I think a hawk was looking to eat my new pup

shaner · 12-24-2011, 09:36 AM

Titan is 9 weeks old. I also have a 15 month GSD named Cedar.

We were outside today in my yard and I noticed a hawk flying overhead. Didn't think much of it until it kept getting lower and lower while circling my house. I kind of think it might have been eyeing up Titan and trying to figure out a way to get him. He was flying unusually low for a hawk. Cedar seemed to have gotten a bad vibe too as she had her hackles up and was growling. She normally doesn't pay any attention to birds.

I have no idea if this hawk even could have scooped up Titan (he's probably 20+ pounds), but I wasn't going to take the chance. I stayed within 5 feet of him at all times and was ready to pick him up if the bird got any lower.

I'm aware I need to protect him from other dogs, coyotes, fishers, bobcats and cougars around here, but I never thought a hawk would also be on that list. It won't be much longer before I can cross hawks off that list, he's growing so fast.

At least I don't have to deal with gigantic eagles up here. We have enough predators roaming around.

ponyfarm · 12-24-2011, 09:49 AM

Scary!! Just be careful untill he is bigger. A friend had her westie puppy picked up by a red-tail hawk..and the puppy was attached to a leash...so it slipped from the hawks grip and got dropped. I have never forgotten that and don't let puppies out alone.

shaner · 12-24-2011, 10:00 AM

It is a little scary. During the day I take him out with my girl Cedar and let them play in the yard. I have quite a big yard so when he's playing with Cedar he could be 100 feet away from me, although he's always in my sight. During the day it was fine as coyotes and the like don't come around during the day, and Cedar keeps them away anyway. But now that I have to worry about hawks too, I guess I better stick right by him until he's a bit bigger. Probably another month or so and I won't have to worry about a hawk grabbing him.

I'm not even sure if that hawk was eyeing him up or not, it's possible there was something else nearby. I really don't know if a hawk could carry away a 20+ lb puppy, but I don't want to find out.

fuzzybunny · 12-24-2011, 10:10 AM

Scary indeed. We don't see hawks around here very often but I did see one a few years ago when Bunny was a puppy and it swooped down so low that both Bunny and I froze. I couldn't believe how huge it was and the wing span was amazing!

spidermilk · 12-24-2011, 10:37 AM

When I was younger we had a herd of ducks I took care of. They were out in the day and in the coop at night. When they were older one was attacked by a hawk. Couldn't pick the duck up by a long shot (these are fat ducks that can't really fly), but did scratch her up and damage her eye. My duck was fine (me and my old Aussie intervened very quickly), but yeah hawks will try to go after things that are way too large for them to pick up.

Daisy&Lucky's Mom · 12-24-2011, 10:49 AM

We have some hawks but we have alot turkey vultures .When Daisy was a pup probably about 15 weeks we were out in the yard and they started swooping down she statrted looking up at them ,probably because I was and she ran around barking at them . All I could think of was way to go pup now they really see you.They would swoop and get adult rabbits so my 22lb puppy would have been a stretch but I started grabbing her and holding her next to me.

GSDolch · 12-24-2011, 11:25 AM

just be careful and cautious until the pup is bigger. The hawk is only doing what is natural to it. Nothing to be scared about, just be aware about.

BlackPuppy · 12-25-2011, 09:30 AM

There are hawks in my neighborhood and they like my yard because the rabbits live under my deck. There always seem too interested in my puppies and I try to stay as close as possible. Those hawks are too quick!

There are a lot of turkey vultures around here, but I read that they only eat decaying matter. There is a vulture that will attack and kill live animals, though.

doggiedad · 12-25-2011, 09:34 AM

a 9 week old pup could look good to an Eagle
or a Hawk.

msvette2u · 12-25-2011, 11:48 AM

In Alaska it's nothing to have a small dog or cat picked up by eagles.
Here, we have hawks and small puppies will trigger their prey instinct as well as our baby goats (pygmys). We pen them under trees when we have orphans, so they can be outside without us worrying constantly. They are in at night, then.
When I hear the hawks screee-ing outside I know to be extra careful!

