My dog and hedgehogs

[Tilly2]

I love being in the garden in the twilight, watching the darkening sky and the bats flying amongst the trees. However, it gets spoiled by Tilly rampaging around the garden looking for hedgehogs, which she invariably finds.

She jumps around them, bashing them and then picks them up and tries to take them in the house. She has brought three in this summer. She drops them in her basket and then dances around saying 'Look what I've got'. How can I stop her doing this?

She goes even more potty when I tell her to leave them. I literally have to yank her away and put the poor thing back outside. She leaes everything else alone when I say @Leave' but not the hedgehogs>

[B00]

" How can I stop her doing this? "

Don't take her out in the garden at night???

[Tilly2]

She has to go out for a wee wee, Boo.

[B00]

Put her lead on her then.

Gotta say, i think it's mean when you know she does this, little things must be terrified.

[Tilly2]

I really had not thought about putting her lead on. That's a really good idea, as daft as that may sound. The hedgehogs don't come to any harm they just curl up into a ball and she is able to pick them up in her mouth.

[Prudie]

Oh no poor hedgehogs, they're quite rare these days too. Keep her on a lead or at least stay with her and a firm newspaper on the nose or something. Failing that borrow a porcupine, that'll teach her a lesson.

[B00]

No im not saying they'll get hurt, but they must be frightened.

[dotty.]

hedgehogs are flea ridden, hope you've treated tilly .

[askyourgran]

I was just about to say that dotty.

[Tilly2]

I used to belong to a wildlife rescue organisation and looked after injured, orphaned and underweight hedgehogs. I love hedgehogs and Tilly's behaviour drives me mad. Out previous Staffie did the same thing but our German Shepherds have never bothered with them. Believe me , I am just as concerned about the hedgehogs as you are. I also am concerned about Tily catching fleas and ticks from them.

[Jeza]

When i was a young child of about 9 or so (when kids could go to the park without adult supervision) I found a hedgehog and put it in my bag and took it home. I decided it must be cold so I put it on the hearth rug in front of the fire. I can still hear my mother's screams as the fleas started jumping around. She had the whole house fumigated even though Dad said that was a bit drastic. Boy did I suffer for that.

[seadogg]

My old terrier is fascinated by all creatures including hedgehogs but when they dont want to be nuzzled he wanders off. If he didnt I should folow Boo's advice I guess.

[Meg]

Lol at Jeza!! Meg dug up hibernating hedgehogs, gave them a sniff then walked away. Had to cover them up in leaves and bury them again, happy days!!