Dogs

[phldave]

I haven't read any comments on how martins react to dogs. I am interested because I have 2 labradors, one yellow and one black. I can understand how you would have to be careful during fledging, but how do martins take to dogs in general. My housing is actually in a fenced in garden area which will provide some protection to any chicks that may take a leap.

[John Miller]

Dogs are generally ignored by the martins. But...the dogs may get dive bombed when babies are near fledge age. If this is an unestablished site, I'd also be cautious about letting the dogs out when new martins are investigating. Once martins settle in, will be okay. John M

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

We have 2 dogs, and there is no problem. We do however try to keep the dogs away from the housing during fledging time (the dogs may go pick up the bird and harm it when it hits the ground). All dogs react differently, so you may have trouble with some dogs, while others will not bother the birds on the ground.

[Bulldog1]

We have dogs throughout my neighborhood that run through my yard. Next door there is a dog pen with hunting dogs that bark at anything. Neighborhood kid rides his four wheeler within 15-20 yards of my setup, no problems.

[flyin-lowe]

I think some of it depends on what the martins are used to. I had a cat at my old house and the martins never paid her any attention. I had to move out this year but I left the colony behind. The new owners also had a cat and the owner told me that the martins were always dive bombing his cats. The never once did that to mine.

Like the others have said, as long as you can keep an eye on the dogs during fledging time everything else should be OK.

[AidanRois]

I second all comments... They generally didn't care about my Colonel until it was fledging time, and they started divebombing him when he came 'too close' to the pole area. Other than that, they really didn't care about each other. We have no trouble at all.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

We have a black lab and my martins don't get upset when she's around. One day a stray entered our yard and went after the ducks in my pond, my martins were really upset with that.

[DebA]

I am out in the country and my martins are seemingly used to all sorts. My dogs have a fenced in back yard and a dog door that allows them access to the house. But not my martin area.

I have outside cats, which is controversial I know, and why I am nutso about misting and ice packing my houses to avoid jumpers. To this day in four seasons all of my fledglings have been accounted for and ok. The martins ignore the cats that come near. Yes, I know cats are a risk for sure, just as they are to mice. It's something I wrestle with, a couple of my loves that don't blend.

But what is fun to watch is when I am lowering houses my horses come right up on their side of the fence. To be near me. The martins will fly low and chatter but even then they seem used to them. When the houses are up the horses and goats occasionally stand right below and they don't mind at all. Last year I noticed how the horses seem to welcome the martins back and stand nearby for my earliest arrivals. They too are like, oh...you are back.

My two house poles are anchored to the fence line 4x4 post. Which is great for Kansas winds but not great for predator guards. We electrify the poles since we run a line along the fence top to keep the horses from reaching over and the goats from pushing under. It works.

[Fredmyyster]

I have 6 dogs, 4 Border Collies and 2 Heinz 57's and it appears the dogs dont notice the Martins and as though the Martins live happily.