Hot fence saved livestock

[secretcreek]

Raising meat/dairy/working animals as a prep? DO NOT SKIMP ON A GOOD FENCE!!!

I was standing at my kitchen sink and out the window above I saw my usually super calm wether goat freak out and run for his life. I saw two huge laborador retrievers moving like bullets toward my pasture fence where the animals are kept. I didn't know these dogs...but nothing about their body language said "Hey buddy, let's play!" These dogs ran like wolves run after prey. I dropped what I was doing and booked outside (((((Yelling)))) in a deep threatening voice. The frenzied dogs never knew I was there...they kept circling the fence looking for a place to get in. The front dog...every bit of a 80-100lb dog ( I used to have one- I know the size) tried to dive under and got bit real hard by the electrified high tensile wire. My yelling did nothing...but that zap stopped his forward movement. He let out a huge pained yelp, turned and with tail tucked, he ran out of site over the hill north of us....his pal bringing up the rear.

I called my cousin up the road and told her to grab her cats if outside, as two big dogs are running her way. She knew of the dogs as they'd been in the road the day before,that these are the new neighbor's old labs that had been put up in the pasture at the newly bought home up the hill/across the road from my pasture. Probably nice pets around humans...and I want no problems and won't have any as long as those dogs never show up again in attack mode.

We'd had a cheapo fence for our goats and donkeys until this past summer, when we bit the bullet and did it right. I'm so grateful for that fence, it saved my animals. I thanked my husband over and over for the $$ he sacrificed and spent on that fence...he too saw the whole thing happen- saw his fence pay off. Glad he saw that...it made him feel proud.

That was a close one...I hope the fence hurt enough to keep those dogs afraid. I have two mini donkeys who were alert and following the dogs movements but they are little guys, only 300 lb ea...not a lot of stomping power there I think...They mean well LOL

-scrt crk

[CottageLife]

So glad your fence kept the dogs out! And I sure hope those new neighbors take better care of their dogs. I have a feeling they won't be around your fence again either way.

[BoldViolet]

UGH. So glad your fence taught those dogs a lesson!

[jlrbhjmnc]

Eek! Thank you for sharing this. So glad your animals are okay.

[Trisha in WA]

I love a good hot hi tensile fence! Ours was 5 strands and kept out the neighbor dogs and the local coyotes too...and the deer would not jump it either because they couldn't see it very well (so kept the garden safe too).

[texican]

Originally Posted by secretcreek

Raising meat/dairy/working animals as a prep? DO NOT SKIMP ON A GOOD FENCE!!!

I was standing at my kitchen sink and out the window above I saw my usually super calm wether goat freak out and run for his life. I saw two huge laborador retrievers moving like bullets toward my pasture fence where the animals are kept. I didn't know these dogs...but nothing about their body language said "Hey buddy, let's play!" These dogs ran like wolves run after prey. I dropped what I was doing and booked outside (((((Yelling)))) in a deep threatening voice. The frenzied dogs never knew I was there...they kept circling the fence looking for a place to get in.
-scrt crk

You'll find running out with a deep threatening voice carries a lot more weight if your also pointing a rifle pulling the trigger... Most times, I 'go out' with a .22lr ruger pistol... it ends most 'arguments' quickly. If I feel I need more gravitas, I grab an AK with 30 rounds in it.

Hot fences won't stop some dogs, if their adrenalin is running hot.

Remember the old saw about sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me... ees true...

[Bearfootfarm]

You'll find running out with a deep threatening voice carries a lot more weight if your also pointing a rifle pulling the trigger

That was my first thought also.

Bad things can happen in an instant, and yelling is a poor substitute for a good weapon

[Common Tator]

I don't know if you saw my thread in CF about dogs chasing my horses and donkey. One of the dogs is a yellow lab. A really big one too! We have a Kawasaki Mule that doesn't go over 25 MPH. I jumped in it and ran the dogs off the property. They paid attention when the human doing all the screaming is bearing down on them in a loud vehicle. They kept looking back and I was still there. I almost caught the lab.

There was quite a discussion on that thread about the wisdom of letting the dogs owners know that their mutts are going on other people's land and going after their livestock. You might want to read it to see if you want to notify the dog's owners,or just shoot the dogs. In my case, the notice seems to have worked. We haven't seen the dogs for 2 days.

