Are you wondering about how to Protect your Dog from wild animals? If yes, then you are in the right place. Here we will discuss more information about the ways to protect your dog from wild animals.
When you live outdoors, you expect to see many things and hear sounds you don’t experience in the chaos of the city. The scenery, flora and fauna, the weather- it is all so vastly different from the hustle and bustle of the city. But, as nice as the outdoors maybe sometimes, it does come with its own risks.
The outdoors can be exhilarating and risky at the same time. Especially when you have pets, wild animals become an increasingly imminent threat. So, do you want to protect your dog from wild animals? These tips might help!
Wild Animals on the Prowl
Every year, hundreds of dogs are attacked by wild animals. Most are sheep dogs that herd and protect the farm animals, and some are pets. However, wild animals like coyotes, cougars, snakes, scorpions, wild dogs, are at the top of the list of attackers.
These attacks can occur at any time during the day, but mostly, animals such as coyotes, foxes, cougars, and wild dogs step out late at night. These animals hunt at night for food; if a farm is nearby, it is their best choice. But guarding farm dogs can threaten their hunt, so they become their first targets.
However, pet dogs playing in the field in the daytime or doing their business in the bushes at night can also become easy targets for preying coyotes, wild dogs, or cougars.
Also, other unassuming predators can be threats to your pooches. For example, snakes, scorpions, raccoons or skunks can be menaces to curious dogs.
The Predators and Their Threats
From vicious coyotes to something as familiar as squirrels, all pose their own risks to your dogs. Let’s learn a little more about what they can be,
Coyotes
Coyote attacks can be fatal. These predators aim for the neck or the head, preventing the dog from fighting back. Coyotes have immense jaw strength, and bite wounds can get infected if not taken to the vet immediately.
Cougar
Cougar attacks are almost always fatal. But also pretty rare. Should you witness an attack, you must try to fend it off immediately. Cougars have incredible jaw strength and bite force.
Wild Dogs
A rare statistic, but wild dog attacks can also be fatal. They resemble regular dogs, so you may not even detect them as predators at first glance. But they are a real threat to your indoor pooch or farm dog.
Snakes or Scorpions
Snake or scorpion attacks on dogs are rising, and this is because these creatures are discreet in their movement. But a snake bite or scorpion sting can quickly become fatal, depending on the venom content.
Squirrels, Raccoons, or Skunks
While not threats at first, rabid squirrels and raccoon bites on your dog can be serious. Skunk spray can be irritating and toxic to a dog, leaving them with breathing difficulties and sickness for hours without proper treatment.
How to Protect Your Dog From Wild Animals
It’s important to keep your dogs safe from wild animals that may pose a threat. Here are we are describing more about how to protect your dog from wild animals:
Keep Your Dog on a Leash
One of the best ways to keep your dog safe from wild animals is to keep them on a leash when you’re out for walks or hikes. This will prevent your dog from wandering too far and potentially encountering a dangerous animal.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
When you’re out with your dog, it’s important to pay attention to your surroundings. Look for signs of wildlife, such as tracks or scat, and be mindful of any potential hazards.
Avoid Areas Known For Wildlife
If you know that there are certain areas in your community that are frequented by wild animals, it’s best to avoid those areas altogether. Stick to well-lit, populated areas where there is less of a chance of encountering wildlife.
Keep Your Yard Secure
If you have a backyard, make sure it’s securely fenced to prevent wild animals from entering. Additionally, don’t leave food or water bowls outside, as this can attract wildlife.
Use Deterrents
There are a variety of products on the market designed to repel wild animals, such as motion-activated sprinklers or noise makers. These can be effective in deterring animals from entering your yard or approaching your dog.
Train Your Dog
Depending on where you live, there may be specific training programs available to teach your dog how to avoid wildlife. These programs can be particularly helpful for breeds that are more prone to chasing or attacking wild animals.
By following these steps, you can help keep your dog safe from wild animals. Remember, prevention is key, so always be aware of your surroundings and take steps to minimize the risks of encountering wildlife.
Tips to Protect Your Dog from Wild Animals
Whether or not you live in the countryside or the city, you must protect your dogs from wild animals. Read on for tips to know how.
Put Up Fences
This is the most important step you can take to protect dogs from wild animals. Installing a 6 feet fence around your property should keep the sneaky predators out of your hair and your dog’s.
Motion-Activated Tech
Install motion-activated lights and cameras on your property. This picks up the slightest movement so that you can detect an unwelcome intruder from the wild.
Clean their Business
Predators like coyotes, and wild dogs can smell your dog’s feces and follow it to your house. So cleaning it up properly will erase the pheromones and won’t lead them to your beloved buddy.
Don’t Feed Wild Animals
As tempting as it may seem to throw the leftover turkey bones to the cute coyote puppy, but this will do more harm than good. They may lead their pack to your house in hopes of being fed and encountering your unattended dog.
Don’t Leave Them Alone
This brings us to the most important point, leaving your dogs unattended can make them easy targets. Make sure to always be with them when they are outside.
Feed Them Indoors
Just like the bathroom tip, feeding them outside can be dangerous. Predators might be interested in the food scraps, leftover food, and empty bowls that may still have food residue.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article interesting and useful in protecting your dogs from wild animal attacks. With just a few simple tactics, you can ensure the safety of your dogs and keep the predators away. Share with your friends and family so they can also keep their dogs safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
People ask many questions about how to protect your dog from wild animals. Here we are trying to list the most common questions about the ways to protect your dog from wild animals, and trying to answer them. Hope you will find your answer. Don’t hesitate to ask us if you have more questions.
How To Get Skunk Spray Off Of Dogs?
Ans: Skunk sprays can be toxic for dogs if not treated properly. Skunks can spray from as far as 15 feet. Since dogs communicate with other animals by sniffing the rear ends, they get sprayed in the face.
Do the following to get skunk spray off of dogs,
- Check their eyes if they’re red or irritated, and flush with cold water if so.
- Bathe them with DIY skunk removing shampoo using 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, one spoon of liquid dishwashing soap, and 1/4th cup of baking soda. You can also get specialized shampoos.
- Towel dry them.
- Wash your clothes.
How to Fend Off Coyotes When They Are on Your Property?
Ans: Coyotes are dangerous. So you mustn’t lead one to your house by leaving food scraps out, letting bushes overgrow, or leaving your dogs unattended. But in the event of a coyote nearby, do the following to fend them off.
- Stand straight and maintain eye contact.
- Get your dogs inside.
- Clap your hands together and yell as loud as possible.
- Shine a flashlight in their eyes and walk toward them, continuing to clap your hands and yell.
- Keep making long strides toward the animal until they are out of sight.
If you come face to face with a coyote on a walk with your dog, carefully retreat and back off. Don’t run away, and don’t let your dog loose.
These are the steps and ways to protect your dog from wild animals. Hope this guide has helped you. Good luck & may God bless you!
