Got a Squirrel!!!

[eeeefarm]

I don't know many (any?) dogs that won't chase squirrels, so it isn't because Basenjis are such great hunters or have high prey drive (overused term, in all breeds, these days IMHO) that they want to chase them. Whether or not it is wise to encourage the behaviour is another question. I have no objection to hunting, although I do believe you should use what you kill. (there are lots of good squirrel recipes on line). However, if you want to hunt with your dog you have to accept that there are hazards, some of which are more serious than picking up a few fleas. Even the products you may decide to use to remove the fleas can be hazardous. e.g. there are rare but documented reactions to Revolution. I would be especially careful with a Basenji because of the thorough way they clean themselves….....using their paws as washclothes.

http://www.vetinfo.com/5-side-effects-of-revolution-for-dogs.html

Beyond the flea and parasite factor, squirrels can give a nasty bite which might result in a trip to the vet, a disfiguring scar, or worse. All factors to be weighed against allowing your dog some "fun".

[tanza]

@Buddys:

Tucker watches them through the picture window and goes ape-s***
Well, is it fair to him? I meant in the last post that behaviorily- maybe you can direct this 'instinct' to chase just before the kill part of prey drive and give him a GREAT toy to get involved with when that pesky squirrel is in the window. Otherwise, pent up energy and fustration will lead down the path of 'bad behavior' in the household, and then you'll be wondering "why is he doing this???????????????????"

Meaning? Because they are doing what comes natural? Wanting to hunt? And given the choice between living and stuffed, I doubt that any self-respecting Basenji would fall for that choice, even with a window/door inbetween.

[krunzer]

I am quite into nature. I grew up on a farm, I camp, hike, snowmobile, ice climb, rock climb, quad, hunt for fossils, etc. I put the bird feeder at the picture window because I love watching the birds and different types that come and I document which birds I have seen around my house. The squirrels come and eat from the bird feeder, dog sees squirrel, wants nothing but squirrel. We have a doggy door and they go through that onto the deck and down onto the ground to chase the squirrel. He could care less if there would be a steak lying on the floor….all he wants is the squirrel. I guess it is my 'gowing up on a farm nature' part in my that hates squirrels. Just like magpies, hate them too?

eeefarm, they will never catch that squirrel on their own and if they did I would be worried about it biting them. I know they have sharp teeth and claws.

[eeeefarm]

I get the "hate the squirrel" bit, but unfortunately nature abhors a vacuum, and if you get rid of the current population more will move in. We get red squirrels…...the worst for invading your house.......and lately the blacks and greys seem to be showing up as well. Raccoons are more worrisome, and I would not want my dog to get into a scrap with one of those, although my friend's JRT has dispatched quite a few! We also periodically get rabbits, but it seems to be a bad year for them. Haven't seen many. Skunks are the critters I fear most. Quite unpleasant to deal with the Basenji vs skunk aftermath. Especially as Basenjis are indoor dogs. When my Border Collie made that mistake, he was the only one who had to live with it!

My Perry used to climb his breeder's six foot chain link fence to go after squirrels, until she discovered that a piece of PVC pipe attached at the top effectively deterred him. He still climbed, but couldn't get over it. Since he has been an off leash dog here, he has been able to chase squirrels and has discovered that they, like the crows, do not "play fair". I always make sure the squirrel has a good head start, however. It does tend to send them away at least until the next day.....

[krunzer]

Yeah we only get the Red Squirrels here, too far north for anything else. Have never seen a skunk around here and we definately do not get racoons. The squirrels have managed to make it into my travel trailer and chew up a bunch of stuff before. Made a mess. Racoons are scary because they carry rabies as do skunks actually. We have the odd fox around here but I plan on fencing in the whole acreage next year with close knit page wire to deter them and coyotes from coming into the yard, as well as the neighbors dogs. I would rather my dogs not learn they can climb the fence in order to get to the squirrels. I don't want them thinking hey I can do that.

I am not mad at anyone and I don't want to pick fights either. Just trying to tell a story and try to see if anyone had had the problems with the squirrels and fleas issue before.

Right now Tucker and I are watching the birds out the window. Got some pretty Red Grosbeaks as well as my Evening Grosbeaks, chickadees and redpolls. So pretty against all of the new snow we are having.

[nomrbddgs]

I know squirrels carry far more diseases and parasites than anyone would think. I have also seen the little bugs you are talking about and I would guess they are a type of mite. Rabbits carry different types of parasites as well, but I believe squirrels are the worst.

I would far rather deal with a possum (primitive, ugly creatures, but as far as I know they cannot get rabies) that a skunk or raccoon.

[nomrbddgs]

Double post

[Barklessdog]

We use to feed the birds, then squirrels showed up & our Tri has no idea on how to kill, so he caught the squirrel & the squirrel bit him up really bad, he was covered in his own blood, the squirrel got away. Do think he learned his lesson?
Of coarse not. He still chases them, but we stopped feeding the birds.

[suzee]

Krunzer, I wouldn't have shot the squirrel with a pellet gun… but I do encourage my boy to hunt!! I would be a proud mama if he caught a squirrel/rabbit (and I'm a vegan!). It's a very NATURAL behavior! You definitely did the right thing by looking into the flea thing and acting on it fast. Basenjis will naturally chase anything that runs. They can't help it!

Snakes in FL have turned into a pest problem, especially invasive species of snake like Boas. They are having such a problem with them that in certain counties animal control actually puts them down after trapping them. This is OUR fault. Humans. We've already disrupted the eco-systems, Pal.

Basenjis are amazing hunters. That's what they do! We will never be able to change that, or "breed" it out of them. We should embrace it and encourage it. (....lure coursing, anyone?)

[krunzer]

Thank you Suzee. They had fun with the squirrel after they found it. I like watching that Python Hunters show that is on OLN about the invasive species of snakes in FL. It is a good show and it does show us how we have disrupted the ecosystem by introducing non native species to different parts of the world. I have not seen a squirrel in the yard for a couple of weeks now, it's great! Once I get the rest of the acreage fenced in they can go into the back pasture and hunt mice through the grass. We don't have a lot of rabbits out here but in the summer time I will take pics of their new place to run!