Quizzes & Puzzles18 mins ago
dog sniffing
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Hi All
For quite a bit of time and time again - my little dog seems to sniff at the side of my shed of which I cannot get access to as it is wedged to a fence - then he barks hence I can be thinking is it a dead bird, cat or some strange thing. Last week I happened to look out at my neighbour's new decking and saw some strange thing like a seal (dont live near water) - wasn't a cat cos it had no tail - however it proceeded to go under her decking and I know it can access into my garden which is paved. I have just gone and bleached and washed with washing powder, dettol and disinfectant - particularly done the best throwing some at the side of the shed - is there anything I can buy to get rid of this "creature" or even smell - cos dog can bark vehemently for quite some time at this - sorry to go on at length at this.
For quite a bit of time and time again - my little dog seems to sniff at the side of my shed of which I cannot get access to as it is wedged to a fence - then he barks hence I can be thinking is it a dead bird, cat or some strange thing. Last week I happened to look out at my neighbour's new decking and saw some strange thing like a seal (dont live near water) - wasn't a cat cos it had no tail - however it proceeded to go under her decking and I know it can access into my garden which is paved. I have just gone and bleached and washed with washing powder, dettol and disinfectant - particularly done the best throwing some at the side of the shed - is there anything I can buy to get rid of this "creature" or even smell - cos dog can bark vehemently for quite some time at this - sorry to go on at length at this.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.My neighbour has informed me it is a hedgehog - he has actually taken a photo on his phone of one that was outside his house (beside my house) - but it is still there under my shed - i have hosed and hosed and hosed and threw jeyes fluid but it is not stopping the dog sniffing and barking - if this persists I am going to get a visit from the dog warden regarding him barking again. - perhaps when he is in tonight for the night - the hedgehog may flee. God I hope it does as I am afraid of them.
Hedgehogs like to live under decking etc and your dog is obviously interested. If it lives there, your scrubbing won't make any difference (other than perhaps make it ill) - a hedgehog is a huge bonus in a garden so I wouldn't want to deter it. How do you dissuade your dog from barking at it, is really the question.
I have rescued hedgehogs many times over the years. They're lovely creatures and won't bit you when you handle them. You should ideally wear leather gardening gloves when picking them up as they are timid and will roll into a ball to protect themselves. The little spines on their backs are very sharp indeed. They are lovely to have in the garden. As for how you can stop your dog barking at it? Perhaps you can stand a planter where the gap between the shed and the fence starts, to deter your dog from going there. Try to train your dog to stay away from that area. Take a spray bottle filled with water. When he shows interest in that area of your garden, spray his face with water. Alternately, you can take a jar full of pebbles and shake it every time he goes near It. Neither will hurt the dog, but both will teach the dog that you do not want him going into that area or barking. You will need to put some effort in and doing this repeatedly until he undertands. If he learns not to go into the area the hedghog is in, he will most likely also stop barking at it ... well, that is if he isn't a jack russel or other terrier. They can be harder to disuade, lol. Just don't go hurting the hedgehog, please. It is not a rat, does no harm and you are very lucky to have one in your garden. Hedgehogs don't stink up the garden either, but the fact that it is there will be attracting your dog. If you keep throwing chemicals at the poor creature you will just make it very ill and it may end up dying a painful death. Then the body will stink and you will have a bigger problem. There is no need or justification to be cruel to these gentle creatures and honestly, you do not need to be afraid of them either. I have had ones I have rescued after they had been injured and they are perfectly safe and very gentle. You could also phone Tiggiwinkles, the hedgehog and wildlife hospital. I'm sure they would give you some advice on how to deal with this situation. Here is a link: www.sttiggywinkles
the dog is out in the garden when I go out - yes he is a bl dy jack russell which are hunting dogs. Also because I am deaf I cannot always hear him barking outside whilst I am inside. Hopefully he will get used to the hedgehog and I do believe the hedgehog could move on if he is getting annoyance from the dog.
I also have been involved in Hedgehog rescue for many years and as Carakeel has pointed out , they are gentle and delightful creatures. However you deal with your dogs barking problem please don't let it involve injuring or hurting this totally harmless creature by repeating some of the mindless things you have been doing so far. Regardless of what the scent had turned out to be, throwing disinfectants and bleach etc at the area wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference other than making some creature very ill or giving it a painful death. Then as others have said, you would then have another problem with a scent that you would smell. Keep in mind also that the hedgehog may well have young in her nest, which would make it difficult for her to change nests as quick as you would prefer. They do tend to have more than one nest so I daresay she will move on when possible.
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