Monster Quest on mystery dogs

kidflash2008 · 07-30-2009, 10:22 AM

Monster Quest did an episode on mystery dog attacks in Maine and Minnesota. Feral dogs do not hunt, but scavenge food off of us humans. One woman took a picture of the mystery dog and kept the carcass. DNA testing confirmed it was a domestic dog, and that seems to be what the mystery dogs are. Their behavior and look is different from regular pet dogs, and some think there could be a different type of dog out there.

It was interesting, but the answer to this mystery is obvious. People sometimes mistake wolverines (who are also nocturnal) for dogs. Mangy coyotes and wolves also get photographed and they do look like they are not what they really are. The attack on the horse is scary, and it does show that these animals need to be either culled or controlled in some other way.

Talisyn · 08-24-2009, 03:38 PM

feral dog's would only scavenge until they discovered the ease of attacking and killing prey. Wolves, hyinas and other canine sub-species all hunt and kill, some domestic dogs are trained to hunt. What stops a dog going feral and learning to hunt?

kidflash2008 · 08-25-2009, 11:35 AM

Monster Quest did another show on feral dogs in cities. Many of the dog breeds are not built for hunting and would starve if they were left to fend for themselves. Eating garbage and scavenging is their only hopes for survival. It is a very bleak outlook for many breeds if the owners decide to abandon them (which is the majority of the cases).

You are correct that most hunting is instinct in the dogs. Many of the wolf type breeds would have a better hand at hunting and survival. Bulldogs (the snoot is flat), dachshunds (too low) and other breeds would not be able to hunt very good because of the way they are built. Scavenging is actually easier than killing the prey, and most predators will practice some amount of scavenging. There are only a few animals that only eat fresh kill (cheetahs are among them).

After seeing the second show on feral dogs, I am convinced the dogs in the other episode are the same. Mange and other diseases make them look like mutants or an unknown creature.

Talisyn · 08-27-2009, 03:28 AM

i wasn't saying they only ate what they killed, i was pointing out the flawed statement that a feral dog wouldn't hunt. It is perfectly reasonable to assume a larger breed would attack a person if it was hungry enough, theres more than enough domestic dog attacks to support this. Also most dog breeds where breed for a specific role in hunts just because now they are treated as fashion accessories doesn't mean they were bred for that purpose, dachhunds for example

Quote:

the standard size was developed to scent, chase, and flush badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature was developed to hunt smaller prey, like rabbits.

and

Quote:

bulldogs were used for bullbaiting (as well as bearbaiting)--a gambling sport popular in the 17th century with wagers laid while trained bulldogs leapt at a bull lashed to a post. The bulldog's typical means of attack included latching onto the animal's snout and attempting to suffocate it.[4]

However, the bulldog's early role was not limited to sport. In mid-17th century New York, bulldogs were used as a part of a city-wide round-up effort led by governor Richard Nicolls. Because cornering and leading wild bulls was dangerous, bulldogs were trained to seize a bull by its nose long enough for a rope to be secured around its neck.

both quotes from wowwiki.

kidflash2008 · 08-27-2009, 11:43 AM

While the dogs were bred for specific hunting needs, they would not be able to survive in the wild. There is a good program on the History Channel called "Life Without People" that did an episode about pets. Many dogs would not survive without us.

The point I am trying to get across is people should not abandon their pets thinking they can survive on their own. That is the reason most animals get abandoned because some former owner thinks they will do just fine in the wild.

Talisyn · 08-28-2009, 03:39 AM

Well theres a bit of a difference from a feral dog and a pet thats just been dumped in the street/woods.

A feral animal is an animal thats basicly broken it domestication and gone wild, if it's a pet thats been abandoned it's a stray not a feral.

kidflash2008 · 08-28-2009, 10:39 AM

No matter what happened, it is no life for those dogs. Many will have to be destroyed as they carry many diseases. It is a sad day that people still abandon their supposed best friends.

kidflash2008 · 08-28-2009, 10:40 AM

My dogs are able to catch squirrels and rats, but they would never survive in the wild. I could not even imagine abandoning them to such a cruel fate.

