Domesticated Dog Packs

[westmar]

Recently I had 4 of my 5 weanling mules, run through a four strand smooth wire fence-in the middle of the night, by a pack-more than 2- of domesticated dogs. I had two adult horses in with the weanlings, one is the mom of 2 of the babies that had ran through the fence. Minor cuts requiring no stitches, this time.

Closest nieghbors-it's on 27 acres-are keeping an eye out-including a nieghbor whos dogs run loose at all hours, who boards her horses right across the fence next to mine.

I let her know that my weanlings had been run through the fence by a pack of dogs and I was concerned for her horses as well. I let her know I would be vigilent in tracking and catching the renegade dogs in action and would shoot them.

I truely hope her dogs are not involved.

[lunanightwolf]

We have the same problem at the moment...but with coyotes. I would suggest borrowing a donkey or maybe get a cow to help chase them off. Or put your horses up at night and keep an eye out during the day with a gun at hand. If you see them shoot at them or shoot in the air. maybe chance them off and scare them. Or you can try and electric fence wire. Put it along the bottom of the fence like. Low enough they can't go under but tall enough they just don't step over it. One touch and zap! they'll stay away.

[mart]

Better just shoot them !! If you value your animals !! Once they start on livestock,,,they don`t quit !! Where one dog might not bother them, two or three together will !! No point in shooting over the top of them,, their adrenaline will be running so high that they probably will not even notice !! A shotgun with 00 buck should take care of that problem !!

[westmar]

I have a donkey on the property. Evidently she was not enough.
Mart, I agree. I have heard the same thing from many a cattleman and rancher. Hot wire will not work.
When a domesticated dog gets in a pack they can be just as bad or even worse than wolves when it comes to going after livestock. They do it for sport, the thrill of the hunt, if they kill something they rarely eat it.
Wolves up here in Montana do the same thing. They will kill several livestock within a herd and do not eat the meat.
One difference, I believe, is that the domesticated dogs seem to attack in more populated areas.
They are not afraid of humans. Not good!!!

[cinch]

Did you get the dogs? I agree, once they start it's hard to get rid of them.
I'm blessed to not have any getting in with my horses but do have 1 or more getting in my trash at night. I think someone must keep the dog or dogs up during the day but let them out at night to roam.
I know it's not my own dogs because the house dogs are in the house and the others are in fence. My fence is in the back of the house so these dogs don't usually know it's happening and by the time my house dogs wake me up it's too late to catch it.

[mart]

Cinch,, Try what we use to keep[ the raccoons out of the fish food !! If your trash can has a lid use a bungee cord over the top so they can`t get in !! They will usually go on to easier pickings !!