How to keep Yorkies safe from predatory birds? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

carolekv · 05-04-2009, 10:29 AM

Hello - I just joined, and the question that originally brought me to this forum is this - how do I keep my yorkie safe from predatory birds, like hawks. She is 3.7 lbs at 9 months, and may not clear 5 lbs at adult age, per the vet. I adore her. I would die if some awful bird swooped down and grabbed her. I am always outside with her. I guess I can walk her on a leash, but she loves to run like the wind in our rather large front yard. (She's been taught to stay away from the road, even though it's far and a dead end in our quiet neighborhood.) She has a big brother Lhasa who adores her (would he protect her though - he thinks he's a lion, but he's only about 22 lbs) and an older dachsund who just wants to be left alone by these youngsters. We do have hawks in the area. Is there something I can make her wear that would scare a hawk off - a bright tshirt or a bell? Or I can carry a big rock or something that makes an awful loud noise? Anything other than making her walk on a leash, which she'll hate?

mypreciouspups · 05-04-2009, 10:42 AM

well I would try to be just so careful for if you let a yorkie run freely in your yard.. it will not be long before the wrong creature begins to watch her from a distance.. many times you might not even know or see..for example hawks..
Depending on your area.. you might want to make her a rather large pen with a top on it.. large enough to put her in so she is safe..I know a member who had one swoop in and take her beloved baby from her..ya know her being so small.. you could make a picket like fence 3 ft high... and put chicken wire over the top of it.. so she can run and play..every area is so different.. a friend of mine here in florida has a high fenced in area.. and they have mess on the top it.. it is the only way in florida she lets them outside.. and while I am in florida my furbutts have my deck only... again due to what can be seen around in the area...

hope this helps and I am sure others have a good idea.. you might say to your self that she would love human food.. but ask yourself would I let her live on this or would she not live a long life..

This is a huge worry for so many of us.. good luck..anne

Lexi Rae · 05-04-2009, 10:42 AM

welcome to yt.. im bumping this thread up so someone will be able to help you.
im not too fond of this hawks where i live, but when im outside im constantly looking into the sky to see if i see anything lurking around. you just never know.

citygirl · 05-04-2009, 10:44 AM

I know what you mean about the hawks we have them here. I have to really watch when the yorkies are out..makes me very nervous.

katiekid · 05-04-2009, 10:48 AM

I have an idea! If hawks are afraid of owls and owls are afraid of hawks, what about a shirt with a huge owl/hawk on the back of it? I wonder if that might scare them away?

ARCHIE · 05-04-2009, 11:11 AM

They only secure thing to do is not leave her off leash in the yard, ever,
or have a run installed with a wire top where no preditor can get to her.
There's nothing else that comes to mind to keep her safe.
I would never take a chance of letting her run free. It takes only
a split second for a large hawk, eagle or owl to swoop her up and then
it's over. There have been several who lost their Yorkies like this
and it has to be horrifying to watch and be helpless to help.

lgoodall · 05-04-2009, 01:05 PM

I agree with Archie. The only way to bebe sure your dog is safe is to have it on a leash. These birds swoop down so quickly. You could be standing rioght beside him, and not be able to do a thing about it. Tucker's Mom

Katrinka · 05-04-2009, 02:28 PM

Seriously? This happens? You know I live in the city and I never thought of a hawk coming down and swooping up my baby... i'm always right beside her when she goes out but after reading this I will put her on a leash.

rosey442 · 05-04-2009, 02:43 PM

That is a scary thing to think about predatory birds such as hawks swooping down and grabbing my baby. I've given thought as far as other dogs and humans possibly grabbing her. But, I can't even imagine the horror and guilt that I would feel if she were scooped up like that from me. However, Molly is pee pad trained as I didn't want to take her out in the bitter cold, snow, ice, etc. In the nice weather she is either on a leash that is staked in the yard (I live in a nice mobile home park in a rural area with a decent lot size, except that we are not allowed to have fences.) with me right by her or she is on a leash being walked or in my arms or her bag when outside.
Now, I have to give thought about these birds too.

Wylie's Mom · 05-04-2009, 02:56 PM

I have heard they can pick-up up to 13 pounds or so...so little yorkies are vulnerable. I would just *always* be with her and supervise. It is also said that putting a little owl statue (from the hardware store) in the yard can help, but I wouldn't rely on on it solely.

