Dog owners must understand the potential threats in their neighborhoods. Local wildlife can cause problems for our pets if we’re not careful. We might encounter venomous creatures like snakes or scorpions when we’re walking our dogs.
Birds of prey can even present a threat to puppies and smaller breeds! Other animals like foxes, coyotes, or even bears may enter our gardens. It’s crucial to protect your dog from the risk of attack and disease. Here are some simple ways to keep our beloved pooches safe from local wildlife.
1. Construct a Fence
One of the best ways to protect your dog from local wildlife is to construct a fence. This will deter other animals from entering your garden and encountering your dog. It’s not a foolproof solution but animals like foxes or black bears may pursue an easier option. Remember, a fence should be at least six feet tall with poles staked at least eight inches below the ground. Otherwise, it won’t be effective.
Wolves and coyotes are excellent diggers and could attempt to burrow beneath the fence. This solution won’t be suitable for everybody, but it’s a good option for people in the countryside. It’s important to know your environment to keep wildlife out of your garden. Some people even put an outer electric fence beyond an inner enclosure. This shocks the local wildlife but doesn’t affect your dog.
2. Keep Your Dog on a Leash
A leash drastically reduces the chances of encountering hazards during a walk. This is a simple solution but it’s such an effective way to protect your dog. Our canine pals instinctively chase animals that run away from them. Foxes, raccoons, and coyotes are good examples. They can carry diseases like canine distemper, rabies, and parvovirus, so it’s important to protect your pet from exposure.
Our pets may also investigate snakes and scorpions. Pull your pooch away before it antagonizes these venomous critters. This drastically reduces the chance of snakes biting dogs. Always keep pooches on leashes if you’re unfamiliar with your environment. The leash should be six feet or shorter, so the owner is always in control.
3. Prevent Dog Food from Getting Scattered Outdoors
One of the main reasons why wild animals enter gardens is because they smell food. An easy way to deter this is to remove food sources. Feed dogs inside so that their uneaten kibble doesn’t sit outside and attract critters. Animals like raccoons, coyotes, and rats have powerful noses. Leaving food outdoors is an open invitation to come and dine in your garden.
Try not to leave garbage cans outside, too. Keep them in a garage behind closed doors if possible, so that you don’t receive any unwanted guests. If you must keep your trashcan outside, seal the lid with a weighted object to deter smaller animals. Be wary if there are bears in your neighborhood because they may be strong enough to knock the weight over. These apex predators can seriously injure your dog, so don’t take any chances.
4. Have Your Dog to Sleep Indoors
Many wild animals are nocturnal. They prowl through our neighborhoods and gardens at night in search of food. The easiest way to protect our dogs in this scenario is to allow them to sleep indoors. Bring them inside at the end of the day and lock the door. Yes, they may bark if they hear rustling or unusual noises outside, but it will keep them safe.
Some animals like raccoons and coyotes are not strictly nocturnal. However, they know that it’s quieter and safer to leave their dens after dusk. There’s less chance of human encounters, which is the biggest threat to their safety. Keeping your dog indoors at night is a simple but effective solution.
5. Keep Your Dog Vaccinated
There are two things to worry about when our dogs encounter wild animals. First, they may fight and suffer bites or scratches. But the second issue is potentially more serious. They may contract diseases like rabies. Many animals can spread this lethal virus including bats, skunks, and raccoons.
Keeping your dogs’ vaccines up to date is the best way to reduce the risk. They may still need to undergo quarantine depending on the severity of the bite. Some states and jurisdictions have different rules, but your vet will advise the best steps. Always vaccinate your pet and update their flea and tick medication.
6. Stay Out of the Bush
Some owners train their dogs so that they instantly return when they call them. However, this doesn’t guarantee their safety. It may be tempting to allow them to roam where they want in the wilderness, like in dog-friendly national parks. Nonetheless, we should stay out of bushes and dense overgrowth with our pooches.
There’s a greater risk of them encountering snakes and other dangerous critters. It’s more likely that a snake will bite if something surprises them. Usually, we won’t have quick access to an antidote, so do the right thing and stay in the open. The dog mightn’t even see the reptile before the worst happens.
7. Keep Your Yard Clean
Always clean up your dog’s mess in your garden. Canine feces release pheromones into the air, and this may stimulate other animals. This can be a serious problem if the local wildlife is territorial. Other canine species like coyotes and dingoes may investigate and attack your dog. Foxes even eat dog feces! These animals can cause serious harm with their powerful bites. They also may carry dangerous diseases.
It’s also more hygienic to clean up after your pet. This reduces the risk of attracting dog parasites and causing more problems. It also eliminates the chance of other animals treating your garden as a toilet! Keep your dog safe and your home clean at the same time.
