Hedgehog issue

ArcticHeron

ArcticHeron

ArcticHeron

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Joined
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1,157
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Brum town
We've been getting a fair few hedgehogs through our garden the last few years. The numbers definitely dropped since hibernation season started in October, but we still get one at least once a fortnight.

Got no issue with the little guys, but my dog keeps getting hold of them and bringing them into the house. He's a greyhound so his drive is quite high and whilst I doubt he ever intends to hurt them (usually just brings them in to show me), there's been a few occasions where I've put them back outside and they've unfortunately been found dead the next morning.

I've checked the fences around the garden and honestly have no idea how they're getting in. Anyone know of a humane deterrent to keep them away?
 
I had an issue with moles that i could cope with in the main garden but the little ***** would pop out right on the edge of the ponds and fill them with soil
in the end most deterrents don't work ,i tried the ultrasonic ones and ended up just embracing the situation. in my case i used the soil they dug up to fill pots and around the pond made an underground fence by driving long pegs in.
no harm in trying out deterrents like coffee grounds ect or whatever they don't like just didn't work for me with moles
 
Will be shock killing them I would say.

Do you have a food source for them, anything outside they may be after?

For starters try to get rid of any gaps they may be using.
If you can fit your fist through then most hogs will fit.
They can climb to some extent, but not that well so if you can seal off where they may be walking in, and ensure no food available you should keep the wanderers down.
 
Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Will be shock killing them I would say.

Do you have a food source for them, anything outside they may be after?

For starters try to get rid of any gaps they may be using.
If you can fit your fist through then most hogs will fit.
They can climb to some extent, but not that well so if you can seal off where they may be walking in, and ensure no food available you should keep the wanderers down.
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No food available in the back garden for them to scavenge, though we do get an obscene amount of slugs which could be a draw?

I'll have to check the fences again tonight. I initially thought they might be nesting in the compost heap but it's pretty well contained and I turned it towards the end of the summer, nothing in there.
 
ArcticHeron said:
No food available in the back garden for them to scavenge, though we do get an obscene amount of slugs which could be a draw?

I'll have to check the fences again tonight. I initially thought they might be nesting in the compost heap but it's pretty well contained and I turned it towards the end of the summer, nothing in there.
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Slugs are one of their main food sources yes
 
Easier said than done but teaching your dog not to touch them would be the best long-term solution IMO.

Does he show much interest in them once he's shown you them?
 
ArcticHeron said:
Anyone know of a humane deterrent to keep them away?
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Murphy said:
Easier said than done but teaching your dog not to touch them would be the best long-term solution IMO.

Does he show much interest in them once he's shown you them?
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He's a greyhound, ex racer so his prey drive is exceptionally strong. We've managed to train much of it out of him to the point where he responds to commands off the lead when smaller dogs or squirrels are around, but it's one thing doing it in a foreign environment and another doing it on 'his' territory, especially when it's dark out and he sees or smells something at the top of the garden before you get the chance to respond. Had an unfortunate incident earlier this year where he got hold of the neighbors cat. Sadly the cat died but thankfully we have understanding neighbors...

With hedgehogs it more a case of being excited to show you the catch. He's responsive to commands and drops them once showing them off, but I wouldn't put it past him to ragdoll one before they get a chance to ball up.

Training the prey drive out of sighthounds isn't impossible, but it is extremely difficult.
 
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ArcticHeron said:
Training the prey drive out of sighthounds isn't impossible, but it is extremely difficult.
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Yea i know, it's why i said it's easier said than done. The thing is with all other solutions like trying to stop them getting in your garden aren't going to be 100% effective and will require regular maintenance/checks (hedgehogs dig, sonic and/or smelly deterrents need to be checked, etc, etc) for the rest of the life of your dog.

If you've got garden lights you could try turning them on 10min before he goes out or if you CBA walk the garden with a torch 10min before hand, scare the hedgehogs and give them a chance to leave the garden.
 
It's interesting that your greyhound is interested in them, mine is too. Our garden is quite small though so I sweep it before letting him out and if I find one I take him for a 5 minute walk instead.

However there was one occasion he got close to one before managed to pull him away. He wouldn't settle that night so in the end I had to take him outside again and show him that it was gone :rolleyes:

He's a menace that dog, he's caught 3 birds and killed 2.

Our greyhound does exactly the same when he gets something new, carries it back to his bed :)

edit i've just seen your other reply, it is our fear that one day he'll catch a cat, he's been close a couple of times which is why we try to check the garden before letting him out but in summer the door is open most of the time
 
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Uhtred said:
edit i've just seen your other reply, it is our fear that one day he'll catch a cat, he's been close a couple of times which is why we try to check the garden before letting him out but in summer the door is open most of the time
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Really not a fun experience that one. Even before then I made a point of whistling a few times as I opened the door to let him out at night as I'd seen a few local cats about. Unfortunately the cat in question was only a year old and pretty naïve. Our gardens pretty long and by the time the dog got up to speed there was no way she was getting away.

I'll spare you the grizzly details but yeah, not nice at all. Saddest part was when he brought her to me and I got upset, he looked so bloody guilty. Cowered in his crate for a good few hours after. Poor bugger.

They're amazing pets, genuinely the most loveable animals I've ever known but stuff like that gives people the wrong impression. Even the vet at the time recommend I take him to a specialist to train the 'vicious characteristics' out of him. Such ignorance. Changed practices not long after that.
 
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Sorry but vicious characteristics seems a pretty reasonable way to describe something like mauling a cat/other mammals. That isn't saying it's the dog's fault, but that's clearly accurate, I'm interested in how that is an ignorant thing to say.

ArcticHeron said:
Training the prey drive out of sighthounds isn't impossible, but it is extremely difficult.
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You say it's possible here even. Is this an ignorant statement? Do you agree with the vet or not?

I say this as the owner of a cat which catches mice, a characteristic I would certainly class as vicious.

On topic content: hedgehogs are rad, I hope you find a way to keep them out of your deathtrap garden :p
 
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