My dog fought a raccoon!
It can be a startling sight but it something that can happen on a walk or even in your backyard. This is why it’s important to know what to do when these situations arise.
Remember, if this can happen once, it may happen again if you aren’t prepared!
If your dog fought with a raccoon, it’s essential to recognize how to keep your dog safe on walks and/or when it is outside. Otherwise, you are going to end up in a similar situation whether it is a cat, dog, raccoon, or even a coyote.
This article will take a look at what to do after your dog has fought with a raccoon and how to prevent similar issues in the future.
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Tips for When Your Dog Fights a Raccoon
Tip #1 – Buy a Retractable Dog Leash
It’s important to have control over your dog if it is prone to getting into fights.
Yes, even if your dog wasn’t the instigator (i.e. the raccoon attacked first), it’s still important to retain control. You don’t want a situation where the dog continues to aggravate and puts you in danger as well!
This is why a retractable leash is one of the best investments a person can end up making.
This is going to provide control as you are out and about during the day. Whether this has to do with raccoons or other dogs, you always want to have the option to retract the leash as you please.
The benefits include:
- Complete Control Over Your Dog
- Easier to Keep the Dog Safe
- Allows for Quicker Turns and/or Adjustments
- Peace of Mind for Dog Owner
In a lot of fight situations, you are going to realize there are times to drag the dog away from the predicament.
If you let the dog loose and/or use a traditional leash, they are going to keep attacking. This is a natural reaction, but it is something that is going to be leaning on instinct. When this happens, you are going to see average results and that can lead to injury.
It is better to retain control and use the retractable leash for future situations. While you don’t want them to happen, it is better to stay prepared.
Tip #2 – Check for Open Wounds and Injuries
Let’s assume you are shouting, “My dog fought a raccoon!” and have managed to get away from the area.
As soon as this happens, you are going to have to start focusing on the injuries. To the surprise of many people, raccoons can hurt dogs and will not be afraid to attack if pushed into a corner. This is why you will have to check the dog for potential open wounds and/or injuries.
The same should go for you as the dog owner too.
In situations such as these, your adrenaline is going to be high, especially if the attack occurred while you were on a walk. As a result, it is better to look at your health too, if the altercation caused you to fall or get hurt.
If it was a proper fight, your first course of action has to be to visit a vet.
You will want the dog to be diagnosed in detail with the help of a professional. They are going to take a look at the dog’s condition to make sure it is healthy and doesn’t have internal injuries that you may have missed.
Remember, a lot of injuries can go unnoticed to the naked eye.
You are not going to want the dog’s health to worsen, so getting it checked out is highly recommended.
Tip #3: Keep Pepper Spray Ready
If you want to keep the dog safe, you will want to be better equipped for next time. While it shouldn’t happen nor will you want it to, the goal should remain to stay prepared.
This is going to happen by setting up pepper spray.
The pepper spray can be kept in your pocket and/or bag at all times while going out for walks or to the dog park. This is going to ensure if there is an aggressor in front of you in the form of a raccoon, you will be prepared.
The benefits include:
- Psychological Safety Net
- Helps Ward Off Raccoons or Predators
- Quick Solution When Under Attack
You don’t want the raccoon to get a proper shot at your dog. Instead, you want to be ready to assist the dog to the best of your ability.
This is only going to happen when you have a pepper spray handy.
You can easily spray it and make sure the raccoon stays away. it is going to be quick, effective, and keep your dog safe before the fight spirals out of control.
Please note, you should always make sure the spray doesn’t get onto your dog. This is why being quick and accurate is key.
Tip #4: Change Your Route
What route are you going to be taking in the future?
If the attack took place during a walk or when you were in the park, why not change the route or where you are going? This is one of the easiest ways to keep your dog safe when you know there are raccoons in a specific part of town.
A lot of incidents happen in the same spot, which is why you should stay prepared.
Focus on preventing the next fight because you know the dog is ready to attack raccoons if they feel under threat.
By taking the time to change the route, you are going to nip this problem in the bud. Of course, you can also change the hours at which you head outdoors. Raccoons are less likely to pop up during the middle of the afternoon.
This is when you can go for a walk to make sure this is not a serious problem any longer.
In the end, planning is what is going to matter. Altercations can happen, but it is your responsibility to keep the dog safe. Change the route and the results will come.
Final Thoughts
If you are saying, “My dog fought a raccoon!” you will know it is not a nice sight to look at. It can be scary, tough, and will often lead to injuries.
In some cases, you are also going to get injured depending on what is going on and where you are. This is why it’s important to follow the tips listed here whenever you get the opportunity to do so.
Dogs can get into fights if they perceive a threat in their vicinity. Your goal is to keep them safe and prevent situations where this is a possibility.
To learn more about what you should do for dogs, it’s time to go through these articles – keeping dogs safe from coyote attacks, how to comfort a dog scared to go out at night, great dog harness with no pulling, and top leash for dogs while walking.