Lisa: We have a Black and Tan Coonhound that just loves to bark, rather bay, at squirrels when he is in his dog pen. It hasn’t bothered us so much as it’s starting to bother the new neighbors who moved in next door. Is there any way to get him to tone it down?  – Baying at the Wildlife 

 

Dear Baying: This scent hound has a great ability for tracking game and then “treeing” his quarry. I’m not surprised that he loves to “bark up” or “give voice” once those little critters head up into the tree tops. As for controlling his genetic behavior, it might be wise to try and prevent him from seeing his game in the first place.

Obstruction of View

You didn’t mention what type of fencing his dog pen was made of, but if it is chain link you are in luck. Fence companies do sell “slats” that can be inserted into the chain link to form a solid barrier. This would cut down on the number of squirrels he might see running across the yard next towards his pen.

However, once the squirrels are in the trees, then what? You can also purchase some mesh material to cover the pen with. This material is used as a sun block and provides shade. It might just provide enough cover to diffuse the visual activity of the squirrels above.

You might want to watch your dog for a few hours one day and see where the heavy squirrel activity is located and just squirrel-proof that corner of the pen. You don’t want to create a bunker where he gets no sunlight or fresh air. Another option might be to set up a squirrel feeder away from the pen so the little furry rodents spend the majority of their day away from his hangout. You might also limit his outdoor time to when you know the neighbors aren’t home if that is at all possible.

Caught in the Act

             Instead, why don’t you rely on a device that immediately stops the behavior. My dogs, Norwegian Elkhounds, are also scent hounds like your dog and are loud, voracious barkers. I have found that a citronella anti-barking collar works like a dream. There is a little box on a collar with a microphone against the throat. It is activated when dog barks and gently sends a spray of the citrus-smelling mist up at the dog’s face. This blast from the box not only confuses the dog “Hey, where the heck did that come from?” but stops the barking as they try to figure it out. You can purchase one of these from www.drsfosterandsmith.com. This might be your best bet to keeping peace in the neighborhood and baying to a minimum.   

Dear Lisa: Recently, two bats came into my house from the attic. There was a large one and a small one which flew around and landed in a few places and then disappeared. Later, I found my cat playing with one of them and it was still alive. The other bat then flew out and landed on me. Then my dog came up and jumped on me where the bat was. I keep the dog up-to-date on her rabies vaccination. Would she be at any risk to rabies if the bat had tested positive?  – Up to Bat 

 

Dear Bat: If your dog is up-to-date on her vaccinations then she should be okay for any exposure. However, if it’s been a few years since you got a three-year shot you may want to have your vet give her a “booster shot” just to up the protection. You can check your rabies certificate for the expiration date. Your vet may advise you to get a booster just to be on the safe side.

I’d be more concerned if the dog had the bat in her mouth. Rabies can be transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, through its saliva or through an open cut or wound. Rabies is very unstable outside the host and once the saliva dries its transmission rate drops rapidly. It sounds like you already got a negative test back from the health department. But should you have another visit from the leathery little creatures, there are outfits that can come and capture the bats and sent them off to the health department for you.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

If your dog was bit and you suspect rabies you might notice some symptoms such as disorientation, running in circles or aggression but that might not show up until a few weeks later. The best medicine is prevention. Rabies does exist in many other wildlife species such as foxes, skunks and raccoons, so keeping the dog within eyesight during walks in the woods will limit exposure as well. Eating a newly killed or dead, rabies-positive animal can also cause problems for your dog even if she is vaccinated. Remember that the vaccine your dog gets whether it is a one-year or three-year booster is the same shot. The only difference is what the vet marks on the certificate as dictated by law. If you allow the rabies certificate to expire, then your dog is only eligible for a one-year renewal. If you renew your shot before the expiration date you can get a three-year certificate. The only exception is with young puppies, their first booster is always a one-year certificate.