Reading this gave me the shivers, cos I know how real this can be, I live on the border of a nature reserve, and we have lots and lots of different birds of prey around flying
on the thermals, we are in the valley, my two min-pins
Pixie popo and Vlooisie never go outside unless on a runner lead, they are not only stone deaf unless you have food <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> they are far to curious about anything, that moves, so even hunt moving leaves, and way to many times, I hear the Jimno -Jeenes calling above, way to close for comfort,they swoop quite low,the little tan one Vlooisie looks way to much like a mongoose, which is prolific around the property and a favourite meal of the Prey birds.
The other good thing, I suppose is the sheps running around, Utti my bat catcher chases them away she is very very territorial.

On two different occasions owls have tried to take my Papillon. It might have been the same bird, as it happened in the exact same place both times. My Pap is about 10#, and on both occasions he was walking in grass tall enough to only be able to see his tail up over his back. It's neat to be able to get that close to a large bird of prey but I'd rather keep my dog.

I've had a close encounter with a great horned owl and also a barred owl when sitting in my deer stand, so I know what you're talking about. Gets the old adrenaline going for sure.
We have two min pins, both good snacking size for either type owl, or for the red tail hawks that hang out around here. Or the bobcats or the coyotes, and that's not counting the feral dogs. Heck, some of the feral cats are bigger than my little dogs. They do not go anywhere on this farm unescorted. They do have a huge fenced in yard, but most of it is gated off at night. If they do need to go out at night, either my hubby or myself stand guard on the porch even though they are in the little yard.
That said, my female has got a set of steel trap jaws on her, when she bites, she bites with ALL her teeth, front to back, and she killed a half grown possum all by herself once, and the possum was as big as she was. Scared the heck out of me when it happened. Both of them are death on mice and moles and want to be death on rabbits and squirrels, if they could catch them. Miniature Pinschers were bred originally to be vermin exterminators and both of mine do a pretty good job of it.

 Quote:

Pup-Cake!

<img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I don't know whether to laugh or cry... poor dog being bullied by the neighborhood bird <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

LMAO... I guess some people are just naive.