Dog problems

SFM in KY · #1 03/03/13, 05:09 AM

We often have problems with dogs running loose, rural area but people everywhere and they all have dogs, anywhere from a couple of dogs in the backyard to a dozen beagles and seems as if they all run. We've had problems with dogs ever since I moved here ... everything from having a mini foal attacked and bitten that would have been pulled down and killed except my two Rottweilers got there first ... to being threatened/charged when one tried to attack my little house dog in my front yard. We're always seeing them running in the pastures up on the hill as well. I know there's getting to be a major coyote problem in the area as well, but the ones I've actually seen myself were all domestic dogs for sure.

Two nights ago dogs got in the rabbit shelter (roofed but open sided with windbreak screen on the sides, hanging wire cages) and managed to rip open one of the cages. Pulled a doe out, all that was left was bits of hair and hide. A lot of the other rabbits had toes missing where they'd been bitten off while they were trying to grab them, but I think they will all survive. I heard them but didn't get outside in time to see them and unfortunately no longer have Rottweilers for backup.

We 'beefed up' the wire and panels on both ends of the shelter, now keeping the shelter lights and the back yard light on at night, hoping that would solve the problem. Did see three dogs running in the pasture yesterday when we were doing evening chores but don't know if they were the same dogs. We are dog lovers, two of our four dogs were strays that just wandered in and the two house dogs are from shelters, but the sight of the ground in the shelter littered with tufts of hair from my rabbits was just the last straw. We're all carrying guns now when we're out doing chores and they are in strategic locations at night, this farm is no 'off limits' to stray dogs, period, unless they come to the door wagging their tail and looking hungry!

They were back about 4 AM this morning. The panels didn't keep them out of the shelter but it did delay the 'getaway'. I only saw one leave, he got past me and out when I opened the gate and went down one of the two alleyways and I'm hoping maybe he won't be back if he doesn't have a 'pack' to run with.

I'm sure glad we don't have a security camera in that area ... I'm sure I could be blackmailed if someone had a video clip of a little old lady running around in the middle of the night in her nightgown and muck boots and white hair probably standing on end as well!

Chucknbob · #2 03/03/13, 05:30 AM

I'm assuming you just want the dogs gone, not dead. Assuming that's the case, try a pellet or BB gun. When you see one, shoot it in the butt. You wont kill it, and probably won't break the skin, but you'll scare the life out of it. We had this problem with the neighbors huge black dog. A couple caps in the butt and we never saw him again.

dkhern · #3 03/03/13, 05:46 AM

first id try to id dogs w/o loseing any more animals and notify the owners. if possible get a baby monitor and put it in the shelter if it is close enough to get early warning. then id protect my animal i dont think i have to tell you what to do. if you dont want to protect i dont have any more advice.

**Ross** · #4 03/03/13, 06:05 AM

Quote:

I'm sure glad we don't have a security camera in that area ... I'm sure I could be blackmailed if someone had a video clip of a little old lady running around in the middle of the night in her nightgown and muck boots and white hair probably standing on end as well!

And which gun? Sounds like you have a serious dog problem in your area. SSS those who kill stock, and get the county involved or at least notified that you want something done about strays. What on earth were you charged with when a stray attacked your dog on your property?

julieq · #5 03/03/13, 08:03 AM

One strand of hot wire around your rabbit area will help. We do that around our goat and chicken pens, with push in fiberglass posts, so it sets up quickly and easily. Put the strand about where an average sized dog's nose level is.

So sorry for your losses. We live out in the country, and there are many large cow dairies here in southern Idaho, so all strays or coyotes are shot on sight. Still there is such a large population of wild dogs that they attack the calves at the dairies.

itsb · #6 03/03/13, 08:12 AM

never understood why people think that its ok to let there dogs or cats run onto others property,I know its not aginst the law,but there is respect for others.When your property is harmed you can handel the problem!Me I would kill the dogs,find the owners and throw the dogs on there pourch and demand payment

SFM in KY · #7 03/03/13, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross

What on earth were you charged with when a stray attacked your dog on your property?

Oh ... no ... I meant I (and my dog) were threatened/charged by the neighbor's dog itself. I fired two rounds of .38 shot shells at it before it backed off and I informed the owners that the next time it happened they would have a dead dog. It did not happen again ... they knew me quite well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chucknbob

We had this problem with the neighbors huge black dog. A couple caps in the butt and we never saw him again.

Oddly enough, we had a problem last summer with a big black dog as well. We knew who he belonged to and he was a daytime visitor, rather than night visitor ... also dumb as a post, obviously. We were keeping shot rounds in the .22 and actually shot him with it a couple of times but he kept coming back. He was friendly, just dumb, and here so often it got to the point he'd come to the house when he saw us out and go stand out by the empty kennel we put him in. It happened so often that we finally didn't even need to call them, when they missed the dog they just drove up and checked our kennel run. They finally got tired of trying to keep him home, I guess, because they no longer have him.

That was annoying but something I could deal with because he wasn't destructive around the livestock. The current night visitors are killing livestock and I'm not going to put up with it. This is still a rural enough county that it's legal to kill a dog harassing/killing your livestock. I'm ranch raised and have the mindset that you protect your livestock from predators, whether it's skunks after the chickens, coyotes after the barn cat or free running dog packs harassing spring calves and chasing cows heavy with calf.

