Hi I live in a house which backs on to another garden,separated by a 7ft high wooden fence.Today i saw a large fox sitting in the middle of the neighbours garden. It has been seen before at the other side of the street so obviously lives nearby,but Where?Now I am worried about my 11 week old lab puppy being out there. What if it gets through to this side of the fence? Is she in any danger?
Jean

A fox could easily harm/kill a young dog. Remember a fox can jump and climb like a cat and so a 7 foot fence would be no real problem to it (and I have witnessed a fox go straight through a wooden fence!) However I assume you do not leave your 11 week old lab outside on its own, especially at night so you should be okay, but you need to be carefull because of diseases.

As your lab grows the fox is less likely to come back as the lab will start laying scent etc. However a hungry/ill fox can be dangerous - but shouldn't be too worried s there are plenty of urban foxes around

She is never out alone at night and is supervised during the day,but she likes to roam up at the fence.This was in broad daylight and it waited till I was almost at the fence before it took off through the gardens.I am worried about disease as well from faeces,as my pup will eat anything that smells remotely interesting ( including her own if i dont get there first).She has been showing a lot of interest in that area of the garden,so maybe she has been getting the scent of it.Just spoke to a couple of neighbours,and they have totally fenced off gardens,but have had what they thought was dog's faeces in their gardens(None of them own dogs),and were puzzled as to how a stray dog could have got in.Now they reckon it's the fox doing it,so am a bit worried about that now

look here

A fox can, and will, easily take a labrador puppy and will also spread mange and worms.

There have been several cases lately of foxes killing pups so I would be cautious
Archer

I'd love to know where these cases have been. My cats have always got the better of foxes (generally chasing them out of the garden and scratching their noses!). Foxes are shy animals even though they now live in our cities.

Mange is a problem but very treatable especially as domestic dogs should have access to vets (which on the whole foxes don't, and foxes tend to die from mange because of the poor diet they have living in the cities).

Go to:

http://www.nfws.org.uk

for more info about foxes.

I used to have a family of foxes living at the bottom of my garden. It was a wonderful sight (and I felt a priviledge), especially, to see the cubs playing together at 1st light. I watched them grow up and then sadly one by one they died—one lasting memory, sad (because it was the last time they looked so peaceful) and beautiful, was seeing the emerging adults (6 of them) sitting in the October sunshine grooming each other in a line.

Yes, Mange is treatable but I would rather my dogs not catch it! With all the damage foxes do I would also not have them near a puppy of mine.

John

Its a sad payoff that more and more foxes live in or near towns/cities as we have all encroached on their habitats. Mange is really a problem of mostly urban foxes.

Hi FrankieB
Here is one of the recent reports of fox killings.

Hiya
When i was at the vet's the other day with charlie, there was a man carrying a basket. His poor cat had been attacked by a fow almost ripping its leg off. In turn it had to be amputated.
I love looking at fox's but it makes me think twice now...

Donna and charliex

Hi Donna,
Poor cat - I'm glad I didn't read that a year ago! Our very friendly and laid back cat went missing at the time, and as we live right by a field there are loads of foxes. I did worry about that at the time, but as we were searching, a man walking his dog came over and said, don't worry, no way will a fox go for a cat. He sounded so sure I wasn't too worried after that, though guess I should have been then! Got our cat back unharmed anyway.
Hilda

Hi Hilda,
Years ago we witnessed one of our cats being chased by a fox. By the time our cat made it back through our open window (no catflap) the fox was only about a yard behind and still going at full tilt. It wasn't even wintertime, so there was other food available. So yes, foxes will take cats if they get an opportunity.

Its sad, but the owner should have secured the kennels much better so that the fox couldn't get into the kennels in the 1st place.

To be honest foxes are being reduced in huge numbers in our cities anyway and many cubs don't reach adulthood due to road accidents or mange.

Its our fault they are in our cities in the 1st place so in many ways we have to live with some of the consequences. Wild animals all over the world are being culled because we want to live in their space.

I suppose the parents of the attacked baby (same report) should have kept him securely caged, too! :rolleyes: Basically foxes will try to take anything made of meat!

I guess if we have the same anti-fox attitude here then we can't blame the anti-dog brigade for wanting to get rid of all dogs

Foxes exist in suburbs and towns because of human intervention with nature. I have a lot of foxes in my area and think they are beautiful creatures. I wish they were better at catching the rabbits in my garden, however.

I know foxes carry mange, worms and their urine absolutely stinks, but it is small price to pay. What is the alternative? Eradicating them from the planet? Hunt them down in the countryside and get rid of them in the cities? Over the centuries the UK seems to have managed to exterminate almost all predators (bears, wolves) and sometimes it seems to me that many would like foxes to be next on the list.

When my Cairn was a puppy I would never have left her alone in my garden. She would have been fair game for a fox. Even though as an adult she is not much bigger than a plump cat, there is no way a fox would attack her now. Quite the reverse, although alone I think the fox would get the best of her. I used to have a (large) Yorkie and when she got older several times I witnessed her snoozing away in the front garden whilst a fox strolled past her nose. She absolutely detested foxes and if she were awake she would have given chase. And yes, there are the rare exceptions where a fox will attack an adult cat or dog, or a baby. Years ago a GSD attacked and killed an infant. The parents had BBQ food on the kitchen counter. They removed the food, put the baby where the food had been, the food scent was strong, and you know what happened next. It does not mean the all GSDs or all dogs should be exterminated. We have to accept that animals will behave according to their natural instinct and get over the notion that if we cannot shape their behaviour to our liking (as in pets or working animals) that it is our right to get rid of the animal to solve our problem.

