Hi all. It's been a while since my last post.

I'm having an issue. About one and a half blocks down my street, there lives a mean bird that gets very angry whenever Ruy walks through his territory.


The bird is what we call here a pitirre and is known to kill hawks whenever they get too close.

Anyway, every morning on our walk (off leash), doesn't matter if it's 8:00 AM or 5:45 AM, the bird comes flying and attacks my dog. I thought it was funny the first couple of times, but now the dog is terrified! If it were up to him, he wouldn't go near that street. Tail down whenever we get close, he stops and I have to give him the recall command for him to come... and I don't blame him. That bird is on a 24/7 watch, and he always attacks my dog.

So, I've narrowed it down to two options, unless you help me figure out a better way to deal with the problem.

1. Kill the bird in front of my dog
2. Kill the bird by myself

I already borrowed a pellet gun from a friend. Leaning towards option 1. Figured that if the dog witnessed the crime, maybe he will eventually get that the bird is dead after a couple of walks without any incidents.

I don't know if whacking the bird in front of your dog is going to register with him.

Do.....

1.) Make sure this isn't a protected species of sorts. No need to get taken downtown for a birdie.

2.) Feed it to Ruy if you have to kill it. Waste not, want not.

I'm just going to guess that it is a protected bird. Something like the iguanas next to the court house.

Can you hide your dog under a big umbrella when you go through the flying demon's territory?
Carry a tennis racket to lob him back to his perch?

Hi Debbie.

Neither the bird nor the iguana are protected. In fact, iguanas are considered a pest by the government. And that other little bastard is responsible for the low population of our local hawk.

I did go with a small racket the other day but the bird was too fast. Plus I think a pellet gun is faster and more humane?

Sounds like the bird has a nest. Could you alter your walk for a few weeks until the fledglings have flown the coup?

I think Michelle is probably right. Around here, there are barn swallows, and they don't bother you if they don't have babies in their nest. But if they do, they will try to dive-bomb us (in our own barn!) when we get near the entrance to the building.

Maybe you can just alter your route for a couple of weeks til the babies are gone (if that is, in fact, what the bird's problem is). Baby birds grow really fast, if they've already hatched, they'll be gone soon.

Good luck!

There may be babies in a nest, but these little birds are extremely aggressive regardless of young.

Might be a good idea to give it a closer look,though.

My whole post had nothing to do with dogs, so just to stay within board rules of not straying from dog topics......whole birds are an excellent addition to a raw diet.

 Quote: Michelle Berdusco

Sounds like the bird has a nest. Could you alter your walk for a few weeks until the fledglings have flown the coup?

Ditto.

It is kind of harsh to kill a creature when it's clearly a good representive of its species. It's just doing it's job.

I would alter my route, if you can't for some reason or the problem persists, maybe try an electric flyswatter with weak batteries in it.

 Quote: Alexandra Neufeld

It is kind of harsh to kill a creature when it's clearly a good representive of its species.

 Quote: Alexandra Neufeld

or the problem persists, maybe try an electric flyswatter with weak batteries in it.

:laugh: