Regardless of whether you’re a cat or dog person, one thing is clear: stray cats and dogs are more of Man’s best fiends than friends. Today we’ll look at how you can get rid of stray dogs that decide to cause issues on your property, as well as how to keep them away.
Of course, the all important getting to know section is here too, but since most of us know about dogs, we’ll focus on things that set stray dogs apart from domestic ones.
Getting Rid of Stray Dogs
Once a stray wanders onto your property, there’s a good chance they’ll be frequent visitors and possibly even bring friends. Thus, regular prevention methods won’t work as well. Instead, capture tends to be the most effective method – with caveats.
Stray Dogs In the Yard
This is usually the best time to scare a dog away, especially if you have some preventative measures in place. However, it’s also a good chance to call animal control and take a picture of the dog just in case it leaves before they arrive.
Local rescue organizations and no-kill shelters are excellent alternatives to animal control in many cases. These organizations often have trained staff who can safely handle strays and will work to find them permanent homes rather than euthanize them.
Keep contact information for local rescue groups handy alongside animal control numbers.
Scaring Them Off
Some common scare methods also work as preventative measures. A perfect example of this is the sprinkler. You can activate a lawn sprinkler when a stray is nearby to startle it and send it running. Alternatively, you can invest in motion sprinklers designed specifically for scaring animals.
Keep in mind that a dog can get used to such tricks, so it’s important not to rely on these tools alone. Instead, sometimes banging on a metal pot can be enough to send them packing (and at no personal expense).
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Self Capture
If you do proceed with self-capture, you will need to contact a local shelter, vet, or animal control. They’ll ask the size and breed of the dog, plus other basic information. This will allow them to rent a cage to you that is of appropriate size and strength.
Follow any specific instructions they provide, as well as checking any local ordinances to ensure you don’t need a permit to cage the animal. From there, the process is somewhat simple:
- While the dog isn’t around, place the cage in a spot they spend the most time.
- Add some food, such as bacon, beef, chicken, dog food, or hamburger.
- Keep an eye on the cage to ensure no other animals get trapped and that the dog isn’t left trapped for too long.
- Once the dog is captured, it may panic, so it’s best to call animal control to pick it up.
If you do decide to deliver the animal yourself, it’s important to wear thick, heavy gloves and thick clothing to minimize the risk of getting bitten or scratched. Covering the cage with a blanket can also help calm the dog down and protect yourself.
Also, don’t forget to return the trap to its rightful owner or let animal control know who provided it!
Stray Dogs Under the Porch
This is a more serious issue, as the dog will be more territorial and may be protecting pups. DO NOT try to coax them out or trap them. Instead, call animal control and let them handle the issue. Be sure to seal off access points once the dog has been removed.
Preventing Stray Dogs
Prevention isn’t just the best medicine here, it’s also perhaps the safest. Unfortunately, a lot of the tips you’ll read about elsewhere just aren’t that effective. So let’s look at some good prevention methods from most effective to least.
Fencing (Most Effective)
While not cheap, few things can beat a good hedge line or a fence. You can go with chain link or wood, and for extra protection against determined diggers, consider extending the barrier a few inches below ground level. For a simpler approach, you can also place large rocks or landscaping blocks at the fence base to discourage digging.
For example, you can have a wooden picket fence in the front yard with some rocks or pavers placed along the bottom edge. Chain link fences can be secured at the bottom with stakes or landscape pins. Such fences also keep many other critters out, although deer may jump shorter fences.
Electronic Scare Tactics
Motion-activated sprinklers or ultrasonic deterrents can be effective, but only so many times. Eventually, the dog will learn to ignore them. Animals don’t like the sound of ultrasonic devices, and they can also annoy your pets, but they don’t cause physical harm. Likewise, a sprinkler is meant to startle without harming.
It’s best to use these devices while working to erect a fence or if stray dogs aren’t common in your area.
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Remove Attractants
Strays will come on your property looking for four things: food, water, shelter, and a mate.
