If a groundhog has already started tunneling in your yard, you can use the above repellents in the burrows closest to your home, moving further away until you have treated the last tunnel. Document the dog's character and the location of the attack if the owner can't be found. In my personal opinion and experience, twisting the collar and applying the right amount of pressure with a skilled grip can definitely resolve a dog fight. But oftentimes there have been subtle signs prior to the attack. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are found all over central and eastern US. Groundhogs are also known as rabies carriers which can be transmitted to your dog through a bite. There are no breeds inherently predisposed to biting. These critters can easily climb fences, walls, and trees. In the Cut. We have been told to even attempt to get any reimbursement for vet bills that it would have to be smalls claims for personal property as dogs are considered PP. Posted on Last updated: September 7, 2022. Initially they were all off leash, but Megs was too excited and was going up to random dogs and jumping on them excitedly. He ended up with a long puncture in his neck that was a cm away from his jugular, stitches in both ears and his left dew claw ripped clean off. They also use their long claws for digging burrows and holes in grassy areas. While the muzzle often has a negative connotation, its truly a wonderful tool. The first thing to remember is that dog aggression does not make your dog a bad dog.. Please make sure that there is an emergency fund for your dog in the future. They almost look like squirrels but are bigger in comparison to a squirrel. The chances of a groundhog causing rabies in a dogs body are rare, but the chances are not null. Both owners are . Primarily herbivores, they will occasionally eat smaller rodents and insects. If your dog was attacked by another dog, the aggressors owner should offer to pay for veterinary care and if you want to report a negligent or even intentional attack, local authorities will most likely act, depending on the severity and local law. If all else fails, be the loud and noisy apartment neighbor you had in your twenties that wouldnt let you sleep. The following are some of the ways in which you can keep all the groundhogs away from your home as well as your dogs. Was it an appropriate and measured response? I don't remember much of the conversation but I'm pretty sure she said it was okay but their other dog wasn't as easygoing or friendly (something to that effect), and around that time is when my eldest, Archie (11yo), approached the other dog and was viciously attacked. My Dog Ate Kong Rubber What Should I Do? Any advice on helping his recovery an of its worth trying to get reimbursed for the vet bills? Regardless of your dogs size, a groundhog can do some severe damage if they decide to fight back. Knowing a groundhog's instincts can help you as the dog owner make predictions about how your dog might react if he sees one. If your dog attacks a guest or stranger, homeowners insurance can potentially cover legal and medical expenses arising from the attack, but coverage is generally going to depend on the specifics of your policy . Do I HAVE to take him for a checkup? Hi there. Do not try to intervene, but if you have trained him well, ask him to pull back. They are herbivorous animals and usually eat grass, leaves, and selective fruits. Little dog had surgery is OK. You may be able to inquire with local authorities (perhaps the dog is registrered, etc.). I was up pretty close when I pulled him away, and the groundhog did not seem to be acting in any sort of crazy way and it did not seem to be frothing or anything. Signs that your dog is having a panic attack can vary widely, but some of the most common symptoms are: Avoidance of or attempts to escape a situation. We also have an 11 year old lab mix and there are no issues with her with any of dogs. Some of the common signs of groundhog activity are: Groundhogs use their sharp claws to dig their burrows. It's essential to document everything, so take pictures of the dog and the area. Groundhogs are smaller in size compared to dogs. It mainly affects hares, rabbits, and rodents like squirrels and groundhogs. Your situation might be totally different (seniors, people with medical conditions, and so on). Any of the ticks and fleas can lead to an itching sensation in your dogs body, and along with that, rashes and infections can also develop in the body of your pet. I'm really sorry all that happened, it's a difficult situation if your dog is attacked, even more so if it's on your own property and your dog is cornered. While fighting with the groundhog, these parasites can jump onto the dogs body. Ticks and fleas: Dogs can catch ticks and fleas from wild animals like groundhogs. These rodents usually dig burrows in grassy areas and eat through gardens causing a lot of damage. As responsible owners, its our job to be physically and mentally prepared for these situations and at least try our best. Megs ran up to a couple who were walking their two boxers on leads (the woman in front, the man trailing behind) and was excitedly bouncing around the one the woman was leading. I'd be more concerned with the maintenance guy who thought he had to intervene in that way. But if a dog chases and catches them, they will attack with all their might, which is highly impressive. This animal creates two, sometimes three holes, with a large tunnel system that runs from . 