Could you call your dog off?

Dragon · 01-22-2010, 10:01 AM

My local dog park is a 2km long by 1km wide facilty surrounded by a 4'0 chain link fence. There is a large wooded area at the back.

This fall a Deer and her Fawn decided to call the wooded area home in the centre of the dog park. Fish and Wildlife were noted of the deer and refused to remove them as "they pose no threat to humans".

A few days later two dogs were roaming the wooded area ahead of their owner and spotted the deer. They ended up killing the fawn. The gentleman recieved a ticket for not being able to control his dogs.

Dog park rules on leash or off leash and in voice control

Question: Do you think you could call your dog(s) off????

A deer maybe a rabbit or a gopher... I'm not entirely sure. We practice calling her when she is in full flight chasing another dog but it's not the same as a wild animal.

Ron · 01-22-2010, 10:11 AM

hmm i don't know. I think tie would be too scared to attack a deer lol.

Doreen · 01-22-2010, 10:31 AM

I don't really think I could if it was a smaller animal. I know for sure that Rex had killed a chipmunk, not knowing if it was just in play or intentionally since I didn't see it actually happen, I saw it in his mouth after the fact and when I told him to drop it, he did. Now that I think of it, it might have already been dead. I was just assuming he killed it since they kept coming up to my glass doors and peeking inside, tormenting my dogs, LOL. I was afraid they were going to come into my house.

Coco is always out there like a bloodhound sniffing as if she was a K-9 unit doing her job, LOL.... so I have a feeling she might kill something if she ever got to catch anything, I just don't know. She doesn't like to see birds walking around the yard and runs after them as soon as the door opens.

KeeperBoy · 01-22-2010, 10:43 AM

I think I could call him off a deer because he wouldn't know exactly what it is and would be scared. I called him off a horse the other day, I was pretty impressed by that. I KNOW I can't always call him off a cat or rabbit though.

Spyglass Sally · 01-22-2010, 05:17 PM

Buddy is never off leash without an electronic collar. It's not the deer I'm worried about, it's him. If he bolted when a car was coming or something, I want the assurance of knowing I can get his attention no matter how distracted or excited he is.

Ruby Red · 01-23-2010, 01:47 PM

Ruby wouldn't go for a deer/fawn - too big - she gets nervous around Great Danes so I can't imagine her going for something big. But squirrels - I give up! She's not caught one yet and if she did, she'd probably try and play with it! It's the thrill of the chase more with her I think.

The only way for me to stop her is not to let her chase them in the first place, and to this end she is always kept on her lead whilst we walk through the woods - wayyyy too much temptation in there!!!!!

AussieGirl · 01-23-2010, 09:14 PM

I'm not sure, if it was a smallish animal I think she would chase, she is a bit of a baby so I think she may freak out at something big. She has been surprising me lately though so who knows. I just wouldn't let her off lead if I knew there were animals that she may react to.