Will a hawk attack my maltese dog?

November 28, 2009 - 10:51 pm 14 Comments

I have noticed this hawk, I believe it is a Cooper Hawk, sitting in the trees in my back yard and wonder if it would attack my maltese dogs. They weight about 8-10 lbs.

Yes it is possible

14 Responses to “Will a hawk attack my maltese dog?”

  1. Maray Says:

    Possibly – why don’t you ask them.

    Seriously though, it is possible!
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  2. bellacavalier Says:

    Yes it is possible
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  3. IAMADOG Says:

    Not impossible.
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  4. jakebrink23 Says:

    no hawks go after field mice and other SMALL rodents, not huge dogs that are the same size as them

    after reading all of these other answers, i would consider shooting that hawk, you have a right to kill any animal that threatens your family
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  5. Mike Wood Says:

    If it has its nest near by it may
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  6. brenda4ever Says:

    http://www.dvrconline.org/raptorprof2.html#coopers%20hawk

    http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/ifwis/birds/coopers-hawk.html

    It’s very possible
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  7. Jenna C Says:

    yes, they can take lambs and rabbits so a little dog probobly woulnt be a problem.
    i have the same issue, when my puppies are very young i always go out with them, or you could buy a puppy pen and put a net or mesh over the top.
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  8. Stephanie Loves Sam Says:

    its entirely possible a friend of mine lives in arizona and their neighbor’s dog was taken by a hawk, they left it outside alone for about a minute while they answered the phone inside and the hawk swooped down and took the dog
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  9. gmcamaro97 Says:

    very possible, especially if the hawk has been forced from its natural habitat in search of food! If they are not common in your area, i would be concerned for the dog! Chances are it wont, but better safe then sorry.
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  10. II Says:

    We had a Yorkie once get taken by an owl. Quite traumatizing.
    It is possible
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  11. isis Says:

    i have a lot of chicken hawks around me (my 2 neighbors raise lots of chickens) and i had one swoop down towards my puppy when she was about 10 lbs. when i told my landlady about it she said one got her full grown cat a few years ago. she could only stand and watch as the cat fought and the hawk was forced to drop the cat.
    i know nothing about a Cooper Hawk, but i think all hawks are birds of prey.
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  12. joniboni Says:

    Well, it is a rather large species of Hawk and while it’s size makes a daunting appearance, especially if it is a female. The preferred diet is usually birds and small mammals.
    I guess it could choose to use your dog as a dinner entree;

    The bird is also known as a chicken hawk and they kill their prey by squeezing it with their feet by squeezing it repeatedly not by biting it.
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    http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Coopers_Hawk_dtl.html

  13. Rivka S Says:

    yes, absolutely. You need to keep your dog protected with a kennel type area with degraded gravel for pottying and a crate for refuge when the dogs go outside.

    The kennel should have a top. My suggestion would be tholl fencing that goes over the top and is on all four sides. That will protect your dogs who would be a tasty meal for the hawk who could very easily carry away one of your dogs. Depending on the size of the bird. They kill by squeezing and drowning.

    Keep in mind the Cooper’s Hawk is threatened and you will not be able to kill it yourself without getting in big trouble.
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  14. Giselle B Says:

    Yes, small dogs could be pray for a hungry hawk especially in the winter or during periods when natural pray is scarce. You cannot blame the bird, it’s just instinct. Take care of your dogs and don’t leave them alone in the back yard.
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