Help with pesky raccoons

Uncle Timbo

Uncle Timbo

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Nov 23, 2005
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I'm thinking about getting a dog. I've always said that if I ever did, I would go to the shelter and give one a good home, but....

I'm thinking I want one that'll run off some raccoons. I don't want a coon dog that will bark alot. I'd rather have one that would just keep them away semi quietly.
If I go to the pound, I might get one that doesn't care one way or the other about raccoons. Can most be trained?

Give me some thoughts on the matter and no, I don't want to dispatch them. Just make my place an undesirable place for them. Any ideas besides a dog?

Help me ol wise ones. My dad is no longer with us so I turn to you, my friends.
 
I had a Husky mix that hardly ever bark'd and she would kill coons, groundhogs, possums...
 
Racoons can and will kick the everliving crap out of any dog that is in that kind of aggressive but dumb category. Racoons are also super smart, so they will avoid the dog at first, and learn what they can get away with. A dog aggressive enough to take on racoons will probably be high maintenance as far as training, possible injuries, and space requirements. Can you look after a dog that learns it can kill whatever it wants? Coons, skunks, and neighborhood cats are all the same to a dog. Some dogs easily get a kill instinct, huskies, dobies and rotties are well known (I know these can be great dogs, but we have to be realistic, lots of lines of these dogs are very aggressive when on the hunt.) I had friends in school that had coon hunting rottie mixes. however those dogs took a lot of work to keep in line, and they were under no illusions that at any time they may have had to put them down. Unfortunately, coons will eventually outsmart any non-killer dog, leaving you with the problem you originally had.

I'm not saying its a bad idea, I am saying it's not an easy idea.

Trap and relocate might be logistically simpler. Or just live with them. Are they causing damage?
 
A little more info is needed. Are they just going through your garbage or have they taken up residence under your porch, attic, or out buildings? The solution depends on the type of your racoon problem.
 
We have raccoons that get into the goldfish pond in the backyard.
For years our old german shepard and our mixed breed terrier kept them out of the yard.
When the dogs got old they couldn't be bothered (they passed at 13 1/2 and 17 years old)
In march we got two 3 1/2 year old rescue dogs (husky/jack russell crosses), they do fine chasing the raccoons away.
None of these dogs bother cats or other animals (terrier was a great ratter though) except they hate squirrels as well
 
An Airedale Terrier will get rid of Raccoons and will do so instinctively without the need for any training. A great family dog but they do like killing critters !!!
 
I went and shot one at my brothers place on Sunday. They're tough.

Do you live in the city or in the country?
 
Set wire traps or try poisons IMO, training a dog just to fend off raccoon's can become high maintenance, like others have stated. Besides, you don't know if the raccoon's have rabies or not.
 
'coons can be rough on dogs. I find it much easier to shoot them. Use a bow in town, .22 Mag on the farm.
 
If they're getting in your garbage pour a little bit of bleach on the top..That will keep them out of the trash..CD
 
I adopted a Schnauzer/Akita mix from the pound, over the last 10 years he's killed about 20 coons and 25+ feral cats. Doesn'nt bark at home. I cant think of a better deterrant than a good dog for coons, even if he just chases them off. start setting up traps with bait and you'll attract more coons then you kill. Shooting them is great if you can see them, most the time its at night and you cant see a thing, but a dog can. I say go to the pound and pick out pup.
 
I grew up with Rotties, they will take care of anything in the yard. Coons, porcupines, cats, coyotes, deer, you name it. They are great family dogs if trained properly and socialized young. One of the Rotties we had actually killed a few porcupines by going through the quills on top, not smart, but tough as hell!
 
Trap and relocate might be logistically simpler. Or just live with them.
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Keep in mind that if you get a Dog that you plan on caring for, you are going to have to make sure it has its shots, and unless you want other issues it will probably cost you to have it spade/neutered..unless you really just want a dog, the trap/relocate will be cheaper/easier in the long run + you'll have a trap or 2 on standby for the next time.
 
I got this blue tick hound named Sasha that's a fine coon dog. She doesn't bark much, but if you get a blue tick, prepare to meet the laziest breed of dog you've ever seen.
 
German wirehair, they go scary crazy on kritters in there yard and are great family dogs, not always that quiet though.

Whatever you decide on there's a lot of breed specific rescue organizations out there.

As for keeping them away you just need to keep your area clear of food and shelter for them. So keep the trash cans in the garage, don't feed wild life, and seal off potential den locations. They'll likely still visit but it'll help.

Good luck
 
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Adventure Wolf said:
I got this blue tick hound named Sasha that's a fine coon dog. She doesn't bark much, but if you get a blue tick, prepare to meet the laziest breed of dog you've ever seen.
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They aren't lazy when it is time to hunt. We keep one for a pet and hunt her every now and then just for kicks. Those who hunt them hard and feed them to keep them up never have them laying around. If anyone is thinking that a coon hound is an easy dog to train and keep don't go get one on a whim, they are knot headed and usually loud voiced. They also tend to do what pleases them and as long as you ask them to do something they like they will be happy to obey....or they will take off after their own idea of fun and see you later or never. They are fun but not for someone who is looking for low maintenance. Sasha maybe is less hot wired for hunt drive, most lines are bred to hunt and that's their real joy in life. They do get wrapped around your heart after you work the puppy foolishness out of them.
 
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