Am I paranoid?

Anna6 · 11-13-2012, 03:56 PM

My dog is on the leash all the time. We live in a more rural setting and I am scared a hawk or cyote will eat Nina, 6 months, 6 lbs. I originally pictured having a doggie door to a fenced in area in the yard for her to go potty but I do not see that happening unless it is caged from he house to the potty area in the yard. Many people with smaller dogs told me about pets that dissapeared, Yorkies, chiuaua and other smaller animals. We have a very large back yard that is fenced but that would not do anything against birds of pray. Anyone else live in a setting that has a lot of wild life? Am I overly paranoid? She loves being outside.

lfung5 · 11-13-2012, 04:28 PM

If your paranoid then I'm completely insane

When I was married I was completely paranoid because I live on a mountain and there were hawks and coyote sightings. I had a dog door too. I installed a 6ft stockade fence off the side of my house with fishing line criss crossed above it! There was a thread about this years ago and I posted pictures of it. Alcatraz comes to mind! Now I live in a very build up area and don't really have to worry about those things. Coyotes can scale a 6 ft fence or higher. Hawks normally go for small rodents. But better to be safe than sorry.

My backyard now is 2 parts. Small area that is 6 ft stockade locked fencing and the other part 4 ft post and rail. I don't let them in the 4ft area when I'm not home.

You are not paranoid

The Fussy Puppy Gang · 11-13-2012, 04:33 PM

We live in the high desert area of Southern CA, in a semi-rural town. At no time do I let my small dogs out alone, especially from dusk to dawn. It's not the birds of prey that worry me, it's the coyotes. I've seen them in our neighborhood, even at the gate to the back of my property, so our little ones are always supervised. At night, even our big dogs must be escorted outside. It's just a precaution, but an easy enough one to take.

Being a little paranoid is a good thing.

lfung5 · 11-13-2012, 04:42 PM

I'm pretty sure a forum member had her puppy taken by a coyote right before her eye.... Jumped into the backyard and grab the pup when owner was standing right there

The Fussy Puppy Gang · 11-13-2012, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lfung5

I'm pretty sure a forum member had her puppy taken by a coyote right before her eye.... Jumped into the backyard and grab the pup when owner was standing right there

Jessica Simpson's little maltipoo was snatched by a coyote too, right in front of her. They are quick and clever.

Hopefully, since we're outside with 3 large dogs who are very good at alerting to any animals on the bridal path, they serve as an effective deterrent along with us during the day. However, at night I worry. Usually we scan the yard with a bright flashlight first, looking for eye reflections, before we go out. We have a few cats that prowl the back of our property at night, but (knock on wood) no wild predators so far.

Luciledodd · 11-13-2012, 04:58 PM

I live inside the city limits but the county line is in my back yard. There is a 200 acre tract of woods and swamp behind me. I have seen everything back there. I actually had a hawk tear into the screening around my chicken house and kill nearly all of them. Pigeons I mean, chickens now. Anyway I shot the bird with a shotgun and there was not enough left to identify that it was a hawk. Course it is not legal to kill brds of prey, but they don't have any business in my yard. I worried about Rosie until she matured. I really don't think that a hawk could carry her off, but could kill her with it's talons. I pretty much keep watch while she is outside. So far the coyotes have not gotten over my fence which is 6 feet. Coons and other varmits come up at night so one of us goes with her after dark. We have to keep the chickens shut up at night also for this reason. Back when I have my protection dog I would let him out to run in the woods every day. Once he brought back a coyote that he had killed--just to show me that he was doing his job. Lord I miss that dog. My recommendation is to watch your baby every time it goes outside. I like to sit out with Rosie in the afternoon and let her run and play, but on cold days, I watch her from the kitchen window.

sandypaws · 11-13-2012, 05:33 PM

One of us is always out with the dog, even though the backyard is fenced in. We always carry an air horn with us as we have seen coyotes on our street as well as heading into the woods around our house and even hawks sitting on our fence. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Anna6 · 11-13-2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lfung5

I'm pretty sure a forum member had her puppy taken by a coyote right before her eye.... Jumped into the backyard and grab the pup when owner was standing right there

I had a person that raises yorkies tell me his Yorkie was right next to him and was taken by a hawk. I guess chickens get snagged by hawks and some are bigger then Nina.

Anna6 · 11-13-2012, 05:44 PM

Thanks for the input. I think some people here think I am nutty but I rather be safe then sorry.

TilliesMom · 11-13-2012, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna6

Thanks for the input. I think some people here think I am nutty but I rather be safe then sorry.

lol, ya we're all a tad bit nutty here ... but it's because we love our pups and they depend on US to keep them safe.

Most "normal" people can't comprehend loving a 'dog' the way we love our babies...