Someone just posted on here last week that she was walking her baby on-leash and a bird tried to get her baby. Very scary.

manolos mom · 05-04-2009, 03:18 PM

I've seen a hawk take down a Large Rabbit. About 6 to 7 lbs. Be Careful

kalina82 · 05-04-2009, 03:32 PM

someone posted not to long ago that they had their baby on a lead in the yard and it was picked up by a hawk. the lead only let the hawk take the yorkie so far before he was snapped out of its claws. i think the yorkie is ok despite the horrifying ordeal.

The only way to prevent them from getting picked up is to put them in a covered area. An outside lead can help but it can also kill them too if they were picked up. Your yorkie would be lucky to not get hurt being on a lead and getting picked up by a hawk.

I don't know if those owl statues would help but it can't hurt to put one on your roof i guess

Cutie_Emmy · 05-04-2009, 03:39 PM

i have big birds outside my house all the time so I never let Emmett go out alone. We are getting one of those big cage kennels to put in the back yard so he can run freely and be safe from predators.

delicatepuzzle · 05-04-2009, 03:42 PM

I recommend keeping your baby on a leash. And if you just insist on walking your furkid(s) w/o one I would just keep a close eye on her. You should be fine. But then again some birds are ballsy and will try to swoop and scoop.

nanahas3 · 05-04-2009, 05:57 PM

This happened to us a few weeks ago I had just let Laddy out and was right behind him when I heard the hawks hunting call I ran and grabbed him up just as the hawk swooped to the ground narrowly missing him. I was so terrified. We bought him an xpen (the plastic babyyard type) with extra panels and my husband used screenwire and made a nice cover for it now when he goes out he goes in his play yard or not at all.

05-04-2009, 10:29 AM	#1
carolekv Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2009 Location: Athens, GA, USA Posts: 20	How to keep Yorkies safe from predatory birds? Hello - I just joined, and the question that originally brought me to this forum is this - how do I keep my yorkie safe from predatory birds, like hawks. She is 3.7 lbs at 9 months, and may not clear 5 lbs at adult age, per the vet. I adore her. I would die if some awful bird swooped down and grabbed her. I am always outside with her. I guess I can walk her on a leash, but she loves to run like the wind in our rather large front yard. (She's been taught to stay away from the road, even though it's far and a dead end in our quiet neighborhood.) She has a big brother Lhasa who adores her (would he protect her though - he thinks he's a lion, but he's only about 22 lbs) and an older dachsund who just wants to be left alone by these youngsters. We do have hawks in the area. Is there something I can make her wear that would scare a hawk off - a bright tshirt or a bell? Or I can carry a big rock or something that makes an awful loud noise? Anything other than making her walk on a leash, which she'll hate?

05-04-2009, 10:42 AM	#3
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 10,455	welcome to yt.. im bumping this thread up so someone will be able to help you. im not too fond of this hawks where i live, but when im outside im constantly looking into the sky to see if i see anything lurking around. you just never know. __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...

05-04-2009, 10:44 AM	#4
citygirl YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: north syracuse ny usa Posts: 1,483	I know what you mean about the hawks we have them here. I have to really watch when the yorkies are out..makes me very nervous. __________________ Nancy Mom to Sam & Lola

05-04-2009, 02:43 PM	#9
rosey442 Donating YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Providence, PA USA Posts: 302	That is a scary thing to think about predatory birds such as hawks swooping down and grabbing my baby. I've given thought as far as other dogs and humans possibly grabbing her. But, I can't even imagine the horror and guilt that I would feel if she were scooped up like that from me. However, Molly is pee pad trained as I didn't want to take her out in the bitter cold, snow, ice, etc. In the nice weather she is either on a leash that is staked in the yard (I live in a nice mobile home park in a rural area with a decent lot size, except that we are not allowed to have fences.) with me right by her or she is on a leash being walked or in my arms or her bag when outside. Now, I have to give thought about these birds too. __________________ Carolyn Molly

05-04-2009, 02:56 PM	#10
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	I have heard they can pick-up up to 13 pounds or so...so little yorkies are vulnerable. I would just always be with her and supervise. It is also said that putting a little owl statue (from the hardware store) in the yard can help, but I wouldn't rely on on it solely. Someone just posted on here last week that she was walking her baby on-leash and a bird tried to get her baby. Very scary. __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