[ROCKIN R FARM]

Good to know the fence worked so well as I am thinking about putting up that type of fence. BUT dont underestimate those lil donkeys I have watched first hand a group of four of those lil donkeys circle around a cow giving birth with their hind ends facing outward and put the most gawd awful whoopin on a bunch of coyotes that was tryin to get the momma cow. It was almost comical they just kept circling that cow waiting for a yote to get within range.

[secretcreek]

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

That was my first thought also.

Bad things can happen in an instant, and yelling is a poor substitute for a good weapon

I got halfway out to the pasture and thought...crap what if these dogs turned on me, I got nothing... Felt vulnerable....Mommabear angry and full of adrenalin but still vulnerable.

The owner's aware. My cousin called him and told him to get his butt up to the new place and restrain his dogs better. The guy said "He was afraid that it might happen..." Oh thanks!

--scrt crk

[secretcreek]

Originally Posted by ROCKIN R FARM

Good to know the fence worked so well as I am thinking about putting up that type of fence. BUT dont underestimate those lil donkeys I have watched first hand a group of four of those lil donkeys circle around a cow giving birth with their hind ends facing outward and put the most gawd awful whoopin on a bunch of coyotes that was tryin to get the momma cow. It was almost comical they just kept circling that cow waiting for a yote to get within range.

The mini donks looked up at me -yelling, then commenced to march at a walk, toward where the dogs were hightailing it along their fenceline. They never did panic like the goat did. Good to know.

-scrt crk

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

Originally Posted by secretcreek

I got halfway out to the pasture and thought...crap what if these dogs turned on me, I got nothing... Felt vulnerable....Mommabear angry and full of adrenalin but still vulnerable.

The owner's aware. My cousin called him and told him to get his butt up to the new place and restrain his dogs better. The guy said "He was afraid that it might happen..." Oh thanks!

--scrt crk

when this happens next time , i suggest you bring some center fire insurance with you

[texican]

Originally Posted by Common Tator

I don't know if you saw my thread in CF about dogs chasing my horses and donkey. One of the dogs is a yellow lab. A really big one too! We have a Kawasaki Mule that doesn't go over 25 MPH. I jumped in it and ran the dogs off the property. They paid attention when the human doing all the screaming is bearing down on them in a loud vehicle. They kept looking back and I was still there. I almost caught the lab.

There was quite a discussion on that thread about the wisdom of letting the dogs owners know that their mutts are going on other people's land and going after their livestock. You might want to read it to see if you want to notify the dog's owners,or just shoot the dogs. In my case, the notice seems to have worked. We haven't seen the dogs for 2 days.

It always pays to follow the golden rules... let the owner know there's trouble, and ask will they be able to handle the problem (never ever get high toned or threaten their animals)... if they take care of the situation and are responsive to paying damages and preventing future incidents, the dogs are spared. If they get belligerent, leave, and if the problem reoccurs, SSS.

I am dog poor. I've contacted all of my neighbors (mostly 'weekenders') 1/2 mile away..... if any 'stray' dog causes a problem, let me know, and I'll fix it, and it'll never happen again. I have had a few calls about a 'bad dog'... once I realize it's not 'mine', I tell them they can 'deal with it' the 'old fashioned way'. Usually I've seen that same 'stray bad dog' before, and know a stray is in the area.

[Txrider]

I'd give someone warning if I knew who's dog it was... Let em know what was happening, that I don't want to hurt nobodies dog, but I'll be shooting any dog that gets to my livestock.

Same goes for my dog, if she's chasing someone's livestock she's fair game for a bullet.. Which is why the first thing I did when I bought my place was fence it with a fence she won't get out of.. I know my dog, and she's not one I would ever let run loose. She would be shot within a month, if not a week.

[happychick]

Every once and a while there are two dogs who wonder over to our place, they look half wild, covered in mud and burrs. They go through the garage, yelling does scare them off, but I'm just glad they've never made a trip over when my chickens were out!

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

I have a 165 lb male Anatolian that in all likelyhood would have been ----ed that his nap had been interrupted and would have been a nice greeting party at the fence. I doubt the labs would have been willing to make the challenge - that would have been the best decision they made that day.