Hawk killed small bird - Poppy acting weird.

[Rachael x]

About an hour ago I was sitting watching TV and Poppy started crying and scratching the window acting very distressed, she sometimes scratches at the window when she wants to go out for potty but this was much more desperate then usual. She then started to run from the back door back to me over and over whilst crying. I assumed she wanted a pee anyway so took her to the back door which leads into the garden, I opened the door but she wouldn't go out, she kept crying and backing away from the door. I looked up and there was a sparrow hawk ripping up a small bird on the grass.

I picked Poppy up and walked out onto the decking, the hawk wasn't frightened at all and didn't try and fly away. It simply carried on tearing the feathers out of this bird and then flew away with it. All of this time Poppy was shaking and crying in my arms, when the hawk had gone I went over the the spot where it had been. There was parts of the bird along with the birds beak which had been totally ripped off, I picked them up and threw them away so only feathers remained on the grass. I then put Poppy down again and she ran over to the feathers and started to lay down in them, roll about and cry. It was really weird and very distressing to watch so I picked her up and she snuggled into me and cried for a while.

Do you think she tried to save the little bird by trying to show me what was happening? and what's with the crying and lying in it's feathers? it's almost like she was mourning it. It was really weird. Has anything like this happend before to anyone?

[smyrfette]

we have hawks here as well and savannah doesn't like them either.

The problem I'm now having here in ohio the blue jays mimic the hawk sounds and its so hard to tell when its danger lately.

at one point I always had to keep alert morning and around 5pm now I keep her close and worry constantly.

odds are she was alerting you and probably would have gone after that hawk if you opened the door at the right time so be careful with her.

at my daughters house i never let my baby out unless she's on her leash and I keep at watchful eye out on the sky first.

I live in the burbs but I've had to reel my girl in a few times on her retractable leash and carry her while those hawks were swarming over head more than a few times lately.

[Rachael x]

Originally Posted by smyrfette

we have hawks here as well and savannah doesn't like them either.

The problem I'm now having here in ohio the blue jays mimic the hawk sounds and its so hard to tell when its danger lately.

at one point I always had to keep alert morning and around 5pm now I keep her close and worry constantly.

odds are she was alerting you and probably would have gone after that hawk if you opened the door at the right time so be careful with her.

at my daughters house i never let my baby out unless she's on her leash and I keep at watchful eye out on the sky first.

I live in the burbs but I've had to reel my girl in a few times on her retractable leash and carry her while those hawks were swarming over head more than a few times lately.

It was scary. I opened the door before I saw the hawk, but Poppy wouldn't go out, she was scared and backing away from the door. Usually she chases pigeons and other birds in the garden (playfully) but I'm so glad she didn't go after this one. She's snuggled up to me in bed now and she's really not herself. She seems sad somehow.

[smyrfette]

yorkies are very sensitive but smart as well.

hawks are dangerous to our babies.

It's been so hot here all summer I've not been sitting outside much now that its been cooler.

combined with the blue jays make hawk calls and the hawks my nerves are so on edge..lol

I've been trying to keep her on my lap.

well the good thing she discovered a cicada this morning and I got a video of that to share which was funny.

[Gatord]

I have hawks around my place too. I have to watch for the hawks before letting my two out. I hover over them while they are out. It really scares me cause they love to go out and run (i have 2-acres fenced in) but it is limited to when I can take them.
It scares me more with Josie cause she is much smaller than Jack.

Owls at night time too. I seen one fly down one evening and he was huge.

[smyrfette]

oh its scary that our babies are lunch to them or dinner. the video I posted of savannah earlier when she discovered cicada i can hear the blue jay mimicking the hawks. It has me in a state of confusion as to what is safe and not due to the trees being so close to the house

[SWEETIEPIE]

Oh my watch your little baby.. It was scary I was out in the yard & a big raven flew right down, I could reach up & tough his feet. I was standing next to my little one, freaked me out so much. I was yelling & waving my arms, it was scary.

[SWHouston]

I've owed numerous Breeds in my life, and I think that when a Dog is referred to as "smart", that's only a small part of just how smart it really is.

Yorkies are the most intuitive animals I've ever had. They sense things that other dogs miss by a mile.

Here's the psychology I think happened...

Poppy saw the Hawk, and knew she was "out gunned".
There was a paradox in her mind... yard is good and Momma wants me to potty/go out there, but now I'm afraid.