- Make sure all trash is in a tightly-lidded container and no food (including pet food) is left outdoors.
- Spay any female dogs in the home.
- Finally, remove any standing water and close off any access points to places like under a porch where the dog might try to take shelter.
Repellents
While most homemade repellents like citrus or cayenne are next to useless against dogs, commercial repellents containing methyl nonyl ketone can be moderately effective.
Products like Keep Off and Liquid Fence (to a lesser degree) may help deter strays, though they work best when combined with other prevention methods. These need to be reapplied regularly, especially after rain, to maintain effectiveness.
Getting to Know Stray Dogs
When it comes to strays, it’s better to be safe than sorry. But how do you know it’s really a stray, and what do you need to watch out for? Let’s take a closer look at how stray dogs differ from pet dogs.
Is It a Stray or a Pet?
Back in the day, this was a pretty easy question to answer. If it was wearing a collar, it probably belonged to somebody. However, this is the age of the microchip, and many dog owners no longer use collars, especially if the dog is meant to be kept indoors.
Collar With Tag
If you can, look for a tag on the collar and attempt to get a closer peek. If the tag has the owner’s contact info, make the call immediately so they can retrieve their pet. Just remember, a collar doesn’t mean the dog won’t be scared or aggressive.
Collar Without Tag
When there’s no tag, make a post on social media (Facebook or Nextdoor are usually best) asking whether anyone is missing their dog. For an expensive breed, it’s usually best not to name the breed or post pictures. This way, you can screen anyone who responds to ensure they know the dog.
No Collar
When there’s no collar, it’s time to call in animal control or a local shelter. They’ll check for a microchip immediately. If the dog lacks any identification, they’ll take it to a shelter. Once again, social media can be a good way to locate a potential owner.
Stray vs Feral Dogs
It’s important to distinguish between stray dogs (once domesticated but now lost or abandoned) and feral dogs (born in the wild with little or no human contact).
- Strays often approach humans, may appear lost or confused, and sometimes respond to food offerings.
- Feral dogs typically avoid human contact, travel in packs, and are much more difficult to catch. Animal control should ALWAYS handle feral dogs as they require specialized handling and rehabilitation.
Dangers of Strays
Stray dogs come with a lot of risks you normally wouldn’t associate with a pet dog. These critters are often frightened, sick, starving, or worse.
Risk of Attack
Pets can act aggressive towards strangers, but a stray dog’s temperament may turn on a dime. Strays are often territorial and resource guarders. There’s also the risk that they’re part of a pack. Just like coyotes and wolves, a stray will often see you as a threat, even if you offer it food.
Breeding Risk
They may not be rabbits or mice, but a female dog typically has 1-2 litters per year, with each litter potentially producing multiple puppies.
On top of that, a stray female may seek shelter on your property to give birth. She will become very aggressive towards anyone that she thinks might threaten her litter, making removal especially dangerous.
Disease Risk
Just because a dog is wearing a collar doesn’t mean it can’t be sick. The owner may not have had the money to take it to a vet for vaccinations. It’s also possible the dog has been loose long enough to become ill from a variety of causes. Thus, you should treat all loose dogs with the same precautions to reduce disease risks.
Telltale signs of illness include bleeding, emaciation, limping, missing fur, or unusual behavior. However, a sick dog may still appear healthy or spread illness through their feces. They may also be carrying parasites that can make you or your family ill. Some of these risks include:
- Canine distemper
- Cheyletiellosis
- Coccidia
- Ear mites
- Fleas
- Hookworm
- Leptospirosis
- Parainfluenza
- Rabies
- Roundworm
- Sarcoptic mange
- Tapeworm
- Ticks
- Whipworm
Other Common Problems
Strays can cause a number of other problems for your family. They may leave poop around, dig up parts of your yard or lawn, knock over and scatter trash, bark and howl during the night, mark territory, attack chickens or other poultry, or get into fights with your pets.
Thus, you shouldn’t put off dealing with a stray on your property.
Morgan is a certified entomologist and pest control consultant and a member of the National Pest Management Association.
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