Great Dane from Who-Knows-Where...

[sparkles2307]

So we were enjoying our peaceful lil country home(um, really rural, we live in the middle of nowhere, and the closest neighbors are 1/2 mi away over a hill, so we cant see each other) working in the yard when the kids started yelling about a dog and the chickens. Our dog wont bother the chickens, she's learned. Then, from the pasture where I am working, I see this black Behemoth jogging thru my barnyard after my chickens! I RAN, and I dont run, screaming at DH to get out of his stupid cow pen and get that dog out of my yard! DH ran to the house and got his shotgun, he keeps it loaded with bird shot for just in case, and I yelled at the dog (looks to be an 8 month Great Dane pup) he had on a blue collar and I could see tags when I got closer, but by that time he was scared of us because of the ruccus we raised and he was running away. DH and I hopped in the car and followed him a ways down the road, but he turned and started coming back, so DH peppered his butt with bird shot. Then he ran. DH went home, but I followed him about 3 miles. He stopeed in a tree row by our neighbors, so I asked them if they had seen him and they said he had been bugging their chooks earlier that day too. I asked around and no one knew anyone in the whole surrounding area with a great dane. We are a tiny community, we all know each other's business and all are related so really it wouldnt be hard to track him down if he belonged here. There are some new ppl who just moved in about 2 mi from our house and they were my only idea, but no one was home. I called the Sheriff and the Deputy told me that he has been to the new ppls house "several" times since they moved in and he hasnt seen a dog but that he would get on it. He couldnt find the dog, no idea where he went, but I hope he got scared enough not to come back to our house! I live in the middle of nowhere, I shouldnt have to deal with strange dogs in my yard, thats for City Folk! And the girls at work are mad at me for not keeping the dog, are you kidding? They think I am weird for defending my chickens!

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Sounds like a big puppy playing around. Great Danes may be large, but they are puppies until they are 2 years old. Maybe it escaped from it's yard or something.

 

[BloominOrchid]

Had to laugh at this being a born country gal now stuck far to close to the city. But also a dog trainer. LOL Im sure you scared him good, but I would bet my chicks on it that he will be back, bc you guys played a great game of chase!
Next time try to catch him, and get ahold of his tags, so you can track down the family that he belongs to, and you can let them know you have a big problem with him going after your chickens & stuff. Who knows they may be city folk who have no idea about "letting the dog out"

Hope all your chickens are ok and you have cought your breath...hope your legs dont hurt to bad in the am!

 

[sparkles2307]

Quote:
O I know, I had Dane's when my kids were babies. They are sweet and dopey and wonderful but that doesnt mean I want one eating my chooks. I felt so bad being mean to him, he was adorable. I dont think he would be agressive if I tried to catch him so if he comes back I am going to lock him an the garage and call his owners. I let the local radio station know so they can brodacast it too so hopefully he gets picked up.

 

[95yj]

you must live in the sticks if the biggest news is a loose dog that nobody recognizes, (no offense meant, it sounds sweet).

 

[sparkles2307]

Quote:
O you have NO idea! I used to resent living so far from anything, the closest wal mart is 45 mi away. We have a bar and feed store and grocery within 4-10 mi and thats all DH needs to be happy. I have become quite used to the quiet and being able to do what we want and not worry about conflict with other ppl in the surrunding area. This dog is going to be the biggest news for at least 4 days

 

[Wynette]

If you've got a neighbor 1/2 mile away, you're not in the sticks, IMO!

I bet someone is sitting home crying about this pup who lost his way...wish I lived near you, I'd take him in a heartbeat & try to find his owners. I've a very soft spot in my heart for Danes. We have predators much nastier than any size dog, and have take necessary precautions with our fencing, but if they were on free range time & something huge came over a hill...I'd be upset, too! Hope the dog finds his way home, and they KEEP him there!

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

I would of caught the dane, looked at the tags, told the owners off, then gave him back, BUT if it happened again he would be "rehomed" at the pound!

Our dogs dont bother our chickens and I wont tollerate someone elses doing it either!

 

[sparkles2307]

He looked so scared, I felt so bad, but I didnt have time to think, DH would have shot him with something a lot worse then bird shot if I hadnt chased him away... if he comes back I will have to throw myself between him and DH's gun I guarantee it. I will catch him if I can and get him to his home. Then I will rip his owners a new one for letting a poor baby wander like that and get into life-threatening trouble!

 

[Wynette]

Quote:

So unfortunate that some dogs end up in homes where they are not taken care of as they should; I'm hoping that, in this case, he just got out & his family's looking for him. I would hate to think if one of my dogs got out that folks wouldn't try to find the owner...I'd be heartbroken if I lost one of mine to a stupid mistake on my part.

If he comes back, then...he's probably not too smart! With Danes (at least in my experience) the are super smart or....well, let's just say, the other end of that spectrum!