Talisyn · 08-29-2009, 01:16 AM

Well you seem to think that as I'm saying its possible for a domestic dog to go fully feral and survive, that i condone the abandonment of animals.

Just to set you right i think its a disgusting way to treat an animal that in most cases would freely give it's life to protect its owner. In my opinion it is a prime example about what is wrong with the human race.

kidflash2008 · 08-29-2009, 01:17 PM

Talisyn, I do not think you in any way condone the abandonment of any pets. I just wanted others to be clear that survival in the wild is rough for a domesticated animal.

I am sorry if I implied otherwise.

07-30-2009, 10:22 AM	#1
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,699	Monster Quest on mystery dogs Monster Quest did an episode on mystery dog attacks in Maine and Minnesota. Feral dogs do not hunt, but scavenge food off of us humans. One woman took a picture of the mystery dog and kept the carcass. DNA testing confirmed it was a domestic dog, and that seems to be what the mystery dogs are. Their behavior and look is different from regular pet dogs, and some think there could be a different type of dog out there. It was interesting, but the answer to this mystery is obvious. People sometimes mistake wolverines (who are also nocturnal) for dogs. Mangy coyotes and wolves also get photographed and they do look like they are not what they really are. The attack on the horse is scary, and it does show that these animals need to be either culled or controlled in some other way.

08-25-2009, 11:35 AM	#3
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,699	Monster Quest did another show on feral dogs in cities. Many of the dog breeds are not built for hunting and would starve if they were left to fend for themselves. Eating garbage and scavenging is their only hopes for survival. It is a very bleak outlook for many breeds if the owners decide to abandon them (which is the majority of the cases). You are correct that most hunting is instinct in the dogs. Many of the wolf type breeds would have a better hand at hunting and survival. Bulldogs (the snoot is flat), dachshunds (too low) and other breeds would not be able to hunt very good because of the way they are built. Scavenging is actually easier than killing the prey, and most predators will practice some amount of scavenging. There are only a few animals that only eat fresh kill (cheetahs are among them). After seeing the second show on feral dogs, I am convinced the dogs in the other episode are the same. Mange and other diseases make them look like mutants or an unknown creature. Last edited by kidflash2008; 08-25-2009 at 11:36 AM. Reason: corrected punctuation

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08-24-2009, 03:38 PM	#2
Talisyn Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 188	feral dog's would only scavenge until they discovered the ease of attacking and killing prey. Wolves, hyinas and other canine sub-species all hunt and kill, some domestic dogs are trained to hunt. What stops a dog going feral and learning to hunt?

08-27-2009, 11:43 AM	#5
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,699	While the dogs were bred for specific hunting needs, they would not be able to survive in the wild. There is a good program on the History Channel called "Life Without People" that did an episode about pets. Many dogs would not survive without us. The point I am trying to get across is people should not abandon their pets thinking they can survive on their own. That is the reason most animals get abandoned because some former owner thinks they will do just fine in the wild.

08-28-2009, 03:39 AM	#6
Talisyn Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 188	Well theres a bit of a difference from a feral dog and a pet thats just been dumped in the street/woods. A feral animal is an animal thats basicly broken it domestication and gone wild, if it's a pet thats been abandoned it's a stray not a feral.

08-28-2009, 10:39 AM	#7
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,699	No matter what happened, it is no life for those dogs. Many will have to be destroyed as they carry many diseases. It is a sad day that people still abandon their supposed best friends.

08-28-2009, 10:40 AM	#8
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,699	My dogs are able to catch squirrels and rats, but they would never survive in the wild. I could not even imagine abandoning them to such a cruel fate.

08-29-2009, 01:16 AM	#9
Talisyn Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 188	Well you seem to think that as I'm saying its possible for a domestic dog to go fully feral and survive, that i condone the abandonment of animals. Just to set you right i think its a disgusting way to treat an animal that in most cases would freely give it's life to protect its owner. In my opinion it is a prime example about what is wrong with the human race.

08-29-2009, 01:17 PM	#10
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,699	Talisyn, I do not think you in any way condone the abandonment of any pets. I just wanted others to be clear that survival in the wild is rough for a domesticated animal. I am sorry if I implied otherwise.