My dogs...Groundhog hunters

[Kathleen]

My dad found my four dogs (including my hugely pregnant Millie) all surrounding a large groundhog, who was backed up against the fence, and rushing the dogs in turn to try to get them to back off.  Apparently, my dad was able to make four intensely hunting dogs back off the groundhog and get them into the house.  I was astounded.  I think I would have had to carry them all in the house, one by one.  He said that thing had huge teeth and really long claws, and it was doing a good job of holding its own.

And in case you've never seen a groundhog-this is the one from their LAST encounter with one.  They managed to tree that one. 

[Mike]

Um, are you sure that's not a koala bear?

Clifford bit a ground hog on the butt and both were so surpised they stopped and stared at each other until I shouted and the hog ran off.

[Kathleen]

Um, are you sure that's not a koala bear?

Clifford bit a ground hog on the butt and both were so surpised they stopped and stared at each other until I shouted and the hog ran off.

That's what I said when I saw the picture!   

[David C.]

Groundhogs are tough customers.   Besides the teeth, they have pretty sharp claws, too!    The only thing that levels the playing field is that most 'hogs are pretty dumb.   So glad none of the dachsies got hurt.   

Scally-angel, a mixed dobie, used to be able to take down groundhogs on a regular basis, but she was 75 pounds.   Every now and then, one would get the best of her and we'd have to patch up a scratched nose or leg, but for the most part, she ruled supreme.  Scally even brought one to me as a trophy while I was on the phone.   Fortunately, it was one of the owners, and I was rattling off some numbers and just excalimed "SCALLY!"   She seemed shocked that I disapproved, and was genuinely proud of her kill and wanted to share it with me.

Even tougher than Groundhogs are Raccoons.   Scally cornered one once.  The Raccoon was able to stand its ground, but wasn't able to escape.   Scally couldn't take the Raccoon head on, but she wouldn't back away either.  The "Mexican Stand Off" lasted for a while until human intervention gave the Raccoon as chance to escape.

[Leslie]

Four against one sounds like pretty even odds for these customers.  Not only the claws and teef, but their thick coat and  loose skin ensures that even if something gets ahold of it, it can still reach around and bite. 
Get yerself a HavAheart trap and get that booger outta there. (They just looooooove a nice juicy overripe piece of fruit.) We have trapped about 10 in the six years we have been here. 

If possible, plug the hole with cement 'cause they --or their kin--will keep coming back to the same holes.  Under our shed is another matter.  I swear I am thinkin' of stuffing razor wire underneath it.

How the heck did dad get the dawgs off? Cheese? Bacon?

[papbouv]

Raccoon's will drown a dog if they can get the dog in the water,you maybe having puppies early all the extra stress & excitement.

[hannah]

That must be a very intense encounter.

[Kathleen]

My dad said that he just shufled in front of them until they backed off.  Everyone except Reilly just turned around and walked with him back to the house.  Reilly really wanted to get it though, so he had to pick her up after the shuffling didn't work so well. 

The only damage seems to be a small scratch on Winston's muzzle-I've looked over everyone else and they're clean.  They really seemed to have fun with it-no trauma anywhere that I can see.  We just have a chicken wire fence stapled to the trees to keep the dogs in, so critters sometimes find a small hole and expand it and come in.  The backyard is about 1/2 an acre.  Millie killed a rabbit last year, and we've now had two groundhog encounters, a skunk encounter (by far my least favorite), lots of squirrels, birds, and plenty of deer.  There is also a family of coyotes that live nearby, but we never see them-just hear them.  We live right across the street from a preserve and recreation area, so our only neighbors are to the sides. 

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

OMG I would have hit the ground if I saw Hallie confronting one of these they look big and nasty! You know the kids are going to be on high alert from now on...LOL.

[Doxherding Karen]

OMG I would have hit the ground if I saw Hallie confronting one of these they look big and nasty! You know the kids are going to be on high alert from now on...LOL

That's a PERFECT idea! :thumb:
Hallie stands her round, ready to charge . . .

You take one look and pass out on the ground . . . :jaw:

Hallie breaks off her charge, runs to your side, starts licking your nose, hits "911" on your cell phone and you wake up at Shock Trauma with Hallie running the ER!! :temp:

Auntie Karen

[Delia and girls]

Geeze! Good for your crew for listening to your dad - well, all but one - that's pretty good. I'm so glad we don't have those critters around here.

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

ROTFL Auntie Karen!
Why...that is exactly how it happened once! Only here it was with a possum...