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. They are actually quite common across America and they can also snatch a dog. I would not give any guarentees what a Chihuahua would do. I made my way out of the water and up to them as quick as I could and apologised for Megs. How Do Groundhogs Dig Holes In The Ground? They're hard to get rid of because they. 3 Reasons Huskies Howl & What to Do About It. Theyre often spotted in backyards and parks, diving into their underground burrows to avoid confrontation with predators and other curious animals. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Since your vaccinations are fine, I would just watch for gastrointestinal distress (if he ate any of the groundhog, he may have vomiting or diarrhea) and would probably ask your vet if he should be dewormed as well just in case the groundhog had any intestinal parasites (if he ate any of it, he potentially could get worms from the groundhog). If your dog killed an infected groundhog, it is very much possible that the infection passed on to your dog. Urination or defecation. Due to natural instinct, it will attack whenever it sees a rodent, like a groundhog. The owners have offered nothing not even remorse ( Briar couldn't get up an walk on his own without help for,48hrs +). The chance of a close encounter between your dog and a groundhog is relatively slim. 1. If a groundhog feels cornered or trapped, they are most likely to attack when threatened by a larger animal like a dog. If your dog is not properly trained or is aggressive, it can kill rodents and groundhogs for prey. How did your dog behave? When your dog is allowed the opportunity to attack another dog, not only do you risk serious injuries or death to the other dog, but the outcome can be devastating for your dog too, if you face legal action. Try to avoid doing anything confrontational, such as staring her in the eye, standing over her, or invading her space. Not sure how to resolve this issue. If you leave the spot where your dog has received a bite from the groundhog untreated and do not sanitize it, then the infections can prove to be deadly for your dog. Nothing happened. Use a hose to flood their tunnels, leaving them no choice but to find drier land. 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. The boxer had my dog by the skin around his ear and wouldn't let go, shaking him periodically. Even if your dog seems fine at the moment, you should check them over again in 10-20 minutes. Gross and ridiculous. The Best Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs, How Long Should I Play with My Puppy? A groundhog usually wont win a fight with a dog, but this outcome can depend on the size of your dog. Unfortunately the state of WV has a 1 bite law ( humans) that gives the dogs another chance. Dont just choke the dog since thatll only cut off the air supply but instead twist the collar while lifting it to quickly end the fight and avoid damage to the dogs throat if possible. Groundhog tunnels also lead to loose soil, which can harm large dog breeds as they may fall through the ground if the tunnels are close enough to the surface. A Guide to Pet-Friendly Retailers (2022). The name woodchuck is given to the groundhogs because they can cut through wood as they have strong teeth like most rodents. I ran in and tried to pry apart his jaws with my hands (risky, I know, but I was panicked and he wouldn't let Archie go). Adult males can grow to be 13 lbs and are around 18-20 inches long. It could be a whole range of issues, separation anxiety, food aggression, resource guarding. Continue to avoid making eye contact. was he leashed and viciously attacked or not). Though I actually have no recollection of what they were doing when the attack took place. In most situations, you'll want to get a door between you and the dog. While its a scary event to witness a dog fight, it often feels even worse when its your own dog that attacked another dog. This can occur in both humans and animals. Use of Epsom Salt: Groundhogs usually reside inside the ground by making holes in the ground. Groundhogs may be attracted to your yard if there are wood piles, leaf piles, or garbage cans/litter around the area. Items like pinwheels can keep groundhogs away for a short time. I asked the woman to help me and we were finally able to free my dog. You can also fill the tunnels with dirt. Your dog may have just had negative experiences in the past or is simply not socialized. Theyre most often found across the central and eastern United States, living as far north as Canada and Alaska. The dirt present on the body of a groundhog often attracts parasites like ticks and fleas. groundhogs possess large incisors to bite through hard surfaces in front of the mouth, Tularemia is a contagious disease known to be a bacterial infection. Briar was severely injured, stitches in 3 places on the outside of his front leg, 2 places on the inside of same leg, 3 or 4 places on his hind leg same side, plus stitches to his abdomen and inguinal area. Groundhogs have thick brownish fur and claws that help the burrow underground. Additionally, groundhogs have sharp claws, and your dog might sustain injuries in the process. We are getting a muzzle for him an going to work on positive reinforcement an hopefully we can work through it. Rottweiler Growth Chart When Are Rottweilers Fully Grown? Theyre also humane as they dont hurt the groundhogs. And yes, you should be worried if your dog has killed a groundhog. Why Is My Adult Dog Pooping in the House Suddenly? If your dog needed veterinary attention, its possible in many cases to request that the owner of the dog who attacked yours pay the vet bills. Snakebites . The vet will need to send it off to be analyzed for rabies. Read on to find out. Is there evidence? What Should I Do? 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. 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. 