Do you have any tips to deal with our hedgehog problem?
Posted by anaughtybeagle@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 54 comments
Four out of the last five nights we have been woken by our dog loudly barking. Each evening he is finding a hedgehog in our back yard/garden. He isn't hurting it, thankfully, but he is getting very close and barking at it. Each time we bring him inside and he hedgehog moves on within 10 mins.
We're sure this is at least two hedgehogs due to their sizes.
We have a number of different areas the hedgehogs could be entering and exiting. It feels like they are using our garden as a thoroughfare.
Any tips on how we can deal with this? We could bring our dog into our room temporarily if it's not going to last long but it's not at all practical.
Cuznatch@reddit
Hedgehogs have a very large roaming area (they'll travel a couple of miles a night finding food and/or a mate).
Realistically you have 3 easy options: * Bring the dog in * Keep as it is, annoy your neighbours and risk killing an endangered animal at risk of extinction in the UK * Find and block all of the potential entrances, reducing the roaming space for the hedgehog, which is also not good.
The last options are more complex, but you could find a way of securing your dog in a smaller area of the garden to give the hedgehog space to pass through, or try and find the entrance and exits they're using and separate that from your dog somehow. You can get trail cameras relatively cheap these days, so could position it around the potential ingress points.
Phillyfuk@reddit
4th option, train the dog.
Cuznatch@reddit
I assumed OP was incapable of that, all things considered.
scottgal2@reddit
One thing to ensure is you have gaps at the bottom of your fence / hedge. Most of the time the hedgehog will just be passing through (the travel MILES), if it has a more direct path it might exit your garden more quickly.
Toon_1892@reddit
Is your dog living outside?
anaughtybeagle@reddit (OP)
Utility attached to the house. It's warm.
xcixjames@reddit
So you have a dog that doesn't live in the house with you?
Whats the fucking point in having a dog then?
anaughtybeagle@reddit (OP)
Jesus. He spends most of the day in the house and loves having his own room. Incredible judgemental people here.
xcixjames@reddit
Probably because you took a pack animal and forced it into isolation. Loves having or is just used to having?
Judgment probably lies in your inability to train your dog and expecting the wildlife to bend and adapt to your needs
hauntedathiest@reddit
Cover the windows then, so the dog can't see out if you don't want the dog you wanted in your home.
DazzzASTER@reddit
Some wild mental gymnastics in the comments lol. Sorry to hear you are going to have to get rid of your dog OP.
anaughtybeagle@reddit (OP)
It's not that bad mate, I just have to swap him
DazzzASTER@reddit
Well to be fair you are mad for having a dog that barks and enjoys being outdoors.
Sad_Supermarket_2074@reddit
Hedgehog population numbers have been in major decline in the past 20 years, through factors such as habitat loss from building more houses and gardens. If you have multiple hedgehogs coming in to your garden you should consider yourself very lucky, and be making changes to your dog's situation at night to encourage them to continue use your garden as a thoroughfare.
FornyHucker22@reddit
Definitely need to look at more ways to train the doggy not to bother them
LuxxLeanna@reddit
honestly sounds like they have made your garden their little route so there is not much you can do except block easy access points and maybe clear areas they like hiding in and once I made my space a bit less inviting they stopped showing up as much and the dog chilled out too
spaceshipcommander@reddit
Teach your dog not to bark at things. You should have done this when you got him, but there's no time like the present.
anaughtybeagle@reddit (OP)
I wish it was that simple. He's usually quiet but his instincts take over.
spaceshipcommander@reddit
Training is often about teaching them to ignore instincts.
Why can I shoot over my dog and send him to chase down a wounded animal, yet he doesn't chase my mother's cats when I leave him with her? Training. 15 minutes a day is all it takes but you're starting from behind so be prepared to be frustrated.
lilleralleh@reddit
Training. There are dog behaviour specialists, your vet may be able to refer you to one who could help
anaughtybeagle@reddit (OP)
We've spent many many many hours training him.
MaidInWales@reddit
I'd love to have your hedgehog problem!
Agitated-Tourist9845@reddit
I have two West Highland Terriers. They are rodent hunters. Their prey drive is high.
During this time of year when our resident hedgehogs are nesting and hopefully raising hoglets we keep our dogs out of the back garden from about 9pm. Hedgehogs are under threat enough, and I just hope they continue to make use of our garden for many years to come.
Complex-Honeydew-111@reddit
Be thankful that you are blessed with seeing these wonderful animals. They are more endangered than wild tigers.
They are in mating season rn, it will calm down
Ill-Imagination4359@reddit
I would change the dog to one that does not bark at the lovely native wildlife, or lock it inside in an evening.
The RSPCA have great information on how to help hedgehogs Hedgehogs in the UK | Wildlife Advice - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk
lalla94@reddit
How do you just exchange a dog?
AllThatIHaveDone@reddit
I think they mean 'change' as in 'train your dog'.
anaughtybeagle@reddit (OP)
Let me just pop down to dog exchange. He's a good boy, he's just easily spooked.
