How can I trap a feral dog? ** Pic. added**

Could you leave Shailers kennel open with food? And once he's in it - run shut the gate? I've tried that with quite a bit of success - or tossing dog treats to him. Toss one right in front of him. He eats it. Toss the next one 10ft in front of him. He eats it. Get my point?

misstrouble

Could you leave Shailers kennel open with food? And once he's in it - run shut the gate? I've tried that with quite a bit of success - or tossing dog treats to him. Toss one right in front of him. He eats it. Toss the next one 10ft in front of him. He eats it. Get my point?

I can't get near him as soon as I get near he will turn tail and run. I can't get near enough to toss a treat. I will take my camera tomorrow when I take Shailer and Pudding for their morning walk, he is bound to be around. I would hate to catch him and him being a feral not being able to socialize him, I would have no other option but PTS. I have emailed the vet and asked him if he has a trap that I could use or if AC will lease me a trap. I will call AC on Monday and hopefully they will come.

Sowilu

. I would hate to catch him and him being a feral not being able to socialize him

 There's a very good chance that he'll except human company with a little coaxing; it's unlikely that he was born feral. He probably belonged to someone before. I've borrowed traps from the Humane society several times to catch feral cats. I take them to a local organization that spays or neuters them and places them with farms where they're provided with dog houses for shelters and given cat food to supplement the mice they catch.Hopefully Animal Control will have a trap you can use.  Good luck; I think misstrouble's idea is worth a try.

Sowilu

I can't get near him as soon as I get near he will turn tail and run.

I'm saying - watch from a window in the house. As soon as he's IN the kennel good - run out and shut the gate. BAM! Cought dog. I've done it with cat's, dog's and bunnies! Ya just gotta be fast. Maybe try some canned food in the rear part of the kennel - it'll keep him they're as long as he can stand to stay.

Whatever you decide to do just be careful!  You don't want to get yourself bitten or you dogs bitten,you don't know what diseases this dog could have.  Don't get me wrong, i think it's wonderful what you do, but you need to be safe

misstrouble

Sowilu

I can't get near him as soon as I get near he will turn tail and run.

I'm saying - watch from a window in the house. As soon as he's IN the kennel good - run out and shut the gate. BAM! Cought dog. I've done it with cat's, dog's and bunnies! Ya just gotta be fast. Maybe try some canned food in the rear part of the kennel - it'll keep him they're as long as he can stand to stay.

The problem with that is that he will pick up my sent and lock on me. Like I said before he will stare at me until I go or until he feels comfortable leaving. If I can get a picture of him tomorrow you will see what I mean. Also I can't use the kennel because it has been raining here and I don't have anywhere to put Shailer. Pudding is in his crate.

l.michelle

Whatever you decide to do just be careful!  You don't want to get yourself bitten or you dogs bitten,you don't know what diseases this dog could have.  Don't get me wrong, i think it's wonderful what you do, but you need to be safe

Don't worry that is the #1 priority on my list that is actually why I am trying to catch him. I hate to see him die of a parasite/disease too so I will try my best to help him out.

No pictures today, he was not here this morning I think because it was raining kind of hard. He will probably appear later on or tomorrow morning.

Have you tried turning your back to him and walking backward in his direction? If that works, then keeping your back to him crouch down, that way you won't look as big of a threat. I wouldn't get too close since you don't know what he might do.

Have good smelly treats so if he does come closer you can toss them. I would think the bigger the better so he can see them from a distance. 

Or you could always take a small amount of food along in a disposable container so he can see it and place it down and walk away.

Food is the best way to build trust.

ask your AC to rent a large humane trap and bait it and wait. When he is caught, call AC to pick him and the trap, up.

IMO you should consider getting yourself a Rabies innoclulation if you are going to be dealing with unknown strange dogs. It could save you and your family a HUGE medical bill down the road. Many people who work with animals, get them. I'd consider it.

I have caught several feral dogs but it is a very long process of feeding from a distance.  Never try to approach the dog.  Don't look directly at the dog.  Leave a SMALL amount of food in the same spot every day.  Leave the food in a place where it is open space.  When the dog will approach when he sees you with the food, even if he is just not running from you put out the trap that you have hopefully gotten from AC.  Put the food a few feet away from the trap opening.  Keep moving the food closer and closer until it is in the trap. Remember this can take many weeks. I agree that you should not attempt to physically catch this dog.  I have had some close calls but I have also always had my DH with me when I finally caught the dog.  I used a slightly different method but the principal is the same.  The funniest dog was a hugely pregnant pit bull that I was determined to catch before her babies were born.  On the day I was going to actually catch her I had some really delicious roast beef that I put in a small bowl.  I stayed about two feet from the bowl and she approached very carefully.  I had my snare ready and my DH had the crate ready.  She grabbed the bowl and ran off!! I think I heard her laughing at me.LOL We caught her a few days later.  It took me three weeks to catch this dog and she was not feral just very fearful of people.  One truly feral dog took me almost 4 months to trap.  Be careful. Don't risk a bite.  Patience is the key.

Thanks guys for the advice. I went to work at 11 and didn't see him when I took the dogs out for their morning walk. I got home at 10pm so no way could I see him. I will wake up early tomorrow to see his route.