deter stray dogs without killing them

[middle TN Nancy]

I've been reading this Predators forum for hours tonight and wanted to pass on something my grandfather told my dad after we moved to the country and had a problem with a pack of stray dogs causing trouble. My grandfather said that he used to load his shotgun with rock salt instead of shot and would shoot them with that. He said it wouldn't kill them, but that "they would take it home with them." I don't know if it is true that it wouldn't kill them, as my grandfather was fairly unsentimental, being a farmer who saw nothing wrong with protecting his farm animals.
Also I don't know how "loading it with rock salt" could be accomplished since I know nothing about guns. I do know that in the city if you let your dogs run loose and they begin chasing cars, they will eventually be run over. In the country if your dogs roam and get into a farmer's chickens or baby pigs, they will get shot. A couple of our dogs started some bad roaming habits, and came home one day shot up to the point that one had to be put down and the other lost an eye. The survivor learned his lesson and stuck close to home after that.

 

[Zinjifrah]

I've been reading this Predators forum for hours tonight and wanted to pass on something my grandfather told my dad after we moved to the country and had a problem with a pack of stray dogs causing trouble. My grandfather said that he used to load his shotgun with rock salt instead of shot and would shoot them with that. He said it wouldn't kill them, but that "they would take it home with them." I don't know if it is true that it wouldn't kill them, as my grandfather was fairly unsentimental, being a farmer who saw nothing wrong with protecting his farm animals.
Also I don't know how "loading it with rock salt" could be accomplished since I know nothing about guns. I do know that in the city if you let your dogs run loose and they begin chasing cars, they will eventually be run over. In the country if your dogs roam and get into a farmer's chickens or baby pigs, they will get shot. A couple of our dogs started some bad roaming habits, and came home one day shot up to the point that one had to be put down and the other lost an eye. The survivor learned his lesson and stuck close to home after that.

Loading a shotgun with rock salt requires a knowledge of how to reload shot shells, and the equipment to do so properly. It is not a humane means of deterring an animal, and can result in serious injury. The salt embeds itself beneath the skin, can lodge in the mouth, the eyes, ears, wherever it hits. The phrase 'pouring salt in a wound' is not just a phrase. Salt burns, and it doesn't break down right away. It can stay there for quite a while, being a source of constant pain and irritation, which can cause the animal to injure itself further. I would consider it appropriate to use against a human intruder - not against a dog. To deter a dog, get sonic and olfactory repellents, motion-activated water sprayers, and more importantly, invest in a good fence to both keep other dogs out, and your own in.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

An electric fence is the way to deter dogs. You won't have to kill the K9s but the bite of an electric fence will make the dog think that you killed it.

No dogs were harmed in the posting of this post.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

"loading it with rock salt

That is highly illegal... be carefull what you publish.
He needs an electric hot wire.

 

[Zinjifrah]

I appreciate your comments. Salt in a wound sounds horrible. Like I said, my grandfather was unsentimental about protecting his farm animals. I mentioned this mainly because I wanted some feedback since I know nothing about guns, and yet I have been reading in this forum about stray or loose dogs killing entire flocks of chickens. I have recently moved to a rural location on 5 acres and have already experienced a pack of dogs roaming through my yard and carrying random things off, such as the empty aluminum cat dish. I'm sure they would have gotten after chickens had there been any around. I've been worrying about my planned future flock, which I am hoping to free range when I'm home so that they can eat ticks and other insects around the house. I really can't imagine myself using a gun against a marauding animal at all. I may have to do some fencing at least around the house.

If you are not familiar with firearms, then you would need to take a Firearm Safety class, and spend a considerable amount of time becoming proficient with the use of one, being comfortable using one, and safe practices when using one, before even considering protecting your animals - or yourself - with one. Feral dogs, and dogs running in a stray pack, can be a serious danger, not only to your livestock but to yourself. A firearm is a tool, but like many tools - it can injure what you never intended to hurt, if used wrong. It's a useless tool, if you don't happen to be at the right place at the right time, with the right skills, to make it useful. A strong, secure, high fence is far more effective in deterring dogs.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

On a comical paintball related note: a friends family has some farm land they no longer farm but want to keep in good condition. When they were having problems with people mudding on the property and destroying the land they buried paint bombs. Hot pink permanent paint bombs.

To be fair the bombs are 40’ to 50’ in from the property line which is marked with signs posted. “Private property” and “warning paint bombs” Rigged to go off if driven over but not stepped on. Not dangerous.

Only one person had the gall to drive up to the house in their hot pink splattered Jeep demanding the land owner pay for paint removal. They didn’t.

 

[Tesumph]

I appreciate your comments. Salt in a wound sounds horrible. Like I said, my grandfather was unsentimental about protecting his farm animals. I mentioned this mainly because I wanted some feedback since I know nothing about guns, and yet I have been reading in this forum about stray or loose dogs killing entire flocks of chickens. I have recently moved to a rural location on 5 acres and have already experienced a pack of dogs roaming through my yard and carrying random things off, such as the empty aluminum cat dish. I'm sure they would have gotten after chickens had there been any around. I've been worrying about my planned future flock, which I am hoping to free range when I'm home so that they can eat ticks and other insects around the house. I really can't imagine myself using a gun against a marauding animal at all. I may have to do some fencing at least around the house.

Roaming packs of dogs are a danger to much more than chickens. That is certainly worthy of getting real bullets out, or at least notifying animal control.

I wouldn’t dream of free ranging if you have active daytime predator problems or can’t handle losing some here and there.

 

[Tesumph]

The low sectional density or weight of rocksalt when compared to lead shot is not likely to create penetrating wounds or draw blood. Furthermore rocksalt will be absorbed by the body if it did produce penetrating wounds unlike lead shot.

It will absolutely draw blood and causes “burns.” It’s not lethal at long range, it’s cruel. Shouldn’t be used for the same reason certain snares and other traps are illegal.

FWIW, we once had a cat come into the clinic that was shot by rock salt. It’s not humane.

 

[Folly's place]

It's inhumane, and in most places illegal, to deliberately wound an animal. Electric fencing is wonderful, and if you are shooting, be safe, and plan to kill what you are aiming at.
Mary

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I’ll weigh in because I recently had 2 dogs terrorize my flock.

My birds are fenced in but 2 medium to large dogs ran round and round charging the fence and barking. I went out and got an old wooden broom handle to try and chase them off. The dogs could have cared less. Only once all the birds had disappeared from sight did the dogs think of leaving.

I immediately took to FB to warn others with chickens and the dogs owner. I had could see they had electric fence collars on but didn’t see tags.

Of course there was fighting back and forth in the comments about how I should have/could have handled it.

Yes I’m within my legal right to shoot a dog threatening my livestock or myself. I would much rather scare it off then kill it. I certainly wouldn’t want it to suffer if I did shoot it.
(Paintballs are an interesting idea)

In the end I was contacted by a woman who was babysitting her sons dogs—and had been searching for them for hours. She was beyond apologetic and of course grateful I hadn’t shot her sons dogs.

I had made the post on FB to (vent my frustration) warn other chicken owners to be on the lookout AND warn the dogs owner to keep a better eye on the dogs. Not everyone would try the scare tactic first. (Which was proven by the multiple “just shoot them” comments)

I got a picture msg about 10pm that night of 2 very dirty and exhausted looking dogs. They have not been back.

Your best defense is literally a fence. Fencing your yard perimeter should keep the average domestic dog out. If you want more predator protection a chicken run should be considered.