In case an off-leash dog attacked your dog, you should break up the fight as quickly as possible and evaluate whether or not the dog should have been supposed to be leashed in that area, and then take it from there. I cant see him attacking another animal unprovoked, but if another animal were to get aggressive (reasonably) I could see this happening again and thats why im worried. The man was trying to get him to stop. We look at the steps you should take if a dog bites your dog. In fall, groundhogs also eat roots, leaves, barks, and twigs of trees as plants become scarce though they prefer plants and vegetables. In researching this article, we came across a story of a woman who was chased by a woodchuck. Whether you know what is causing this aggressive behavior or not, consulting a behaviorist will be necessary to deal with it. My Dog Was Bitten By Another Dog: What Do I Do? However, you should never use it to hit the dog. Thank you very much if anyone sees and responds to this. Know what to do if your dog ends up in a fight. If you plan on using repellents, ensure there is an exit route for the groundhogs to follow out of your yard. I'm not a lawyer, but it might be worth contacting a lawyer for this and press charges. How Do I Know I Have Groundhogs In My Yard? Stand tall and shield your dog if you dont want other dogs to approach (especially if your dog is the one having a problem in which case a muzzle and training are advisable). Groundhogs mostly live in filthy places and, because of that, carry a lot of microbes with them. This is why we went tonthe expense of making what was supposed to be a secure kennel ( it's the length of our house). Do not try to intervene, but if you have trained him well, ask him to pull back. Why Does My Dog Have A Pink Spot On His Lip? If not, just let your dog do what it wants to do. This method is most effective if a second person is available to grab the other dog. Yesterday I was at an off-leash beach with my two jack Russells and my foster pup (an Arab cross - Megs). Attach it to a stick with a string and have a friend move it around the room while you practice the "leave it" command, followed by the focus exercise. Not only is it important for your own dog, so that they never have to suffer the trauma of an attack by that dog again, but its important to keep other dogs and their owners safe as well. 9. What I'm about to say is just my personal opinion, I'm not a lawyer and you'd need to consult one for this. Groundhogs are the largest species in the squirrel family. Sometimes, your dog can be the problem too: Why Do Dogs Kill Kittens? Image Credit: Justin Dalton-Fiallo, Shutterstock. Press J to jump to the feed. What should you do if your dog attacks a groundhog? Keeping a tidy lawn free of wood or leaf piles and . Rabies: this is another disease woodchucks may carry. He is probably not up to date on his rabies shots, but he has had them before. Add an electric wire 4-5 inches off the ground around the fence to strengthen your security. Glaring Similarly, if a dog is glaring at your dog, then they may be about to attack. Shouldn't the owner, knowing their dog is reactive have taken more precautions than just having it leashed? Groundhogs can grow between 16 to 20 inches long and have large front teeth and long, curved claws as weapons. Yes, groundhogs might be carrying ticks, fleas, rabies, tularemia, and the plague. etc. STEP 1: Prevent nesting by maintaining your yard. All opinions remain our own. The 2 dogs dug into our yard into our dog kennel ( chain link on thier side with privacy fence and decking boards across the bottom, on ourside)outside. Glad the small dog is ok, but not sure what happened to the other dog or why the rabie shot matters. If you see the dog owner, dont be afraid to ask them to leash their dog. These are rodents that have large front teeth, which are used to cause damage to wood and other materials. Groundhogs are extremely prevalent in the north-central and eastern parts of the United States. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are found all over central and eastern US. Certain lines of breeds whose terrible breeders foster and feed traits such as aggression do exist too. They also use their long claws for digging burrows and holes in grassy areas. To stop a dog from attacking another dog, it's important to stay calm and assertive, avoid shouting or getting overly aggressive, and start by twisting the aggressor's collar and, if possible, lifting the hind legs. Kicking & Screaming This rodent species carries a lot of viruses that can cause several diseases in dogs. Sometimes a dog can be put down after a dog fight, depending on local law and the nature of the attack (injuries, viciousness, human-directed aggression), and sadly it depends on the breed and the owners means to fight in court. He attacked a groundhog, groundhog is still breathing, so we called animal control, but they didn't get back to us yet. Groundhogs are true hibernators, which means they stay in their burrows during cold months to sleep through the winter. Rather, aggression is a combination of genetics, upbringing, and environment. However, they will stand their ground and confront a threat. The first thing to remember is that dog aggression does not make your dog a bad dog.. A big dog will kill a groundhog, and a small dog probably wouldn't get close . Breeds with stronger jaws (not locking jaws) do exist. The chances of a groundhog causing rabies in a dogs body are rare, but the chances are not null. Groundhogs are smaller in size compared to dogs. She screamed at me to get my other dog away, (I was trying to put Archie on the lead at the time and Beau (my 3 yo) was getting too close. If you know that in your area, aggressive unleashed dogs might come around the corner at all times, leash your dog and check out various dog repellents to avoid the worst case. Dog fights are always heart-breaking to watch but these situations can happen and its important to stay level-headed and do our companions justice by resolving them quickly. In general, if you followed all of the leash laws, your dog is properly registered, up to date on vaccinations, and generally well-behaved you will think that youll not be found liable for a dog attack that your dog did not provoke. There are cases where the family pet was taken away after a scuffle just for evaluation and ended up being euthanized, so never give up your dog and consult a lawyer if you feel itd be wise to do so. Other names for groundhogs include woodchucks, whistle-pigs and land-beavers. However, its also important to recognize when your dog is not social with other dogs and take appropriate management steps to keep everyone safe. Stay calm and assertive, call for help and give clear instructions if possible 2. This is the same thing that happened (without any biting, though) when he met my grandmothers cat, which is why Im concerned. However, since they were able to warn you, they