Dog and Piggies

[Fr0ggy]

I have my boyfriends mums dog coming to stay with us whilst his mum goes on holiday for 3 weeks. We are planning on putting the dog in the outhouse with the piggies but just wanted to check if anyone knows if this could be a problem. The piggies are high up on a sideboard in their hutches and the dog is very old and docile. ( but he does bark a bit).

Thanks

Lin

 

[tawny]

hard to say depends on dog. i have a German shepherd who is just great with my pigs, he sits in the middle of them and they nibble him but they are all use to each other, they take no notice of his barking.

i think piggies adapt well ,you will just have to watch and see, i think i would be wary of leaving a dog on its own with piggies.

hope it all goes well

 

[Jillybean]

Like Tawny, I have a German Shepherd who's an angel with the guineas and also a Spaniel the same but they've grown up with guineas from pups. When I bring new guineas in I keep the dogs well away until they get used to the sound and smell of the dogs.

If the dog gets upset and starts jumping around and barking, he's likely to unsettle the guineas. Also, it's instinct for a dog to chase/get to little things that smell nice and run fast!

If the dog is well behaved can't he stay inside?

 

[Beaney]

To be honest, personally I wouldn't put them in the same place together unattended. Has this dog ever been around piggys before? Even the most docile dog in the world is going to be curious initially and it will not be nice for the piggys if all they can hear is him barking/pining to get to them. As it is only for a holiday, is there anyway you can keep them separate?

I have a dog who gets on well with all my other pets but it was a long long time before they were introduced and it was done over a long period of time - and like Jillybean, I had piggys and my rabbit before I ever had a dog so it was done from a very young age.

 

[michellemuffin]

my dogs have always been caring and submissive around my pig and chickens when we had them but they were brought up to tolerate just about anyone and anything, but dogs by nature are inquisitive and will find out what they are , I personally would be very watchful but as its an old dog things should be ok BUT dont take it for granted,

 

[boysmum]

I would be very wary of this.

I looked after my brother's dog last summer and kept the pigs separate from her. The boys were out in their run and the dog sneaked out of the back door without me noticing. Next thing I heard was wild barking and the dog trying to dig under the run. That was enough for me.

However, the next day, one of my boys was covered in scabs and had had a mite infestation. The vet said that they usually harbour the mite organism all the time with no problems but it erupts in time of high stress.

The dog is an excitable labrador so I was unlucky. However, she will not be meeting my boys again!