Houston, we have a problem

JAileen

We've had this guy for just about three years. He is a darling, but also a ferocious hunter. Last night, he got skunked for the fifth time. We've never had a dog get skunked more than once. Do any dog people here have any suggestions?

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9 years ago

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26 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

Joyce B

Veteran

He looks adorable.
Sorry, I have no help to offer.

9 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Not a dog person, at all. But I find being skunked five times absolutely hilarious.
We had a skunk family under our garage a long time ago. I have to admit the young uns are very cute.
Maybe a reverse Pepe Le Pew?

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Joyce, thank you. He is a cutie.

Anna, I guess it is kind of funny. But the smell, even after cleaning him is awful.

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have no words of wisdom, but your Scottie is adorable.

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Angie, thank you. He has a cute personality, too.

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Ah. Lilypup has been skunked 4 times. Always at midnight, three out of four in the rain. So clearly I have no idea. But dawn, peroxide and baking soda has been the best remedy I've tried so far.

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Rachy, oh no, you're in the same boat! We use the same concoction, but it doesn't get the stink out completely. And yes to midnight. One time I had already gone to bed, and had to get up and help my husband with the situation.

9 years ago

deb

Veteran

Zeus would kill them. Nothing worse than skunk breath. He would catch them as they ran away then shake them and break their backs. They release all the juice then. Then, I had to go pick them up and put them in the garbage can. One time while I was back in D.C. visiting Jake, the ex hubster thought it would be a good idea to turn on the whole house fan to clear out the smell. All it did was suck the stink in. So do you want advice on how to stop the skunk visit or how to keep the dog from them? I have no clue to either.

9 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

OMG, they don't learn. Ours love to go after porcupines. More than once... No advice, just grinning and nodding.

9 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

What does getting skunked mean?? Clueless Aussie here Something to do with the smell?

9 years ago

Lucy

Veteran

LOL, I'm with Deborah here! We have snakes, spiders and all manner of bugs here in Australia, but we don't have skunks.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Uh, oh...I can only imagine the smell..... No wise advice I'm afraid, but your furbaby is adorable!

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Deb, Zeus was very brave! This one hasn't actually caught one yet. It might be that the skunk is on the other side of a chainlink fence. We're not sure. If he were able to kill the skunk, our troubles might be over. On the other hand, rabies..

Una, porcupines! Like in The Incredible Journey? Have you had to remove quills?

Deborah and Lucy, skunks have an incredible stink for protection. Up close it smells like a chemical plant exploded.

Diane, thank you. He's a sweetheart when he's not hunting.

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9 years ago

texstyle

(website)

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Maybe you should keep him inside after 9 or 10 pm?

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Texstyle, that probably is the solution. It's so obvious that we couldn't see it. Anyway, we did that last night. When he stood at the back door, my husband instead took him and our other dog for a walk.

9 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

Yes to Texstyle --- taking the dog out earlier is your best defense. Skunks are more active as the night wears on!

I sympathize -- our current dog has never chased a skunk, but our two former Golden's certainly did! And a terrier? Well, they're pretty much know for tenacity!

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Beth Ann, thanks. Yes, Texstyle's advice seems obvious. Your Goldens both went after skunks? That's a lot of dog to clean up!

As terriers go (and we also have a Jack Russell) this one is definitely tenacious. The previous time, even after he had already been sprayed, he still wanted to go after it. He must have wanted revenge.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Ha, this proves to me that cats are smarter than dogs. I have never known a cat to get skunked, and I've owned many. I think they know to give those skunks their space. Smart kitties! I don't envy you washing off that stink, ugh.

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Xtabay, cats might be smarter than this particular dog, since he doesn't seem to understand the concept of pushing open a door. However, we had a dog who could open a child protective lock that we put on a kitchen cabinet, to keep her out of the garbage.

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9 years ago

Anonymous

Wow, that is pretty impressive. Garbage is sooooo irresistible!

9 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Hope it works for you JAileen! Also, I've noticed that when it's rainy outdoors, often the porcupines and skunks will be more visible and seem to want to just hang out in a tree or under a bush - making them of course prime targets for the voracious dog hunter ;-).

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Xtabay, it's funny how attractive it is to some dogs, but not to others.

Texstyle, I want thank you again for pointing out the obvious! The problem is he wants to be outside from dinnertime on. Tough luck, I guess. I hope we never have to deal with porcupines. Skunks are bad enough.

9 years ago

Colette

Veteran

What a cute Scotty!!! Sorry I have no wisdom to share about skunks. We have coyotes in the meadow behind our home so our dogs cannot be out by themselves, day or night. We always go for walks.

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Colette, thanks. Coyotes really scare me. Our vet lives near us and told me he has seen coyotes on our front lawn. When I FREAKED OUT, he said he thought the Scottie would give them a "run for their money". I've heard that coyotes are very smart and gang up on unsuspecting dogs, though, so I think you're very smart. Our other dog, a Jack Russell, is only 15 pounds, and although he is super fast, I wouldn't want to risk either of their lives.

9 years ago

Colette

Veteran

We have seen coyotes in the front yards too, but usually only at night. They are very smart and can climb fences. They attack even the big dogs in our area so we do not take any chances. Plus, our dog is only 12 pounds and would be a nice appetizer. Another predator we have and worry about is hawks.

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Colette, I hope I don't have to worry about hawks, too! I wonder if one could lift 15 pounds?

9 years ago

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