perhaps should've been more proactive but it's hard to say whether the dog was known to be aggressive or just reactive and this was the first attack. My Dog Chewed a Lidocaine Patch. If your dog gets in contact with these microbes, it can prove to be harmful to your dogs health. What Should I Do? Witnesses? Try not to handle them more than necessary, as they may be very painful even if not obvious on the outside. Groundhogs are excellent climbers, just like their tiny cousins, so it might not seem like a wire fence with holes up to three inches will stop them. Groundhogs can usually escape a dog by diving into their burrow or past a fence. Though I actually have no recollection of what they were doing when the attack took place. Is the Kong Classic the Best Dog Toy Ever? Dogs in the middle of a dog fight dont pay close attention if they are biting the other dog or if they are accidentally biting a human. You can always try filing a claim but your neighbor might end up fighting it and I'm not sure what your options are or if you have any financial aid. They can also cause serious structural damage through burrowing. What if your dog defended himself and accidentally nibbed a human? Local leash law varies quite a bit and there are differences between the inner city, parks, designated forest paths, or a dog park where leashing may not even be required. Once the fight is over, do a health inspection of your dog and if you notice something unusual, take your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic. Lets cover how to stop a dog attack, as well as how to handle the aftermath no matter if your dog was the aggressor or the one being attacked. Remove visual stimulus, get something between you (umbrella, car, garbage pail, blanket, etc.). You can also use motion-detecting repellents that spray water or light flashes to spook away groundhogs and other unwanted visitors in your yard. They can even be dangerous to bigger animals like stock and smaller horses. If you have a backyard and rodents like groundhogs move in and around it, then there is a high chance that your dog can attack it, and this can also happen when you take your dog out for a walk. Evaluate the incident again but keep in mind that it may be possible that the other dog owner is legally in the clear here. Then, if possible, gently wash and disinfect the bite site to help stop the infection from setting in. Another thing is possible disease. Having a reactive dog is not forbidden. If your dog killed a groundhog, he might be at risk of getting fleas, roundworms, ticks, rabies, and tularemia, which these rodents carry. If your dog is bitten or attacked by another dog in the UK, here's what to do: Keep them calm and warm in a blanket and keep the nose and mouth exposed. Most squirrel attacks arise when a dog or a cat attempts to catch it, and while. Do I HAVE to take him for a checkup? He has tried to run off sometimes before, chasing after cats and sometimes birds, and I am not always successful in holding him back. My Dog Ate a Groundhog Will He Get Sick? If that is not the case, take your dog immediately to a veterinary clinic for vaccination and all the necessary treatments your dog needs after the fight. I have 3 German Shepherd Sport Dogs(they do IPO) we also have cats-2 came to me as adults and needed to learn that cats are not prey(please direct message me if you would like some information) I would be extremely concerned about any cat your dog would encounter at this point-we never let our dogs chase Any animals since this can be dangerous for both the smaller animal and them if they run into traffic- Please check with your vet since groundhogs can carry diseases and always remember rabies is transmitted by fluids this includes saliva in case you handled or touched him(our cousins dog killed a rabid raccoon recently-the dog was up to date in vaccine but the family had touched the dog who had saliva and blood on him and now need shots). Repeated incidents are not looked upon favorably, especially if the dog owner was ordered to leash their dog at all times (or when a short leash is required due to breed-specific legislation). This subreddit is a great starting point for a lot of information, but you should always verify and expand upon what you've read before putting it to use in your daily life. In this article, we will discuss what can happen and what you should do if your dog killed a groundhog.. Stay calm. Aggression and biting. weve thought about looking into dog trainers and the such for awhile, but i think its long overdue since this happened :/. Cougars & Mountain Lions. The chances of the groundhog even having rabies to begin with are quite low. I would not give any guarentees what a Chihuahua would do. Or he was bitten by a small dog and inflicted more harm in defense? While we all hope that we dont have to deal with a dog fight during our dogs life, its important to be prepared. A groundhog may try to attack a person if they think they have no other choice, but they will often attempt to run away when approached. How Stella Got Her Groove Back. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'thepupcrawl_com-box-4','ezslot_6',133,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepupcrawl_com-box-4-0'); If your pet dog attacks the groundhog, the woodchuck can bite your dog anywhere in the body. My Dog Died and I Feel Empty. Read on to find out. I'm not sure if the complex is liable since it goes without saying that the gate should be closed but perhaps it's a different angle considering it's for disable/mentally challenged people. No waiting for appointments or office hours. Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes. I figure if he could do this to a groundhog, he could do it too a cat as well. Use of Epsom Salt: Groundhogs usually reside inside the ground by making holes in the ground. Some of the breeds are small, whereas some others are quite large. Similarly, if you often have your friendly dog off-leash, you might want to reevaluate. When a big dog attacks a small dog, picking them up and shielding them with your arms while turning to one side (avoiding eye contact) and staying calm is the safest way to deal with this situation. Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Theyre also humane as they dont hurt the groundhogs. Cases look entirely different if humans were involved. Punctures dont usually start bleeding right away, and you may notice them after theyve had some time to form. If you know that your dog is a potential risk to other dogs, there are several pieces of management that you can use to protect your dog and others. Dog-on-dog attacks are happening across Melbourne more often than people think. If the attacking dog is listed as "dangerous" and your dog has to be put down, the owner may be held responsible for the original amount you paid for your dog. This can occur in both humans and animals. 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