Wild Fox -vs- Fluffy Dog
May 5, 2006 8:05 AM Subscribe
Do wild foxes normally attack dogs?
My mother has a little white fluffy dog (Coton De Tulear) and last week she moved to a 22 acre farm that has lots of foxes. The dog has been seen "running with the foxes" as the foxes lead it away from their den and bark at it - the dog thinks they are playmates. How much danger is the dog in?
My mother has a little white fluffy dog (Coton De Tulear) and last week she moved to a 22 acre farm that has lots of foxes. The dog has been seen "running with the foxes" as the foxes lead it away from their den and bark at it - the dog thinks they are playmates. How much danger is the dog in?
On Wednesday a farm person told me that foxes never attack her outdoor cats but cats are considerably more wily than dogs.
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:35 AM on May 5, 2006
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:35 AM on May 5, 2006
Unless they get in some sort of territorial fight, I've never heard of a fox killing any other predator.
Chickens, rabbits, mice - yes.
Dogs - no.
See if you can get pictures, I'd bet they'd be pretty nifty.
posted by unixrat at 8:40 AM on May 5, 2006
Chickens, rabbits, mice - yes.
Dogs - no.
See if you can get pictures, I'd bet they'd be pretty nifty.
posted by unixrat at 8:40 AM on May 5, 2006
Foxes aren't much bigger than dogs and are pretty shy as a rule. I've never heard of a cat or dog loss due to foxes.
Coyotes, on the other hand, have no problem eating cats or dogs.
posted by bonehead at 8:45 AM on May 5, 2006
Coyotes, on the other hand, have no problem eating cats or dogs.
posted by bonehead at 8:45 AM on May 5, 2006
ditto the territorial fight instance, and if the foxes have pups - they could be very unpredictable. maybe not kill a dog, but i would think they could do some damage if they felt threatened, especially if there are two or more.
whatever the case, i am pretty sure i wouldn't encourage the behavior. they are wild, your moms dog is not. they live by wild animal rules, your moms dog does not. i don't mean keep her inside at all costs, but maybe keep her away from their den.
posted by domino at 8:52 AM on May 5, 2006
whatever the case, i am pretty sure i wouldn't encourage the behavior. they are wild, your moms dog is not. they live by wild animal rules, your moms dog does not. i don't mean keep her inside at all costs, but maybe keep her away from their den.
posted by domino at 8:52 AM on May 5, 2006
Foxes aren't much bigger than dogs and are pretty shy as a rule.
Generally smaller actually. A Red Fox, for example... a large one, would only be about 15 lbs. or so, usually less.
posted by Witty at 9:07 AM on May 5, 2006
Generally smaller actually. A Red Fox, for example... a large one, would only be about 15 lbs. or so, usually less.
posted by Witty at 9:07 AM on May 5, 2006
doctor_negative, thank you for that. That's the best thing that I've ever seen on Flickr.
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:32 AM on May 5, 2006
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:32 AM on May 5, 2006
It also worth bearing in mind that foxes can be carriers of diseases which can affect dogs - such as mange and rabies. Probably worth keeping the dog away from them on that basis alone. (IANAVet!)
posted by prentiz at 9:38 AM on May 5, 2006
posted by prentiz at 9:38 AM on May 5, 2006
Thanks for the flickr link, doctor_negative. Here's a fox on a trampoline (Google video).
posted by deborah at 11:23 AM on May 5, 2006
posted by deborah at 11:23 AM on May 5, 2006
My mom's dog got mange from a wild fox. Its a huge pain, takes years to go away, and can kill your pet. I would separate the dog and the fox.
posted by zia at 12:39 PM on May 5, 2006
posted by zia at 12:39 PM on May 5, 2006
I second witty on his comment, A really big fox weighs over 10 pounds although they look much larger. They are really just a big furball. So is your moms dog though. I bet it would take it in a scrap.
I have seen a few fox with mange, pretty nasty, one had just hair on the bottom 4 inches of its tail. I would imagine that they have some healthy fleas as well.
posted by vidarling at 5:31 PM on May 5, 2006
I have seen a few fox with mange, pretty nasty, one had just hair on the bottom 4 inches of its tail. I would imagine that they have some healthy fleas as well.
posted by vidarling at 5:31 PM on May 5, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Your mum's dog is probably the same size as a large cat. So a fox won't kill it. But give it flea/tick chemicals and make sure its shots are up-to-date.
Now lets sit back and wait for someone to claim that a fox killed their neighbor's pony and/or 100% of foxes are mad with rabies.
posted by Mayor Curley at 8:25 AM on May 5, 2006