Small LGD Kills Red Fox

[centrarchid]

Today after work I was out adjusting waterers for grapes when Scoob (dog) went into sneak mode and began to run at something over by pond. He has done this before chasing a fox but grass is up enough that I can see as well now. Whatever it was Scoob was hot on its heals as it went into woods down hill. Scoob seemed to be stalking by sight whatever he was chasing. Shortly their after I heard Scoob open up barking and growling in the draw where the raccoons normally loose Scoob as they go down into tunnels. I was think Scoob got lucky and treed a raccoon kitten so I ran into house and got rifle and ran down to knock coon out for Scoob. When I got down there Scoob was fighting something in the bushes. I was thinking "Oh, boy" Scoob is gonna bugger himself up fighting a coon in tight quarters. When got within 30 feet I could see a red fox fighting for its life as Scoob was going in with impunity delivering killing bites to the fox's back and abdomen. Scoob seemed to be egged on by my approach but let it run as peace apparently playing with victim. Fox ran maybe 20 feet before Scoob ran it down again and delivered killing bite and shake.


Red fox male adult. In good weight but hide looks like hell.

I never though Scoob would actually catch a free-ranging fox. I suspect it was in poor health. Scoob will be bathed and inspected to prevent developement of mange.

 

[joan1708]

Wow. You don't have to worry about your chickens with that dog on duty. Does he get a big treat tonight? What kind of LSG dog is he? I can't tell from the pictures.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Whoa! Your dog means business!

The foxes around here - Virginia - have looked nasty for the past few years. Some sort of mange, I understand. Looks like they might have it out your way, too.

 

[animallover505]

is he a Anatolian Shepherd?

 

[Contrary]

Wow, just how many times will you post this?

 

[icedzen]

I am not a vet. However, that fox looks like it had mange, that is not what their tail is supposed to look like. I would take the picture (if not the fox) and your dog to the vet to see if any sort of treatment is called for in this case. We adopted a dog with mange many years ago, and the picture looks familiar.

Mike

 

[centrarchid]

I am not a vet. However, that fox looks like it had mange, that is not what their tail is supposed to look like. I would take the picture (if not the fox) and your dog to the vet to see if any sort of treatment is called for in this case. We adopted a dog with mange many years ago, and the picture looks familiar. Mike

As indicated in first post; I suspect mange as well. Your noting same re-inforces concern. As of this morning I contacted vet and she indicated risk of infection minimal since my dog in good health and up on vaccinations typical for dog's line of work. We took in a stray with mange many years ago and getting cleared up and dog was scarred. We will be watching Scoob closely.

 

[joan1708]

did you have to do any training to get him not to bother the chickens?

 

[centrarchid]

did you have to do any training to get him not to bother the chickens?

I did pretty much the standard protocol used for LGD used for sheep and goats. Dog was reared starting at 5 weeks in close proximity and even confined with chickens. I had to push training beyond imprinting to deal with puppy playing with flock/packmates so he could be allowed to hang with smaller birds sooner. When pup got spunky he was allowed to mix it up with game rooster that stopped excessive play. My long-term goal evolved to have dog regard chickens not as packmates but rather parts of his territory that he uses to detect tresspassers. Chickens tell Scoob when somebody Scoob does not like visits. System works pretty well since my birds are not as a single flock or always in line of sight, even when dog positions himself at center of territory. My birds are spread out and soon a couple flocks will be setup a hundred yards beyond flock that is currently farthest from house. This will tax Scoob's defending abilites since even though he can actually kill a lot of predators, many can commit acts of snatch and grab and Scoob can not run at the speed of of light.

Real training seemed to be in keeping him on premises. For a period of about six months we strayed away for as much as an hour at a time. Now that he has matured he stays tight but still defends neighbor's flock that is about 1/8 mile away. Neighbor is getting his own dog and fencing in so that will stop that as well.

Scoob does come when called and he can be taken to any location and he will not cause problems with poultry of any sort.


More details can be found in following thread. Despite having used dogs most of my life to guard chickens, this is first effort where dog was acquired specifically for purpose.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/426408/planned-livestock-guarding-dog-for-poultry

I will do better next round which will start in next few weeks. Takes good 18 months to get dog competitent at doing what I expect of it.

 

[joan1708]

Thanks centrarchid for the info. I love a good dog. I have a Brittany and she's an almost 2 year old, wild child. We tried all the clicker training and Barkbuster's (worthless and mean). She can do most of the obedience stuff in the house (sit, down, come, stay, shake, heel, she can even roll over and play dead). But outside where there are flying things, birds, bugs, and butterflies, she pays no attention to me. Finally took her back to the breeder, who trains bird hunting dogs, to e-collar train her. Now she will come when called with rare "pops". She loves to put the e collar on because she knows she going somewhere fun. I wouldn't begin to trust her with my chickens. She's less interested in them than she used to be, and she knows she is not allowed in that part of yard, but I'll never be able to trust her. I've fixed it so she can't really see the chickens, so she is less likely to "fixate" on them like she does flying things. I have to have several layers of separation between the dogs and the chickens to idiot proof it for myself. I once trained my dachshunds to be OK with rabbits and kept them together during the day when I was away, and never had a problem. But this is a different dog, and sad to say, not much hope in a similar situation. A German shorthaired pointer is a bird dog too isn't it?