Dogs gone

[chambers1517]

We have a couple of outside dogs. A male and a female. The male is about 4 and the female about 2. Both about 75# and the male is the best dog we have ever had. His name is Gilligan. Both dogs have always had a wireless collar and they would not venture outside of the collars range. Even when the collars were dead. Thur. night I fed them some pork bones and Friday morning Gilligan was gone. Ginger, the female, was limping badly and there is no sign of Gilligan anywhere. I think coyotes got him. We live out in the country and there are coyotes. Ginger is so upset and scared acting. The boys my wife and myself are really gut punched over this. Anyone ever hear of coyotes getting a big dog and carrying it off. We can find no trace of him but he is fixed and has never ran off before. His collar was on and working also. So sad.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Dogs gone

Unless you have a really big spread I think you would have heard the fight and seen some evidence of it. Can you borrow a tracking dog from a neighbor and see where he went?

 

[chambers1517]

Re: Dogs gone

I can't figure it out either. Not many houses close by. My neighbor has goats and they have had several turn up missing. Ginger has a puncture wound on her front leg. I live in East Tn. south of Knoxville. There are rumors of mountain lions but I have never seen any proof. Cant figure it out. In 4 years he has never been gone.

 

[Gyrene]

Re: Dogs gone

I have no other theory, just wanted to extend my condolences.

Three years ago in March I lost my dog (German shepherd/black lab mix) that I had for 17 years and 4 months, and it still hurts. :sad:

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Dogs gone

Man sorry to hear that.

 

[edthearcher]

Re: Dogs gone

sorry to hear this loosing my 6 year old vzsula would be like loosing one of my children, i have property in central wis. i never let her run with out watching because of wolfs

 

[gm280]

Re: Dogs gone

I have a hard time thinking that coyotes could have come into your yard and taken either of your dogs (especially that size) without any noise or evidence. Coyotes are animals of opportunities and will size up their prey and take only what they think they can easily. So I don't know what could have happened to your dogs, but I don't think it was coyotes. Sorry for your lose, I do know that empty frustration about them being gone and wounded...

 

[scottmm73]

Re: Dogs gone

Have you considered bear. Bears are waking up from their hibernation and looking for food for the young'uns. Could be your dogs were defending the property and mama defending her young. Sorry for your loss.

 

[rbh]

Re: Dogs gone

Sorry for the loss, nothing worse than loosing a pet.

Coyotes will bait them by getting your dog to chase one, then they pack up on it.

Bring your dogs+cats inside at night.

 

[shrew]

Re: Dogs gone

Coyotes travel is very small packs. I would seriously doubt a pack of coyotes would take a 75LB dog. I have a hard time imagining a bear doing it, however we only have Black Bears around here, and a soft spoken 'Boo' will typicaly take care of those guys. What you're potentially describing is something that took on TWO 75 lb dogs, got the better of one and sent the other home limping. And you didn't hear it?

It's more likely that something ventured into your yard, got cornered by one or both of the dogs, fought back and got a lucky shot in on one dog and took off. the other dog took chase. Since neither dog leaves the properly very often, by the he/she realized it, they were lost and didn't know how to get back home again.

 

[rbh]

Re: Dogs gone

Coyote 101 bait, pack and eat.

When you hear them spread out and yipen the pack is spread out hunting, if one gets prey or a target the rest come running.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Dogs gone

I can't figure it out either. Not many houses close by. My neighbor has goats and they have had several turn up missing. Ginger has a puncture wound on her front leg. I live in East Tn. south of Knoxville. There are rumors of mountain lions but I have never seen any proof. Cant figure it out. In 4 years he has never been gone.

I'm in North Knoxville. I don't have a tracking dog but would be glad to help out if you need an extra hand, or hunter. I'd be pretty upset if it was my pet.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Dogs gone

Coyotes travel is very small packs. I would seriously doubt a pack of coyotes would take a 75LB dog. I have a hard time imagining a bear doing it, however we only have Black Bears around here, and a soft spoken 'Boo' will typicaly take care of those guys. What you're potentially describing is something that took on TWO 75 lb dogs, got the better of one and sent the other home limping. And you didn't hear it?

It's more likely that something ventured into your yard, got cornered by one or both of the dogs, fought back and got a lucky shot in on one dog and took off. the other dog took chase. Since neither dog leaves the properly very often, by the he/she realized it, they were lost and didn't know how to get back home again.

I think a yote would have no issue with a dog of this size, they take deer on a regular basis around Michigan, and if you have a pack, it becomes even easier because a dog is a domestic animal, and IMO very easy target. I'm sorry to hear of this, but I guess it goes with the territory. I'm sure closure is what you really need, and I sure hope you find it.

 

[chambers1517]

Re: Dogs gone

Thank guys. I have wireless shock collars on them because the male started chasing the neighbors cows when he was young. He was so trained to stay in the yard that he would not leave even when I took his collar off and begged him. I think something had to get him. I have been miserable at work today. He was very vocal and tried his best to talk. He was a great dog. It really is heartbreaking. Thanks Volphin for the offer, I have looked all around and there is no sign.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Dogs gone

Thank guys. I have wireless shock collars on them because the male started chasing the neighbors cows when he was young. He was so trained to stay in the yard that he would not leave even when I took his collar off and begged him. I think something had to get him. I have been miserable at work today. He was very vocal and tried his best to talk. He was a great dog. It really is heartbreaking. Thanks Volphin for the offer, I have looked all around and there is no sign.

You are welcome and the offer stands if needed. I've never seen a big cat in South Knox or the ridges beyond, but yotes and hogs are spreading, and they take targets of opportunity. What size is the puncture wound on Ginger?

 

[nwcove]

Re: Dogs gone

dont give up hope just yet. about five years ago i let my gsd out to do his nightly buisness, he never had left the yard in the 9 years prior. i stepped back in to get a jacket......and dog gone. after a sleepless night of driving around and calling for him, i thought the worst....coyotes. but it turned out he spent the night about a mile away, courting a couple of females at a neighbours.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Dogs gone

Opposite side of the country but out here, I see no problem with coyotes taking a dog that size. In fact, I had to 'rescue' my 110 pound Akita from 3 coyotes but they are not the little creatures I see elsewhere in the country. These are closer to small wolves.
What they did (very close to our house) was send one coyote in to lure my dog who naturally took off after the intruder. Once they got him in chase mode, the other two came out of hiding and were closing in on my dog from behind. Had I not witnessed it and come to his rescue, there is no doubt the would have killed him. All this time, there was no noise from any of the animals.
Darn coyotes have become so plentiful around here, they offer $75/pelt for em.
Very sorry for your loss.....dogs are family.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Dogs gone

the coyotes here are (according to the wildlife experts) hybrids. cross between timber wolves and coyotes. not small 30lb animals.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/coyotes-kill-toronto-singer-in-cape-breton-1.

dangerous critters that have lost all fear of people.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Dogs gone

hopefully Gilligan will come home ok, my amstaff who was allways well behaved, escaped a few years back, came home a month later, covered with ticks and skinny. I was glad to have him back, since then he no longer listens, and has taken to digging holes in the yard:noidea: maybe yours will return home too

 

[southkogs]

Re: Dogs gone

Hey Chambers - I'm a little late to the party, but: If it's a hound (particularly), set out something with a familiar scent on it (dog bed, favorite toy, etc.) see if he can "nose" his way home. We've done that once before.