I have touched on this topic before in my previous article ‘Are Owls a Threat to our Pets’ but I noticed that there were a lot of people asking specifically about how dogs interact with owls. Therefore, I decided to delve into this side of the topic with a bit more detail. I will be explaining whether we should really be concerned for our dogs when they are around owls and vice versa and I will also explain the best way to introduce the two, if you happen to have an owl and a dog in your care.
First, let’s cut to the chase…
Will Owls Attack Your Dog? Will Your Dog Attack Your Owl?
The answer is they can both attack!
If a dog is small enough to hunt, then the owl may deem it an easy target. Since dogs are quite loud and boisterous they won’t necessarily always seem an easy catch so generally dogs will be a last choice of attack for owls. Likewise, owls who may have attempted to hunt a dog before will probably be aware that dogs will fight back if they can and the owl will want to avoid this. Also keep in mind that the attack may be initiated by the dog, it may have chased the owl from prey instinct or entered into the owls territory. Usually an owl attacking a dog would only occur if the owl is desperate for food or feeling unusually confident. This isn’t to say you can ever be complacent with your dog around an owl though because an owl attack from behind is deadly. The talons into the dog’s neck will be enough to kill. Owners who have lost their dogs to an owl attack often say they barely heard any noise at all as the owls are such stealthy hunters. Likewise, please put your dog on a lead whenever an owl is around just to avoid any harm and to stop the owl from becoming agitated by a hyper dog.
Caring for a dog and an owl together
So, i’m certainly no expert on the law but from what I can find on good ol’ google is seems that keeping a pet owl tends to be illegal in US states, whereas in the UK pet owls are allowed (even though I wouldn’t really condone this). Im not sure about the laws in other countries either but please remember to follow the rules of your country/state regarding animal care and in general I really wouldn’t advise having a pet owl unless you are a trained handler/carer with the correct qualifications and land to provide a happy and healthy upbringing.
If you are in fact a trained handler / carer / falconer who trains and flies birds professionally and want to introduce this animal to a dog that is also in your care, I would like to offer some hopefully helpful tips.
Please note that I do not know enough about falconry regarding using birds and dogs together to hunt, therefore I will not be commenting on how to form this work bond between the species. I am simply going to provide tips on the first interaction and getting the animals used to each other.
Many of us know the struggle that can occur when you want to mix multiple animals in the same space and hope they get along. The introduction process is extremely important as it must be done with the upmost care to ensure the safety of both animals. It may take a bit of work in the beginning but patience is key and with enough time and effort put into these animals, they will be the best of friends (or at least pretty damn tolerable of one another) as soon as you know it.
To summarise the 5 main steps:
- Location is key
- Start slow and steady
- Reward good behaviour
- Constant supervision
- Keep consistent
Location is key:
Ok this might seem obvious but it has to be said – DO NOT and I repeat, DO NOT try and make introductions somewhere that is considered either animals territory. The last thing you want is for the owl or the dog to feel protective. This will start the introduction on a terrible note because this is the prime ingredient for an attack. Always begin the introduction in a new location. This new location might make the animals a little more anxious or nervous if they are known to be worrisome and easily agitated but this is always going to be preferred to an overly aggressive mood between the animals. Please also make sure that the location you choose is away from any other kind of animal or distraction.
I wouldnt recommend holding your owl at the beginning of the introduction period, this can always be a stage brought in later on when they become more familiar with one another. Dogs can be very protective over their owners, so if you know your dog gets jealous and is very attached to you then holding the owl might be a risk for conflict. I would recommend keeping the owl in a cage at first (probably a new one so it doesn’t feel territorial) so the owl can still feel protected. Make sure the cage is appropriately sized and closed securely and place the cage above the dogs reach (but still in its view) so it cannot jump at the cage causing fear in the owl. Always keep the dog on a secure lead under strict control at first. Once the animals are more familiar and you know they are unlikely to attack each other you can start to relax on the tight restrictions
Start Slow and Steady:
So, we all know that birds are often seen as prey to our domestic animals, we have all had a cat that brings in a surprise baby bird for us that they have just caught from the garden. Therefore we must be aware that to dogs, they might see the owl as prey that they must go after. This wont always be the case with owls because often they are relatively large and in comparison to smaller dogs, they probably intimidate more than intrigue. BUT if the owl has the size advantage then the dog might be viewed as possible prey. So its important to keep in mind that these animals at first impression might deem the other as dinner, and that is something we must eradicate immediately. Dogs especially are just programmed to chase anything that makes sudden movements, whether it is to harm or to play, that prey drive instinct will kick in so this has to be watched. Another prime example of why keeping both animal under strict control at first is highly important.
For the first couple of meetings, start slow. Don’t over expose too soon, but instead gradually get them used to seeing one another. Maybe this is just bringing them into close proximity once a day for no longer than a few minutes. The best stage to get to is the point where they seem less bothered about each others presence and maybe even seem uninterested entirely. The main thing to remember is that this is and should be a slow process because if you rush and it leads to disaster then you cant take back the damage. You do not want to cause a traumatic or dangerous experience or incident for either of your pets.
Reward Good Behaviour:
Owls and dogs are both prey driven which we have already covered above, but this can be used to our advantage also. This impressive prey drive means that dogs and owls have one thing in common – they are both extremely food orientated and will essentially do anything for a bit of meat. This is why owls and dogs are so easy to train and work with for us humans because we know they can be taught, distracted and bribed to do whatever we ask them to, just by offering them a treat! If you constantly reward each animal when they have a positive interaction with each other then its likely they will behave during their sessions together.
Constant Supervision:
Strict and constant watch over these interactions is so important for the health and safety of the animals. Once they get more and more used to each other you might decide to allow the dog off the lead to see if that goes ok. If the dog begins to harass the bird I would recommend putting the dog immediately back on the lead to show them that this is not an encouraged interactions style.
I would like to say that you should never leave your owl and dog together completely unsupervised in reach of each other (dog off the lead and owl out of their cage), but I suppose the aim might eventually be for the dog to be able to wonder around freely in the grounds of their home, which will include the cages of the owl(s). This should be fine if the animals seem uninterested in each other and the owl will still be protected by a cage in this scenario anyway.
Please just remember that accidents can always occur even if they seemed entirely unlikely, so always keep the owl in a cage where the dog cannot easily reach when they are unsupervised.
Keep Consistent:
There is no set time for how long this introduction period should take. There is also no right or wrong amount of time, it all depends on the individual animals character and how well they take to one another. Different breeds may be more excitable and therefore harder to introduce, likewise puppies are going to need more consistency and time because they are generally more hyperactive. Don’t let it discourage you if they are progressing slowly with one another, or maybe there will be a few steps backwards sometimes, give it enough time and consistency and they will eventually warm to one another. Most pets figure out a way to live harmoniously together eventually! 🙂