Catching a shy loose dog

[Laurelin]

What is the best method?

Sunday I was driving and come to an intersection where I see my sister's boyfriend in the middle of the road along with a 40 ish lb tan mutt. One of those dingo-esque kinds of mixes that have probably 10+ breeds. Gorgeous dog. Anyways, my sister is pulled over in her car so I pull over to help them.

I had a box of shrimp from lunch and a bag of buddy biscuits too. So I grabbed those and a leash (though I was fairly sure the dog could snap my toy sized leash if she wanted). The dog was SO SKITTISH. I did get it to eat the shrimp and food and even got her taking it from my hand. I knelt down kind of sideways to her and didn't make any moves towards her and she would come in and take the food. But soon as I made a move to clip the leash or grab the collar she would shy away and stiffen up. I didn't want to push my luck and get bitten.

Well, she started following me I'm assuming because I had fed her. We walked a ways to this neighborhood, hoping she'd escaped out of there. Still could not get the leash on her but she was willingly and happily following. We passed a house with two dogs in a chain link fence and she ran up and they were all wagging their tails and obviously knew each other. So we turn into the neighborhood and are immediately greeted by two more dogs- French bulldogs actually running loose. The dog that was following me went nuts and the three very clearly knew each other. The Frenchies were very happy and friendly and once they came up to me the dingo-looking one did too and decided I was okay.

Long story short they actually didn't belong to the house we thought they were in. And funnily enough the house we went to thinking it was theirs was the house that had caught our horses when they escaped last year. :redface: They are like the land of the escaped animals.

We did find their owner down the road and apparently they get out all the time and the whole neighborhood is used to them roaming loose. Which is annoying but anywho....

If I couldn't get her to follow me to the neighborhood how could I have caught her without getting bitten?

 

[BostonBanker]

If you were able to get close enough to feed her, could you have made a huge loop with the leash (put the buckle through the handle) and gotten it over her head? I caught a fair number of dogs that way doing animal control. Make the big noose, have the loop over your arm that is feeding them and then just sort of whip it over their head when they reach for the treat.

I've also caught shy dogs by opening the car door and finding out they love going for car rides, but that's pretty hit or miss!

 

[DJEtzel]

Cars are a great idea, feeding a little then running away a few steps, crouching and feeding again. I like to feed and scratch out of an open palm at the same time, then wiggle my way slowly to the collar, and hold on/be still and move slowly/avoid eye contact to leash them. You can also put an open hand out further, then food in an open hand closer to your body. They have to pass your empty hand on the way to the goods and you can easily grab the collar.

Usually, if you're on their level and they are fearful, but let you touch/grab them without first running away, they are going to freeze and crap their pants if you grab them before they think about biting.

Is it ideal for the dog or a situation I would normally put a dog or myself in? No. But if it's the difference between a dog running loose or not, you take your chances. I've handled probably three dozen fearful/shy dogs this way, and while they were all throwing every stress/calming signal possible, they did not bite and were ok through it.

 

[misfitz]

I second the "leash noose". If you make the loop big enough and lay it on the ground, the dog won't notice as much when you slip it over his head (as he's eating food that you placed on the ground inside the loop)