05-04-2009, 10:42 AM	#2
mypreciouspups Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida/Canada Posts: 5,514	well I would try to be just so careful for if you let a yorkie run freely in your yard.. it will not be long before the wrong creature begins to watch her from a distance.. many times you might not even know or see..for example hawks.. Depending on your area.. you might want to make her a rather large pen with a top on it.. large enough to put her in so she is safe..I know a member who had one swoop in and take her beloved baby from her..ya know her being so small.. you could make a picket like fence 3 ft high... and put chicken wire over the top of it.. so she can run and play..every area is so different.. a friend of mine here in florida has a high fenced in area.. and they have mess on the top it.. it is the only way in florida she lets them outside.. and while I am in florida my furbutts have my deck only... again due to what can be seen around in the area... hope this helps and I am sure others have a good idea.. you might say to your self that she would love human food.. but ask yourself would I let her live on this or would she not live a long life.. This is a huge worry for so many of us.. good luck..anne

05-04-2009, 10:48 AM	#5
katiekid Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Milford, NJ USA Posts: 103	I have an idea! If hawks are afraid of owls and owls are afraid of hawks, what about a shirt with a huge owl/hawk on the back of it? I wonder if that might scare them away?

05-04-2009, 11:11 AM	#6
ARCHIE No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 16,218	They only secure thing to do is not leave her off leash in the yard, ever, or have a run installed with a wire top where no preditor can get to her. There's nothing else that comes to mind to keep her safe. I would never take a chance of letting her run free. It takes only a split second for a large hawk, eagle or owl to swoop her up and then it's over. There have been several who lost their Yorkies like this and it has to be horrifying to watch and be helpless to help.

05-04-2009, 01:05 PM	#7
lgoodall YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Posts: 260	I agree with Archie. The only way to bebe sure your dog is safe is to have it on a leash. These birds swoop down so quickly. You could be standing rioght beside him, and not be able to do a thing about it. Tucker's Mom

05-04-2009, 02:28 PM	#8
Katrinka Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 85	Seriously? This happens? You know I live in the city and I never thought of a hawk coming down and swooping up my baby... i'm always right beside her when she goes out but after reading this I will put her on a leash.

05-04-2009, 03:18 PM	#11
manolos mom Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 7,982	I've seen a hawk take down a Large Rabbit. About 6 to 7 lbs. Be Careful __________________ Ethical Breeders follow and support http://www.ytca.org/

05-04-2009, 03:32 PM	#12
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: with my yorkie baby Posts: 10,141 Blog Entries: 1	someone posted not to long ago that they had their baby on a lead in the yard and it was picked up by a hawk. the lead only let the hawk take the yorkie so far before he was snapped out of its claws. i think the yorkie is ok despite the horrifying ordeal. The only way to prevent them from getting picked up is to put them in a covered area. An outside lead can help but it can also kill them too if they were picked up. Your yorkie would be lucky to not get hurt being on a lead and getting picked up by a hawk. I don't know if those owl statues would help but it can't hurt to put one on your roof i guess __________________ Kellie and Morgan

05-04-2009, 03:39 PM	#13
Cutie_Emmy YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 347 Blog Entries: 1	i have big birds outside my house all the time so I never let Emmett go out alone. We are getting one of those big cage kennels to put in the back yard so he can run freely and be safe from predators. __________________ Emmy-Lou, Emmis, Poop, Emmett, he comes to them all! That's my sweet baby boy! R.I.P Mickey Mouse, I will always love and miss you!!!

05-04-2009, 03:42 PM	#14
delicatepuzzle Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Orlando, FL, USA Posts: 603	I recommend keeping your baby on a leash. And if you just insist on walking your furkid(s) w/o one I would just keep a close eye on her. You should be fine. But then again some birds are ballsy and will try to swoop and scoop.

05-04-2009, 05:57 PM	#15
nanahas3 ♥Love My Snuggle Bugs♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 4,290	This happened to us a few weeks ago I had just let Laddy out and was right behind him when I heard the hawks hunting call I ran and grabbed him up just as the hawk swooped to the ground narrowly missing him. I was so terrified. We bought him an xpen (the plastic babyyard type) with extra panels and my husband used screenwire and made a nice cover for it now when he goes out he goes in his play yard or not at all.