However, I do admit to being relieved to know grandson wasn't out with his cell phone camera and a video clip isn't going to go viral on YouTube of an obviously deranged little old lady in nightgown and muck boots waving a gun!

Ana Bluebird · #8 03/03/13, 08:44 AM

Been there, done whatever I could think of. I finally gave up on rabbits and chickens because of all the problems.

SFM in KY · #9 03/03/13, 08:48 AM

I never have worried about the mares and foaling season before but it could be a problem even though I do have a couple of pretty tough mares out there and at least one I know will go after dogs. But they can't protect against a pack ... that's how coyotes pull livestock down and if they're running in a pack, the neighbor's sweet, wouldn't hurt a flea backyard mutt will do the same thing.

Davymax · #10 03/03/13, 08:58 AM

Here in WI (at least in my county) there is a running at large law that will get you about a $270 fine. My male border collie got out of his 6' tall cyclone fence enclosure. He is one smart SOB. Having never left the property I wasn't to worried, then I got a visit from a deputy sheriff stating my next door neighbor (1/4 mi away) has a pic of him on his night camera near his deer stand.

Now this only happened one time mind you, and I put welded wire covering the top of the pen and that solved everything. I just got a warning and was told that the next time I would get a fine.

People, I can't tell you the number of times that this neighbor let his dog run. He had no pen, he was a big, friendly golden retriever who had gone deaf in his old age. He never bothered us or our livestock and I always took him back home to make sure the old boy didn't get clipped on the road.

Long story short, the dog passed and what was left is a ----ty neighbor.

luvrulz · #11 03/03/13, 09:00 AM

Here in our end of Ky, we have had dog issues - but we unload a shot right over their butt and they take off. If they come back, we aim to kill. SSS like Ross said and the neighbors know it. If they're on our farm, they're up to no good. Our dogs run loose but have the best of manners and don't chase the chickens, the rabbits or anything. The one might run down the bull and the cows - but for the most part, they're angels. And they protects the critters. Maybe it's time to get another Rottweiler?

bluemoonluck · #12 03/03/13, 09:16 AM

If you want another Rottie, let me know LOL.

**Ross** · #13 03/03/13, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Oh ... no ... I meant I (and my dog) were threatened/charged by the neighbor's dog itself. I fired two rounds of .38 shot shells at it before it backed off and I informed the owners that the next time it happened they would have a dead dog. It did not happen again ... they knew me quite well.

Oh right!! Ooops

Allen W · #14 03/03/13, 09:54 AM

Time for all out war before your mares foal. Some discrete snaring might be in order, with relaxing locks a leash broke dog should be setting there waiting on you in the morning.

SFM in KY · #15 03/03/13, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluemoonluck

If you want another Rottie, let me know LOL.

I wish. But we have two full time house dogs now, one large, which is just about all there's room for. I also have been out of the breed circles so long I no longer know the bloodlines or the breeders, although I have a feeler out with a couple of my dog-circle friends that I'd be interested in a retired show dog or a show dog that 'isn't quite' if they hear of one. I'm just not able to raise a Rott puppy anymore.

bluemoonluck · #16 03/03/13, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFM in KY

I wish. But we have two full time house dogs now, one large, which is just about all there's room for. I also have been out of the breed circles so long I no longer know the bloodlines or the breeders, although I have a feeler out with a couple of my dog-circle friends that I'd be interested in a retired show dog or a show dog that 'isn't quite' if they hear of one. I'm just not able to raise a Rott puppy anymore.

I was referring to my 3-year old Rott who is a complete PITA lol. He's actually out with a trainer right now who's working with him on his constant leg-lifting and incessant whining (neither of which we have been able to break him of) and doing some evals for him to see if he would be a suitable SAR dog for my DH (DH is a cop and if we can get our Rott SAR trained he'd be allowed to use him for searches at work).

If the whining/leg lifting doesn't get resolved, my DH is going to go absolutely crazy with him in the house

and I'm not far behind him!

am1too · #17 03/03/13, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkhern

first id try to id dogs w/o loseing any more animals and notify the owners. if possible get a baby monitor and put it in the shelter if it is close enough to get early warning. then id protect my animal i dont think i have to tell you what to do. if you dont want to protect i dont have any more advice.

Unless I was friends with the owners I would say nothing. If something does happen you would become suspect and have problems you do not want. The best advice is SSS. I would burry the dogs in 2 ft of compost or sawdust. Will be good garden material in bout aq year.

am1too · #18 03/03/13, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross

And which gun? Sounds like you have a serious dog problem in your area. SSS those who kill stock, and get the county involved or at least notified that you want something done about strays. What on earth were you charged with when a stray attacked your dog on your property?

Getting the county involved or trying to do so is not SSS.

am1too · #19 03/03/13, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsb

never understood why people think that its ok to let there dogs or cats run onto others property,I know its not aginst the law,but there is respect for others.When your property is harmed you can handel the problem!Me I would kill the dogs,find the owners and throw the dogs on there pourch and demand payment

That would be looking for trouble big time.

luvrulz · #20 03/03/13, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsb

never understood why people think that its ok to let there dogs or cats run onto others property,I know its not aginst the law,but there is respect for others.When your property is harmed you can handel the problem!Me I would kill the dogs,find the owners and throw the dogs on there pourch and demand payment

Not the smartest solution - would be asking for trouble to bring the dead dog back to the owner...