Simple
Prevention Strategies to Protect Your
Companion Animals from Predators
by Dog Whisperer
Paul Owens
If
you're like many “pet parents” today,
you likely treat your furry friends
with the same love, kindness and compassion
that you do your children. You buy them
special food to keep them healthy, give
them plenty of toys and play games with
them to ensure they're mentally engaged,
and maybe even make sure they have special
beds to keep them comfortable. In essence,
you spoil your little friends and would
do absolutely anything to ensure their
safety because of the unconditional
love and happiness they provide. The
last thing you want is for anyone or
anything to harm them.
However,
keeping your pets safe from predators
and harm may not always be easy. The
key to doing so is awareness. The more
you know about what types of predatory
threats exist for your pets, the better
equipped you will be to protect them.
You need to assess your everyday environment
and look at it from an animal's perspective.
Some
typical threats include snakes, birds
of prey, coyotes, other dogs, and humans.
Depending on where you live, some of
these may be more common and dangerous.
For example, if you live in the western
United States, coyotes may be a concern.
Snakes are a bigger danger in the western
and southern United States. Birds of
prey are a threat for small pets everywhere.
In more urban areas, aggressive dogs
and humans are the main threats.
When
you're aware of what types of threats
exist for your pets, you will be better
able to protect them and use preventative
measures to keep them safe. To avoid
a dangerous situation for yourself and
your animal companion, use the following
prevention strategies.
1.
Provide Physical Protection
If
your neighborhood is unsafe, keep your
dog in your house when you're away.
This not only will protect your pet
from harm, but will also lessen the
opportunities for your dog to become
a nuisance as a “self-employed” neighborhood
alarm system. Fencing in your yard is
one of the best ways to provide a safe
environment. A wide variety of fencing
options exist today but whatever you
choose, make sure you set it up properly.
Your dog can escape, other animals can
get in your yard, or your dog could
be stolen or otherwise harmed. Make
sure your fencing is made of durable
materials such as chain link and that
it's high enough to prevent escapes.
Gates should be firmly locked and secure.
At the very top of your fencing, install
another row of fencing that is either
angled in to keep your pets in or angled
out to keep any potential predators
out.
Another
option is to buy or build a dog run.
And a doggy door to your house can be
an important safeguard, allowing your
pet an escape route if he or she is
ever in danger. Of course, the very
best protection for your animal while
on a walk is to have her on a leash.
2.
Evaluate Your Neighborhood
Get
to know your neighborhood and your surroundings
very well. Determine if anyone keeps
loose dogs in their unfenced yards.
If so, avoid walking your dog in this
area. Get to know the routines of your
neighborhood in general. Are there certain
times when more people are out walking
their aggressive dogs? If so, it may
be best to walk your dog when there
are fewer animals and people around.
If
there is an aggressive dog in your neighborhood,
contact your city's animal control.
And if you see an aggressive dog, avoid
a potentially dangerous confrontation
by walking in a different direction.
You can schedule your walks when you
are confident an aggressive neighborhood
dog is typically in the house rather
than in the yard. If you don't feel
safe walking your dog in your neighborhood
because of loose dogs or for any other
reason, take him to a park or anywhere
else you feel he will be safe. You could
also find other neighbors who have dogs
that get along with yours and walk with
them in a group, as everyone is always
safer in a crowd.
3.
Walk Your Dogs Separately
If
you have more than one dog, you may
want to walk them separately, especially
if one of your dogs is overly protective
of another. Yes, this may add a little
more time to your usual routine, but
if it means keeping them safe, it's
time well-spent. When more than one
dog is around, a pack mentality can
surface. They can become very protective
and this may trigger aggressiveness
in other animals around them. Remember,
at any moment, other dogs can get loose
from leashes, from inside their homes,
or basically from anywhere. And if they
feel threatened, they could go after
you or your dog. You'll have an easier
time defending or protecting one dog
in such a scenario rather than two or
three.
4.
Train Your Dog
Teach
your dog to reliably lie down and stay
put. Don't let your dog instigate fights.
You can also teach him or her to turn
toward you whenever another dog approaches.
This head turn is often perceived by
the other dog as a “cut off” or “calming”
signal that signifies “I'm not a threat.”
Training your dog positions you as the
leader of the pack so your dog listens
to you and waits for your signals. Arrange
group or private classes with a professional
dog trainer who uses only positive methods.
You can also learn to train your dogs
by purchasing a DVD on training such
as The Dog Whisperer: Beginning
and Intermediate Dog Training.
Do
What Works for You and Your Pets
Realize
that there is no single best way to
protect your pets from predators. A
combination of prevention strategies
will keep your pets away from danger.
Determine what works best for you and
your pets, and do whatever works. Here
are some examples:
If
another dog is approaching you and your
animal, try to put something between
you and the attacker, such as your backpack,
coat, a fence, a car, etc. If you have
a small dog, pick her up immediately.
Start yelling for help if necessary
and yell a stern “NO” at an approaching
dog, as some dogs respond to this.
Another
option is to carry an airhorn with you,
similar to the ones used at college
football games. They can work very well
in deterring an approaching dog. If
you decide to use one of these horns,
make sure you gradually get your dog
accustomed to the sound so you do not
distress him or her when you use it.
You can also purchase a product called
Direct Stop, which is a citronella spray
that also has proven effective as a
deterrent.
If
the preventative measures you have taken
don't work and you find yourself in
a situation where your dog is actually
being attacked, you must act fast. Everything
happens in mere seconds. If the attacker
is not an immediate threat to you, try
to grab the attacking dog's rear legs
and pick him up like a wheelbarrow.
This often puts the dog off balance
and, as a result, he may stop fighting.
Be aware however, that you will probably
suffer bites from one or both of the
dogs.
In
the end, no professional trainer or
other expert can give you the skills
you need to protect your pets and keep
them safe from harm. It is up to you.
Trust your own common sense and intuition
and try your best to avoid dangerous
situations. Make yourself aware of the
potential dangers that exist for your
animal companions so you can take the
preventative measures necessary to protect
them. When you do, you'll be promoting
kindness, compassion, and respect for
animals, as you keep yourself and your
friend safe from harm.
About the
Author:
Paul
Owens
Author: The Dog Whisperer DVD and the
book: The Dog Whisperer,
A Compassionate Nonviolent Approach
to Dog Training
Certified by The Association of Pet
Dog Trainers
Endorsed by the National Association
of Dog Obedience Instructors
Director: Raise with Praise, Inc. Dog
training
www.DogWhispererDVD.com