12-24-2011, 09:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
shaner Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 393	I think a hawk was looking to eat my new pup Titan is 9 weeks old. I also have a 15 month GSD named Cedar. We were outside today in my yard and I noticed a hawk flying overhead. Didn't think much of it until it kept getting lower and lower while circling my house. I kind of think it might have been eyeing up Titan and trying to figure out a way to get him. He was flying unusually low for a hawk. Cedar seemed to have gotten a bad vibe too as she had her hackles up and was growling. She normally doesn't pay any attention to birds. I have no idea if this hawk even could have scooped up Titan (he's probably 20+ pounds), but I wasn't going to take the chance. I stayed within 5 feet of him at all times and was ready to pick him up if the bird got any lower. I'm aware I need to protect him from other dogs, coyotes, fishers, bobcats and cougars around here, but I never thought a hawk would also be on that list. It won't be much longer before I can cross hawks off that list, he's growing so fast. At least I don't have to deal with gigantic eagles up here. We have enough predators roaming around.

12-24-2011, 10:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
fuzzybunny Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,824	Scary indeed. We don't see hawks around here very often but I did see one a few years ago when Bunny was a puppy and it swooped down so low that both Bunny and I froze. I couldn't believe how huge it was and the wing span was amazing! __________________ Carolyn Jazz, Shiloh Shepherd, 2.5 years old, CGC HIC Bunny, GSD X, 5.5 years old

12-24-2011, 11:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
GSDolch Crowned Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Loudon, TN Posts: 5,049	just be careful and cautious until the pup is bigger. The hawk is only doing what is natural to it. Nothing to be scared about, just be aware about. __________________ We are defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy.

12-25-2011, 09:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,853	a 9 week old pup could look good to an Eagle or a Hawk. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

12-25-2011, 11:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	In Alaska it's nothing to have a small dog or cat picked up by eagles. Here, we have hawks and small puppies will trigger their prey instinct as well as our baby goats (pygmys). We pen them under trees when we have orphans, so they can be outside without us worrying constantly. They are in at night, then. When I hear the hawks screee-ing outside I know to be extra careful! __________________ Ruger v. Sunnyside Stray 4-11-11

12-24-2011, 09:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
ponyfarm Master Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 548	Scary!! Just be careful untill he is bigger. A friend had her westie puppy picked up by a red-tail hawk..and the puppy was attached to a leash...so it slipped from the hawks grip and got dropped. I have never forgotten that and don't let puppies out alone.

12-24-2011, 10:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
shaner Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 393	It is a little scary. During the day I take him out with my girl Cedar and let them play in the yard. I have quite a big yard so when he's playing with Cedar he could be 100 feet away from me, although he's always in my sight. During the day it was fine as coyotes and the like don't come around during the day, and Cedar keeps them away anyway. But now that I have to worry about hawks too, I guess I better stick right by him until he's a bit bigger. Probably another month or so and I won't have to worry about a hawk grabbing him. I'm not even sure if that hawk was eyeing him up or not, it's possible there was something else nearby. I really don't know if a hawk could carry away a 20+ lb puppy, but I don't want to find out.

12-24-2011, 10:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
spidermilk Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 318	When I was younger we had a herd of ducks I took care of. They were out in the day and in the coop at night. When they were older one was attacked by a hawk. Couldn't pick the duck up by a long shot (these are fat ducks that can't really fly), but did scratch her up and damage her eye. My duck was fine (me and my old Aussie intervened very quickly), but yeah hawks will try to go after things that are way too large for them to pick up.

12-24-2011, 10:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
Daisy&Lucky's Mom Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,437	We have some hawks but we have alot turkey vultures .When Daisy was a pup probably about 15 weeks we were out in the yard and they started swooping down she statrted looking up at them ,probably because I was and she ran around barking at them . All I could think of was way to go pup now they really see you.They would swoop and get adult rabbits so my 22lb puppy would have been a stretch but I started grabbing her and holding her next to me.

12-25-2011, 09:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
BlackPuppy Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,420	There are hawks in my neighborhood and they like my yard because the rabbits live under my deck. There always seem too interested in my puppies and I try to stay as close as possible. Those hawks are too quick! There are a lot of turkey vultures around here, but I read that they only eat decaying matter. There is a vulture that will attack and kill live animals, though.

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