Small Dogs Outside Alone

[Verbena]

Coyotes have displayed their cleverness by adapting to the changing American landscape. These members of the dog family once lived primarily in open prairies and deserts, but now roam the continent's forests and mountains. They have even colonized cities like Los Angeles, and are now found over most of North America. Coyote populations are likely at an all-time high. Coyotes are formidable in the field where they enjoy keen vision and a strong sense of smell. They can run up to 40 miles an hour. In the fall and winter, they form packs for more effective hunting. Coyotes are also very good swimmers.

Birds of Prey Raptors catch their prey with their feet and thereafter administer a killing bite to the back of the head. Even though some can not pick up the animal they still will administer the killing blow.

Found in North America, Eurasia and northern Africa, the Golden eagle is one of the most formidable aerial predators in the world; it usually feeds on rabbits, hares and large birds, but it has also been known to take foxes, young sheep and goats, and even adult deer and caribou. In Kazakhstan, where Golden Eagles are known as berkut, they are trained by nomadic hunters to hunt wolves! They also hunt and eat other birds of prey. Although Golden Eagles are powerful enough to kill a man, they have never been known to attack adult humans as prey.

Dogs can jump, climb, scale walls and fences. An Australian Kelpie, a medium-sized herding breed, scored an event record at the Pedigree Working Dog Kelpie Muster by clearing a 9.54-foot jump. I have seen my friends dog part hound scale over a cement block wall.


I lived in NY my whole life. I lived in the city, Long Island and now surrounded by a dairy farm. I have 48 acres in front of me and 39 acres behind me. We have all kinds of animals including coyotes, eagles, hawks, raccoons etc. You may not see them but trust me they are around. We have deer, lots of deer. Hunting those deer are coyotes. I do not see the coyotes but sometimes I sure can hear them. I hear the howls. I like to go and howl with them. lol I also have heard them as they are taking down a deer and also the noises of them fighting. I have to tell you this is the most horrible, vicious noises you will ever hear. I am a huge fan of Raptors. Wanted to get my falconry license. I love to see them around. They keep down rats, mice, snakes etc.

My point is that you really never know what is around you. Please hug your pups.

[MyDearSam]

I also live in an area with lots of wildlife. My mom lives 2 miles away on 40 acres. You can stand in her kitchen and watch wild turkeys, deer, groundhogs, skunks, raccoons, and coyotes roaming within a dozen yards of the back door. There are large owls, hawks, turkey buzzards, and we have even seen a falcon hunting. Nothing scares me like the coyotes. When Katie was about 4 years old, we were out in the yard after dark, and one of them came within about 15 feet of us. It was in full prey mode, low to the ground and creeping. I snatched Katie up and ran like mad to the house. That was 10 years ago, and I still check the yard and edge of the woods when I'm out there.

[MyTrixie143]

Lynzy, I am sorry you had to go through that, I can only imagine the horror of it all.

I agree that most and majority of small dogs shouldn't ever be left outside unattended. I think the only exception to that rule is if you've covered all your bases. A completely fenced area that is also enclosed over head. Additional fencing/chicken wire or whatever you can use should be used to stop from digging. It should be padlocked and the fence itself needs to be very sturdy. I haven't seen too many of these set ups so this why most should never be outside unattended.

Currently I never ever let any dog under 15lbs out unsupervised and right now I am not even letting my yorkies outside at all because of the risks of hawks being around. So until I solve that solution they don't go out at all even if supervised, too risky.
The fence I have right now is 5 ft and very sturdy (Daisy puts it to the test each day) the gate is padlocked. Daisy must go out with them (if 15lbs +) as she is a great guard dog. So I only really have 2 dogs besides Daisy that meet that requirement. They are only out there for a few minutes, quick enough to go potty otherwise I will stay out there with them. Daisy stays out for hours because she loves to and can do so safely.

[lexi43]

We never let our small dogs outside without supervision. Our basset hounds go out but we watch them from the doorway. My dogs had an accident a couple of years ago when my yorkie Zach and my Shorkie Zoe were playing and somehow Zoe's tooth got caught in Zachs collar. Thank God we were outside with them because Zach passed out and we thought he was dead. We cut the collar loose and laid him on the table. We thought he was dead he wasn't moving and his eyes were rolled back in his head. When I picked him up he started coming out of it. We rushed him to the 24 emergency by the time he got there he was almost back to normal. We had him checked out and there was no permanent damage. Now none of our dogs wear collars in the house or in the backyard.

[JasmineNoelle]

We have a huge fenced in yard and my husband, just recently, chained linked a smaller area in the back yard for our furbabies. We have a doggy dog in the den and this is where I stay when ever they are out.

When they used to have run of the entire chain linked area, with three strains of barbed wire on top, they also wore a collar for the under ground fence that went around the perimeter of the fence so that they would never get close to the fence. On two sides of the yard we also have privacy fence along with the chain link and barb wire. Not attractive, but we wanted it secure as possible for them.

Anyway, when my husband built the new smaller fence in the back yard, we decided to take their collars off since they would be right here beside the den. Today, I let them out, stayed out with them for awhile and came back in. My two little yorkies love to sun on the den porch not more than ten feet from my recliner. All of a sudden I I heard my girls barking hysterically. I looked up, they were gone. Went to the door and seen Maggie outside of the new fence, still barking like crazy at the vacant acreage next to us that is overgrown to the point you can not see through it.

Thank The Lord, my girls are well behaved. I called for Maggie and she came right back. I immediately put the girls up and went out to inspect the fence and found someone had made a hole in the new chain link fence and tried to steal my babies!

Our oldest baby is 11 and has played freely in our yard all this time without any problems. Now I feel scared and violated. I called the authorities and reported the incident. They told me that there had been a rash of missing dogs reported lately.

I didn't mean for this to be a novel. I guess I am in shock.

[Jacksmom052709]

Excellent post Lynzy - so sorry you had to go through this though.

[chachi]

Mine do go out alone but they go in the front yard and we have a chain link fence and we can see and hear them at all times out our big picture window in the livingroom. We dont let them out and leave them out either they are usually only out there for 5 mins at the most. We are inthe city and dont have birds of prey or anything that can get to them and like i said we can see them the whole time. I think everyones situation is different and what works for one doesnt work for another

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by chachi

Mine do go out alone but they go in the front yard and we have a chain link fence and we can see and hear them at all times out our big picture window in the livingroom. We dont let them out and leave them out either they are usually only out there for 5 mins at the most. We are inthe city and dont have birds of prey or anything that can get to them and like i said we can see them the whole time. I think everyones situation is different and what works for one doesnt work for another

[AngelFae]

I live in a small town- an outermost suburb of Minneapolis- we have a lot of wildlife in our backyard- including a bear last summer.
One time, a few months ago, Buddy and Blazer were playing right in front of me and Blazers collar got caught on Buddy's collar (his tags.) I try to remember to take their collars off before I ever leave them alone but I have forgotten a few times and have been worried about it until I've gotten home.
There are dangers everywhere, every day. We can all only do our very best to keep our loved ones safe.