16) Stick your fingers down your dog's throat to discourage nipping. Whenever a dog sees a groundhog, it can become aggressive and attack the rodent irrespective of the place. Certain lines of breeds whose terrible breeders foster and feed traits such as aggression do exist too. You may have just stumbled upon a rescue dog who is exactly that. Stay calm and assertive, call for help and give clear instructions if possible 2. Here's what to do if your dog chewed a lidocaine patch or licked lidocaine. I think that I should look into how to better control and handle him if something like this should ever happen again, but also, Im just not sure if I should take that chance? Why Does My Dog Have A Pink Spot On His Lip? The chances of the groundhog even having rabies to begin with are quite low. Why bring a reactive dog to an off-leash beach without fitting a muzzle? But, will they attack a dog if prompted? While thats true most of the time, it can definitely backfire. Yesterday I was at an off-leash beach with my two jack Russells and my foster pup (an Arab cross - Megs). Depending on your local law, you shouldnt count on that though, especially if you have a breed thats affected by breed-specific legislation. 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. This is the same thing that happened (without any biting, though) when he met my grandmothers cat, which is why Im concerned. The local authorities will need to contact the pet owner to determine if the dog has been vaccinated. Moreover, if a groundhog bites your dog, this fatal disease can also be transmitted from the groundhogs body as these rodents are known as the carriers of rabies. The first time ended well and the other dog was calm throughout and I moved further away down the beach. Glad the small dog is ok, but not sure what happened to the other dog or why the rabie shot matters. You should never pick up your dog in an effort to protect them, as this will encourage the attacking dog to leap at you. If not, just let your dog do what it wants to do. Allow her to come to you if she isn't tied or in a kennel. Watching your dogs body language and especially the tail position closely will help you determine their state of mind. 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. The holes they dig can be hard to spot, so if your dog is running in the backyard and doesnt see one, they may catch a paw in the hole. In many places, dogs will be listed as dangerous or another similar designation after the original incident happens. A groundhog is a rodent but is much larger than a mouse or even some rats. Squishy spots in your yard where the soil is very loose. Or he was bitten by a small dog and inflicted more harm in defense? Pouring Castor Oil: Another way to keep the groundhogs away from your pet is to destroy the places where these animals live. This species is the famous "giant squirrel" that many people have complained about in America. No matter how it starts, a dog fight is a scary occurrence. Groundhogs are constantly looking for food to munch on, and backyards next to wooded areas are the perfect place for them to post up for three meals a day. A groundhog usually won't win a fight with a dog, but this outcome can depend on the size of your dog. We look at the steps you should take if a dog bites your dog. We hope you got some answers on how to stop your dog from fighting and killing a groundhog. We look at the emotions following a dog's death and ways to process them. If you do get bit, wash the wound with soap and water and seek immediate medical attention. Continuing to hold the back legs of the dogs, each person should slowly continue backing away until the dogs can be contained. Dachshunds were bred to go down the burrow of badgers. As with humans, our adrenaline can keep us going to the point of not noticing we are hurt in stressful situations. Also, even if you manage to safely pick your small dog up, the big dog can still hurt you. 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). Groundhog Day. In fact, if you also have cats, it's a known deterrent to sprinkle soiled cat litter in their burrows. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are aggressive animals that are hard to get rid of when they invade your property. Hitman. It depends on a lot of factors that make prediction hard. Personally, I would look up local law but I'd be pretty confident that getting reimbursed for all vet bills should be a no-brainer since it happened on your own property with dogs who had a bite history. And yes, you should be worried if your dog has killed a groundhog. While rare, the effects of this disease can be serious. If your dog has been vaccinated with the rabies vaccine, then your dog will not have any problem even if a groundhog bites it. Make sure your yard is groundhog clear before installing fencing. As well as training, feeding and caring for your four-legged family member, dog ownership involves much more than handling their day to day needs . 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. Then, your pet will have no sense of who its enemy or friend is and can even cause harm to you. Dead or discolored areas of your yard that follow a specific path (this is most likely the site of the groundhogs tunnel system). They mainly eat clover and alfalfa but also dine on grass, weeds, dandelion greens, and other herbs, fruits, and veggies. Nuts- Shagbark, hickory, acorns (nut of oaks and contains seeds). In fall, groundhogs also eat roots, leaves, barks, and twigs of trees as plants become scarce though they prefer plants and vegetables. I figure if he could do this to a groundhog, he could do it too a cat as well. You can use a cage or humane trap to catch the groundhog, then release them far away from your neighborhood. , walls, and selective fruits up to them as quick as I could and apologised for.... 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