My husband's border collie used to hang out with foxes.. Never got mange, fortunately. His friend had a medium sized mixed breed. One day his dog scratched at the door to be let back in the house, his friend opened the door, and found his dog and his new pal - a fox - were both waiting to come in the house. Foxes and adult dogs either coexist or agree to disagree.

I too find the anti-fox attitude very disappointing.

Stacey

I don't believe anyone wants to totally eradicate them, do they? Just keep their numbers under control so that they aren't driven (by hunger?) to attack our pets or, God forbid, children.

The title of this thread was "Should I be worried?". At the moment, basically, the answer is "Yes". There is a real risk of which the poster should be aware.

It's a shame that whenever foxes are mentioned the thread is at risk of disintegrating into conflict. Let's all try to discuss this dispassionately.
:)

Sadly, people should be more worried in this day and age of other people stealing their pets from their gardens.

We had foxes that came into our front garden & when we had a cats(the last one died this year aged 19)my cat that had been reared by my BC bitch & who weighed all of 5 lbs used to chase them out if he was around. He was just a moggie but behaved like a dog-"you stare at me I'll attack you"-but when he fluffed up & went into attack mode he frightened even the most hardened of cat chasing dogs.

I have seen signs that the foxes are coming back now we are catless(planning on getting another but want a breed that is as hard to get a good one reared with dogs in lol), the outside security light comes on during the night when there is no one visible on the CCTV. I don't object, but am worried that when the hunting season gets in full swing we will be invaded by the hounds again when they pass this way.

I too feel that when you have puppies they should never be left alone outside not just because of foxes but of theft by humans that is increasing. The foxes have never ventured into the back garden/dog run & I don't think the most hungry of foxes would face up to the GSD & the BCs, & the little ones are always with them.

Incidently I am country born & bred & live in quite an isolated area-hence the security lights & CCTV & a big daft rescue GSD(she's big but very very daft the little ones make the most noise) & actively encourage smaller wildlife into the garden including the dreaded grey squirrel(we've never had red squirrels in this area-wrong habitat pre grey squirrel introduction) & hedgehogs. I am lucky that I have a garden & an area for the dogs to exercise & toilet in that is not visible from the road so can have the best of both worlds

Jeangenie,

There's a difference between passion and flaming. Flaming is verboten. Passion, I would hope, allowed. We can be passionately against puppy mills and display fury at their very existance. So me thinks we can show passion about other issues as well.

If we did not want passion, then we would all go and read textbooks ..not spend hours (speaking for myself, of course) reading Champdogs posts.

By the way, it's your own passion for some topics that gives me a bit of insight into you as a person and is one of the reasons why I respect you - despite the fact we may disagree. And your willingness even to put aside your own feelings about a topic to support others, eg, me in my post about why I felt I needed to spay Cairn.

So, I say .. keep the passion in .. but the flaming out.

A totally off topic,

Stacey

I maybe used the wrong word, Stacey! :o I mean more along the lines off cool and calm, and not getting heated. Trying not to let emotions cloud the debate!

I'm all for debate and discussion (that's why I'm here!) and sharing experiences!
:)

Just think if we never wormed dogs or treated them for mange, never fed them either they would end up just like the fox, spreading diseases and killing because their starving. Imaging not having any food for days and having a litter of babies to feed too, feeling to weak to hunt, its easier for them to get animals which are caged up like rabbits etc. They cant run far so the fox doesnt have to work too hard at getting its dinner. Any living creature will kill for food wether it be animal or human. we do dont we? its called survival!

No one's disputing that, Jacki!
:)

i never meant the post for any1 in particular i was just putting my opinion in, sorry if anyone took it the wrong way it wasn't intended :)

Slightly off topic but one of my neighbours were given a 6 week old kitten. The kids were playing in the garden with it when an owl swooped down and carried it away. This was in the middle of Kirriemuir (Peter Pan town). If a kitten could be taken so could a small puppy, so its not just foxes you have to be wary of.

Thanks to all who replied. the fox(a big male) was in the neighbours garden today again (they are out all day) He was Definitely eyeing up the pup. She was romping around the garden and didn't see him,but his attitude changed from relaxed to alert,although he remained seated.I ran out and picked her up,and he got off his mark.Was talking to my next door neighbour who has 2 cats. Her youngest cat disappeared last week,and they have been searching the roads,vets etc. Now she is horrified at the thought that the fox may have got him.There are a lot of cats living in this street though,and they are all still here,so maybe it's just coincidence.I have nothing against foxes,they are lovely creatures.I just don't want one roaming near my garden if there is a chance my pup might be in danger of attack,or disease.

If i was you i wouldn't ever leave the pup alone outside (don't think you will now anyway) if it wanted your pup so badly it could even go so far as to come into your house if the door was left open, think maybe you should be more alert than you normally would be. Frightening thought tho isn't it? our pets, children and belongings dont seem to be safe at all nowadays from anything :)

Well if she wants to deter the fox she could try turning a hosepipe full blast on it, a neighbouring retired farmer did everytime he saw a fox & they leave his garden alone now-the hosepipe had a trigger gun on it & was quite high pressured