Trapping dogs - UPDATE

[switchback]

Has anyone tried trapping large dogs before? My entire flock of bantams (except for one) was wiped out last week by a large dog that got into the coop. I have set up an infrared trail cam, and won't be shutting off the electric fence during storms anymore, but it has been back again. Came through (or over) the electric fence yesterday, or (more likely) under or through the gate. I have 30 acres of woods surrounded by electric high-tensile 5' seven-wire fence, hooked up to a Parmak Magnum 12v solar charger. I tested it at 7500 volts (tested it first-hand before using the voltage tester, and believe me, it is a very strong zap). However, the bottom wire is neutral so it definitely could be crawling under it.

I have talked to the neighbor whose dog I think it is, but she doesn't believe her dog would ever do such a thing (of course). I can wait and try to catch it on the camera, but it could be too late (I have other livestock too that I worry about). I have one little Dutch bantam hen that miraculously escaped with only minor injuries, and she refuses to go anywhere near the coop now so she is hanging out inside the hay pile at night and free ranging with my four-legged livestock during the day. I plan to set something temporary up for her in my basement to live in soon, but until then I am afraid of coming out there in the evening and finding her dead, like the 14 others. She is incredibly tame and friendly, so I would be devastated if I lose her too. These were hatchery chicks, so I didn't invest a large amount of money in them, but they were my pets and I was really attached to them (not to mention all the time and work I put into in them).

So, I want to take care of this fast and without hurting the dog (only because if it's the dog I believe it is, that neighbor has helped me before when my livestock escaped my fence, before I electrified it). It could take forever to catch it on camera, since I have such a large area. And a camera won't bring my last hen back to life either if it finds and kills her too.

So, has anyone tried trapping large dogs?

(whoops, edited to correct voltage)

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

If it was me~~I'd SSS

Large dogs, actually any size dog is easy to trap....only problem is finding a trap large enough. Our county Animal Control has a large trap they use thats identical to the small hav-a-heart traps. They bait it with a can of dog food.....works every time.

 

[switchback]

If it were any other dog, I would say SSS too - but the owner has helped me out with my animals two or three times when I wasn't there (like when my foal rolled himself outside the fence). And, so far I am never there when the dog is either (I think it's happening in the morning, when I am away). So, as much as that would permanently solve the problem, it's not really an option in this case.

I will try contacting animal control to see if they have a trap they could loan me. Otherwise, has anyone tried building one?

 

[CariLynn]

I second the SSS.....sometimes owners do not want to admit their little muffin has a taste for blood and it is often up to the person who is loosing livestock or animals to do something about it.

We had a similar problem with some folks who would come visit friends down the road from where our farm is and let their Siberian Husky go so he could "run and get exercise". Dog found my horses and thought it was great fun to chase my big Quarter Horse gelding, snapping at his heels and belly and dodge those kicking feet. Did this several times with warnings that we don't take to this kind of behavior, that next time I found him doing this, my husband would shoot the dog. Few months went by, I came home after a late shift in the ER, they let me go as we were having an ice/snow storm. Pulled into my driveway to see my QH in a corner of the fence dancing, rearing and slipping around. When I went out there was the husky biting at him and the blanket he had on and he was sliding around so he couldn't get away. I did go get my pistol and as I came back out the owners were pulling into our driveway and when the female realized what I was going to do begged me not to and finally got the dog.

A dog that kills ducks, geese, chickens, etc. will do it again, they will come back and will be vicious about it and many times it is about the chase, not anything else.

 

[herefordlovinglady]

we trap hogs on our property and there has been a time or two that we have trapped a couple of large wild dogs. maybe someone around you has a hog trap you can barrow.

 

[aprophet]

http://www.extension.org/pages/Wild_Pig_Damage_Management


http://www.rmrs.nau.edu/publications/Kolbeetal/Kolbeetal.pdf

I have built a clone of the first I use all metal , the second works really well the size of it is not written in stone I have built them larger and smaller

 

[bumpershoot]

Quote:
It's understandable that you would want to refrain from SSS with a neighbor who has been helpful in the past. Animal control here didn't have a trap when I needed one, but a vet office near me did. Dogs are way easier to catch than coyotes because they don't fear human scent, so that will play into your favor. Good luck!

 

[bobbi-j]

Switchback - good for you for trying to keep things on good terms with your neighbor. It would be good to see more of that. I know that it's not always possible, but when it is, it's a good thing. Anyway, a while back there were pictures on here from someone who built a box trap I think - and caught a BIG dog in it. I'm not sure where or how you'd find them, but it looked fairly simple. Pictures would be a good thing, too. For your sake and your neighbor's. As you yourself said, you only SUSPECT the dog as you haven't caught it in the act. You might be surprised at what really did the damage....

 

[switchback]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I called animal control and I'm stopping after work to pick up a large live trap they will loan out for two weeks at a time with only a $20 deposit. They will even give me the canned food for bait and the blanket to cover it "so the dog won't be frightened after it's trapped" (LOL, I want it to be frightened).

Anyway... I am 99% sure it is this particular dog as 1) I started seeing those tracks a few days after they moved in (one of the reasons I electrified the fence), 2) the size of the tracks match the size of that dog, 3) the color of the fur I found inside the coop matches this dog (and no other that I am aware of living around here), 4) I have twice witnessed it try to come through that same spot in the fence that I saw the tracks earlier (I stopped it both times), 5) it was loose and barking at me at the edge of the road as I was leaving my place that night (the last time I saw them alive) and nobody was around, 6) I know she frequently lets it out unattended to do its business, 7) the day after it happened, I was watching when it was let out and it immediately ran across the road and over to my fence, 8) the tracks I have been seeing in the dirt by my driveway are coming from the direction of that house, and 9) none of the other neighbors have seen any stray dogs around.

Also, I won't judge anyone else for wanting to do whatever it takes to protect their animals (SSS), but like I said, she has helped me before when my livestock escaped. And, I will make the distinction between an owner that just doesn't care or can't be bothered to keep their animals under control, and one that puts too much trust in their dog and isn't aware what it's capable of (which is way more common than I expected) or what it's doing when they aren't watching. And, I'm still hoping (although unlikely) that it turns out to be a different dog. I'm also picking up a second media card tonight so I can swap out the one in the trailcam and see if I caught it the last time it came through.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Good thread. I like your attitude. My closest neighbor has a Lab and another has a Boxer. There is no way I'd want to harm either one of those dogs, even if they did kill some of my birds.