(VANITY)The Fox and the Hound

5/29/03 | Me

[Movemout]

I live out in the country of No. Virginia. A short while ago I let my Australian Silky Terrier and a small cat out to roam for a while. I looked out a few minutes later and saw the terrier emerge out of the wood line with a red fox, roughly twice her size, alongside. I was uncomfortable with the set up and called the terrier into the house. The fox retreated into the oak trees and the cat came streaking across the yard to the relative safety of the deck. Has anyone any experience with a dog and a fox striking up a friendship?

[Movemout]

I don't want to endanger this small dog (about seven pounds of trouble). She almost died at six weeks old from biting into an electrical cord. $2,000 later she was still alive, but just barely. So, if you have an opinion I would love to hear it.

[AppyPappy]

Foxes are rarely seen in daylight. Sometimes, it's not a good sign.

[Cincinatus]

I guess you'll have to supervise your dog's excursions. I would imagine that rabies is the greatest danger.

[Larry Lucido]

the country of No. Virginia

I knew there was a state called West Virginia. I didn't know there was now a country called North Virginia.

[prairiebreeze]

Hope the pets are up on their shots. Odd occurrance. I'd be leery of the fox.

Prairie

[smiley]

"Has anyone any experience with a dog and a fox striking up a friendship?"

Only at closing time when they issue "last call."

[Blueflag]

Any animal smaller than a red fox is a potential meal to a red fox. If your terrier was in heat, then that could drive the odd behaviour.

Is there any chance the 'fox' you saw was a neighbor's Sheltie? Our Shelties have been mistaken for foxes.

[Movemout]

Fox are so plentiful around here that it is not a rare occurence to see a fox in daylight. This one looked healthy.

I saw a real mangy example last year that I almost shot because he looked diseased. I grabbed my 10mm Glock and walked toward him to see if he would be aggressive but he wasn't so I let him go.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I suspect your little doggie is in heat.

[Movemout]

She is not in heat.

[billb]

I live in a nonrural area of No. VA and also have a silky terrier (not sure if he's Aussie). This dog would either kill the fox or die trying. I believe its unusual for any terrier to be friendly with a wild animal (as much as any animal in No. VA can be wild).

[Movemout]

Is there any chance the 'fox' you saw was a neighbor's Sheltie?

I know all my neighbors. We all have ten acres and none own a Sheltie.

[Movemout]

"This dog would either kill the fox or die trying."

All silkies are Australian. Mine is also extremely aggressive. That is one of the reasons I am confused by this.

[Blueflag]

Well, I'd chalk it up to a Romeo and Juliet scenario or suspect incipient rabies in the fox.

I've never heard of a red fox being friendly to 'domestic' animals except in Disney.

[Movemout]

"(as much as any animal in No. VA can be wild). "I live close to the mountains where VA,MD, and WV meet. It is very rural.

[billb]

I've also heard of New Zealand ones, but I don't know all that much about the breed to speek confidently about it. Also, in addition to wild animals our silky has already gotten a taste of my regular cab driver(even though he was warned several times) and has come colse to tasting the mail man and the UPS guy.

[Movemout]

"I've never heard of a red fox being friendly to 'domestic' animals except in Disney. "

Yeah, I agree. I read an account a few years ago about a fox which took out a small dog at a B&B after he rushed out to take on the fox. My puzzlement is this; if they were running around out in the woods together then why didn't the fox take her out immediately?

[Movemout]

New Zealand and Australia-- what's the difference? The Australian Terrier was bred with the Yorkshire Terrier and the result was the Silky Terrier. That is the extent of my knowledge on the subject. They are an extremely aggressive breed. I have had a number of dogs in my lifetime but this little gal is, far and away, the bravest example of dog that I have ever witnessed.

[Movemout]

Well, that seems to be the end of the discussion. Thanks to you who replied. BTW, two years ago I was driving up the dirt road that leads to my home and noticed a deer walking along a ridge accompanied by a buzzard hopping along its side. I stopped my truck and watched for a full minute as this continued. The deer didn't seem to be wounded in any way and the buzzard looked like a normal ugly buzzard. Maybe its's something in the water around here.

[Walnut]

I live on Cape Cod MA and we have foxes . They come out in the day time as well as the night. They arn't a problem as far as I know. (maybe to chickens)
We do have a ferril cat taht keeps company with the neighborhood skunk. they are funny to watch together. But I'd be careful with your pup just the same. who knows. Its better to be safe than sorry.
good luck. PS we have coyotes too. they have folowed me at a close range then just walked off when I got in my car. scarey but fun after the fact. the trick there is (I guess) is not to panic.
I know I got off the tract but what the heck(;