ImmediatePiano6690@reddit
Attract badgers to your garden, you won't find hedgehogs where there's badgers.
xerker@reddit
My dog barks at wildlife. We don't let him out unless we are home (which is a lot before I get destroyed) and never at night. Bring your dog in.
doc1442@reddit
You don’t have a hedgehog problem, you have a dog training problem.
stinkyswife@reddit
Fence off a small area that your dog can access but does not disturb the hedgehogs' territory?
PurahsHero@reddit
The only way to "solve" the problem is block off every conceivable access into the garden that a hedgehog could get through. Considering that, despite their size, they will squeeze through tiny gaps, that will be a lot of work.
Besides, why would you do that? The hedgehogs are just wandering through, searching for food and drink. They aren't harming anyone - they are only annoying your dog.
A better suggestion might be to block off most of your garden at night for the dog. That way they get outside, and the hedgehogs can still roam the garden.
fuzzydogpaws@reddit
We had the same problem with our dog. We would go into the garden with a torch and check for wildlife before letting him out. We then kept him in overnight, although from your comment it sounds like that might not work in your situation?
You could try helping him get used to hedgehogs. One approach is to place stuffed toys hedgehogs around the house and garden and teach him to ‘leave’ them when he comes across them.
AfternoonLines@reddit
Its simple, hedgehog > dog. You'll find zero sympathy for your dog here and I'm also a dog owner. If mine did that she'd get a proper telling off.
CyclingBrit@reddit
Everyone knows what the answer here is. Just keep the dog inside at night.
Frosty_Customer_9243@reddit
You don’t have a hedgehog problem, you have a dog problem.
Learning-EFWH8045@reddit
You ate truly blessed to have hedgehogs in your garden. The population of hedgehogs is declining rapidly in the UK.
VideoNo82@reddit
Your choices are bring the dog in or piss off your neighbours?
If it's not practical to bring the dog in then should you really be having a dog??
Kara_Zor_El19@reddit
This. Dogs shouldn’t be being left outside at night
Kara_Zor_El19@reddit
Hedgehogs aren a problem, they’re endangered.
Bring the dog in at night so neither can bother each other.
We have a plastic box with an elbow piper for entry and exit which we put a food bowl with hedgehog biscuits, and a water bowl in.
bow_down_whelp@reddit
Hedgehogs are a sign everything is working well. Leave them alone and bring your dog in at night. They are part of the British ecosystem and you should be happy they are there
PigHillJimster@reddit
I was walking my mother-in-law's dog once when he suddenly bolted, dragging me to the ground, barking after finding a hedgehog.
The hedgehog just rolled up in a ball whilst the dog sniffed around and barked for a couple of minutes whilst I got myself back on my feet and ran over to them.
Both animals safe after the encounter. Lots of noise from the dog but that was all.
Hedgehog just unrolled and scampered away after we left.
I expect both your dog and the hedgehog would probably be the same.
Bubble-Master96@reddit
You stop access to outside. Plain and simple.
worldworn@reddit
Please be aware that it's getting to the time of year that is the breeding season.
This is probably why they are more active and about more.
Moving them or disturbing them, won't be great for nesting. They could easily loose the offspring, or abandon them.
Like other animals they could get lost after moving and struggle to find food etc. or be moved into a dangerous area and not survive themselves.
Given how good they are for your garden (they love slugs and snails etc) I would try to accommodate them if you can.
But there are hedgehog charities you might be able to reach out to.
Usaname91@reddit
I’d agree with the others on here. Hedgehog numbers have declined massively over the years. I wouldn’t actively harm this population further due to inconvenience. You’ve got beautiful wildlife in your garden, I would embrace this as not all of us are as lucky.
SpiderLight97@reddit
Yeah, sorry, much as I love dogs, it’s a dog problem that you have. Bring inside and/or train to ignore wildlife.
Superb-Ad-8823@reddit
Sounds like a dog problem and not a hedgehog problem. Hedgehogs live outside so it's their environment/home.
Upstairs_Yogurt_5208@reddit
You chose to get a dog so you have to deal with your dog’s behaviour. Hedgehogs are in decline and are not a problem so just leave them to it and let them go about their business. If I was blessed enough to have hedgehogs in my garden then I would be happy and I would allow them to make my garden their home for the summer
iElvendork@reddit
You know that hedgehogs can pass fleas onto your dog right? Keep him locked in overnight for a bit.
a-liquid-sky@reddit
This is a dog problem, not a hedgehog problem! Please don't try and stop them moving through your garden, they are vulnerable and their population is in decline.
Only let your dog out into the garden while you're supervising. Maybe check the garden for hoggies before taking him out.
wjhall@reddit
You do not have a hedgehog problem, you have a dog problem
clrthrn@reddit
The hedgehogs were there before you and your house and will be there long after you go. Leave the hogs alone and work out how to keep your dog occupied while they're around. Or train him to ignore them. Closing up your garden might mean they can't get to a regular food source etc and have a big impact on their lives just because its inconvenient to you.
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