Poppy doesn't know that Hawks are "visual", and the scrubbing was to neutralize her scent, which is what Yorkies go by mostly when hunting.

I know you'd think that having that scent on her would attract the Hawk, but it's not exactly that way, the scent is too predominant in the yard, and it would actually hide her. (another mark toward Yorkie smarts)

Lingering, crying and closeness was probably regret that she thought she'd disappointed Mom. A lot of petting and cuddling will resolve that.

Don't be surprised it she stays near or under the bushes for a day or two, she won't forget the threat too quickly !

[Rachael x]

Originally Posted by SWHouston

I've owed numerous Breeds in my life, and I think that when a Dog is referred to as "smart", that's only a small part of just how smart it really is.

Yorkies are the most intuitive animals I've ever had. They sense things that other dogs miss by a mile.

Here's the psychology I think happened...

Poppy saw the Hawk, and knew she was "out gunned".
There was a paradox in her mind... yard is good and Momma wants me to potty/go out there, but now I'm afraid.

Poppy doesn't know that Hawks are "visual", and the scrubbing was to neutralize her scent, which is what Yorkies go by mostly when hunting.

I know you'd think that having that scent on her would attract the Hawk, but it's not exactly that way, the scent is too predominant in the yard, and it would actually hide her. (another mark toward Yorkie smarts)

Lingering, crying and closeness was probably regret that she thought she'd disappointed Mom. A lot of petting and cuddling will resolve that.

Don't be surprised it she stays near or under the bushes for a day or two, she won't forget the threat too quickly !

Thanks for that, it seems to make a lot of sense. And she has been nervous about going in the garden for the past couple of days.
The hawk was a sparrow hawk, they usually attack pigeons or smaller birds.. I thought with my Poppy being 7lbs she would not be any kind of threat to the hawk, but my other dog is bigger and weighs about a stone or two, and the hawk didn't even fly away from her. That worried me because it didn't see either myself, my dad or my bigger dog as a threat. I have not let them in the garden alone since even though the hawk probably couldn't fly off with Poppy, it worries me that it may try and attack her still.

[SWHouston]

A Sparrow Hawk !

Umm...going after a 7 lb Dog is a little aggressive for that size Bird !
I'd say that things were pretty lean around there, for it to take a chance on an animal that size. I don't think it could have picked Poppy up, but it certainly could have done some serious damage right there on the ground.

However, just from my experience, it's very likely that the Bird is not going to hang around very long under the circumstances. So in a few days, that that is probably going to move on to better resources.

My Male Sneakers is much larger than My Female Becca, and very protective of her. Ha, when they are out in my yard together, I feel a lot better about her safety. That may be an option for you, to insist your two go at the same time.

[Rachael x]

Originally Posted by SWHouston

A Sparrow Hawk !

Umm...going after a 7 lb Dog is a little aggressive for that size Bird !
I'd say that things were pretty lean around there, for it to take a chance on an animal that size. I don't think it could have picked Poppy up, but it certainly could have done some serious damage right there on the ground.

However, just from my experience, it's very likely that the Bird is not going to hang around very long under the circumstances. So in a few days, that that is probably going to move on to better resources.

My Male Sneakers is much larger than My Female Becca, and very protective of her. Ha, when they are out in my yard together, I feel a lot better about her safety. That may be an option for you, to insist your two go at the same time.

No no it didn't go after Poppy LOL it was killing a smaller bird, Poppy was just scared of it and rolled in the dead birds feathers afterwards. I know even a large female Sparrow Hawk would be too small to pick up a yorkie, It's just the fact that it wasn't scared of her. I am nervous about them being in the garden again if Poppy tries to chase them, because I think it might hold it's ground. But I know it couldn't pick her up LOL.

[SWHouston]

OH ok, I got it now !

But, I'm going to disagree with you on a point, and probably get myself broiled for it

My two are pretty brave, and very territorial. They would aggressively charge a strange being who violated that area, and... I'd encourage them to do just that.

That bird is not stupid, and you may be evaluating it's "hesitation" to flee because it's very aware of it's capabilities, and not going to expend the energy for flight, unless it sees the need for it. All animals have a preception of a "Life Distance", and apparently that distance was not encroached upon, or it would have fled immidately.

I'm thinking that a couple charges from your dogs (even a 7 pounder)toward the Bird, is going to make it very aware it's not welcome there.

Get your bigger Dog involved !