Help with release

[Johnb]

I have this problem, my two grey's that I released last week are not afraid of the dogs, they lived for 8 months in the house "caged" and the dogs were in the same house, big problem, my mistake. They are doing great outside, I have nesting boxes and they are adapting wonderfully except the dog issue. Any ideas ? I have been scaring them when I bring the dogs out and they will run back up the tree and bark at me, but if Im in the yard with the dog on a lead they tend to want to come visit the dog, who will for a fact try to kill them if he gets a chance.. maybe I need to just take the two squirrels to the woods and let them go there at least they wont parish by the dog killing them, I would however like to have them in my yard so I can enjoy watching them, Im very attached to them and my wife and I worked very hard with them from pinkies. I need some ideas or at least a few things to try to get them to be afraid of the dogs. Its really bad, they act like they want to walk right up to the dog and play ....sigh....Ideas anyone ?

[squirrel princess]

Big dilema there:thinking I would take them and their nest boxes to the woods since they are not afraid of the dogs:thumbsup I know it is going to be heartbreaking but what would be worse is seeing them harmed or worse by the dogs:shakehead

[Johnb]

Thanks for the feedback so far, I do have bells on the dogs, and the others I have released over the years know to run when they hear the bells, its these last two we released that are being stupid, I guess we had them in the house too long. I just took the dogs out again and shook and crumble large paper bags very loudly and they both ran up the tree and start chattering and barking at me, I think part of it is , I'm dad to them, we raised them from pinkies that could only have been two or three days old so they only know me to be good for them, so if they see me letting the dogs out it must be ok to them. I will just keep scaring the heck out of them for know until they figure it out , or end up being afraid of me also. It's too bad I have others in the yard that know the do's and don'ts with dogs and people yet still come up to visit me every morning for a treat. I hope to get these guys re directed soon, I will keep you posted on what may work in this situation. I have to get it figured out fairly soon before they venture out into the outer edge of the yard where my neighbors yards take over which one of them has two dogs, older dogs, yet they still chase the squirrels. Wish me luck...

[Johnb]

Its hard to say if it's me they are wanting to see, I know they come right down the tree and into the yard and come jogging up to me with the dog leashed and the dog barking and growling , they seem to have no problem with it, I will eventually test them with my older dog that can hardly see or hear anything.

[Mars]

Try a air horn. Every time they approach the dog let off a short blast of the horn. The neighbors will love you :D but the squirrels should learn to stay away.

[Johnb]

Try a air horn. Every time they approach the dog let off a short blast of the horn. The neighbors will love you :D but the squirrels should learn to stay away.
Great Idea, I will go get the air horn shortly, as far as the neighbors and what they think, well they don't think much of me anyway because of the other squirrels I have saved and released over the years tear up all of their stuff, oh well .... they will get over it in a 100 years or so...lol

[Loopy Squirrel]

I would try having your wife bring the dogs out and see their reaction. It sounds like they are coming to you and you are safe to them so they don't know to be scared of the dogs. We had to separate our yard w/stockade fence so one side is for the dogs and one side is for the squirrels. I put all their feeders & water on the one side.I always feed on that one side of the yard. Most don't venture on the other much mainly because the tree canope is on their side and that is what they travel across. I would try to have someone else take the dogs out if it turns out they are attracted to you. Maybe you should walk them around the neighborhood rather than your yard for a little while to break the connection w/ the squirrels. They probably will always want to come to you since your their mom but as they get older they will wean off you.

[Sciurus1]

Why not trying something to change the scent of your dogs. Squirrels are VERY scent sensitive, and that may help put them off coming near them. There is doggie perfume, of that I am sure, but perhaps some kind of coat conditioner, benefitial to dogs, with aloe, something that smells very different to the squirrels may do the trick.