one of Martha's favourite things too!!!
We may have to report your humans to the ant protection league right enough!
love
Martha & Bailey xxxx

Greyt Blog said...

LOL! Thats amazing! He even caught sight of such a small thing passing by. I love how he plays with it until he accidently crushed it haha!

xx

Molly the Airedale said...

Mitch goes after anything that moves too, Brutus! Nice work!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Dexter said...

They don't always taste so good, huh? Your mom was nice to You Thin Ice the poor thing.

Slobbers,
Mango

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

Brutus,

What a mighty hunter you are!! And then your Mom has to go in the for final kill!! That's the way to do it - get them disabled and then get them squashed.

XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Java

Brutus, Ellie, Pippa and Otto said...

What a great hunter you are. We don't have much to hunt here because the kitties are the hunters in our house and eat all the creepy crawlers.

Keep up the good work.

Woodrow, Luna, MJ Campanella said...

Brute you are just too adorable - it isnt as cute when Sweetie's terrier drive kicks in - she will do the ant chasing too - but also brings back other insavory items!!

great job Brutus the Hunter!!

Woodrow - Sweetie - MJ

Mack said...

We have so much in common! I LOVE chasing buggys! And I like to just get a taste of them too.

SEDONA said...

That is some intense concentration there, Brutus!
You can come tolling ducks with me anytime :-)
Your pal,
Sedona

Two French Bulldogs said...

Brutus friend,
We love doing that too. Lily watched a butterfly for 5 minutes yesterday. Then we kept looking up in the air to see where it went.
Giggles,
Benny & Lily

ScrapsofMe said...

Such concentration! Wow...Brutus, you are a powerful hunter! Maybe we could chase some 'izards together. We have lots of em at our house. SHE won't let me chase the baby 'izards...just the biggie ones. Keeps my skills sharp for SQUIRRELS!
Bonnie

Bijou said...

Hi Brutus,

I don't think I have ever chased a bug, which mom finds odd cause I chase everything else that moves!

You did a terrific job disabling that insect!

Wags & wiggles,
Bijou

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

Very goo hunting Brutus!!!

Smileys!
Dory

Oakley and Swisher said...

Hey Brutus,

You are a very good hunter. I like to hunt the flying insects. Mom gets mad because I'll eat them but I'm picky about my treats.

Lots of Licks--

Oak and Swish

Sam said...

That is adorable.. in a sadistic sort of way.. :D

Sam and MargeDog

Martine said...

I love that you taunt brutus... so cute!!!

xo martine

Lucy-Fur, as typed by Dr. Liz said...

Thems mighty fine hunting skills you've got there, Brutus!

*kissey face*
-Fiona

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Well done Brutus!

Tank woo fur ensuring your mom khould demonstrate your pawesome taunting skills!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Oskar said...

My cat "sister" Chloe does exactly the same thing. She love playing with them more than eating them.

I like to do that with little hippitys (frogs). I'm not supposed to though, because they make my mouth foam. My people say I will never learn.

Lorenza said...

Hi, Brutus!
I do the same with bugs! I never eat them. Just leave them unable to walk again!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

ocmist said...

Hi, Brutus... We finally sniffed our way over here. Thanks for visiting us at Corgi Country. Gee, we got here just in time catch you being a Mighty Hunter! Did you know that Dott has a "Mighty Hunter Award" she gives out to anyone who shows that they are worthy of the award? I'll have to post it on our next blog so you can pick it up! Congratulations! OC

Mia said...

Wow!!! You're good! Kitten is the Great Bug Hunter in our house!! She will even try to climb the walls if that's what she needs to do. Very skilled she is, but I'll bet you could teach her a thing or two.

Lilo