Just thought I'd share this story of a bit of a close call I had with a dog and swans a couple of years ago...
I was at a local nature reserve and was in the area where there were several ponds. As I was walking along a family of swans started coming straight towards me so I sat down on the grass as I wasn't sure which way they were going to go and figured I'd be best off sitting still until they passed. They walked straight passed me, the male looked really impressive that close but then he lifted his head and hissed! I was a bit nervous at this point as SOMETHING had upset him, and it wasn't me! Slowly, I stood up to see what it was that had bothered him and spotted a dog running towards where we were. Now, I'm a dog owner myself and have no problem with dogs as long as they are under control and are not taken into dog-free zones. In this instance, the dog was off the lead, in a dog free zone (and there was a warning on the gate that the swans had young with them!) and was heading towards the swan family with the owners trailing behind oblivious to the fact that there were two adult swans with young cygnets and a male swan who was not at all happy about it!
I moved passed the male swan and towards the dog (which hadn't noticed the swans) and took the chance at greeting the dog and lightly taking hold of it's collar to stop it continuing onwards because the male swan seemed to have no intention of shifting! As the owners came up I told them that the swan family was just around the corner and they quickly put the dog on the lead. Of course, it could have been a very different situation and I would have hated to think that the swans or the dog might have ended up injured because someone couldn't be bothered to follow the rules or take consideration that there was a family of swans there.
Spoilt my nice moment with the swans too! It was the closest I'd ever got to a family of swans without them wanting food!
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Very scary, swans scare me often, I like to keep my 'respectable distance'.
Many years ago on a boating holiday in the Norfolk Broads, I was feeding a family of swans from the open part of the boat. The Cob came up on the boat to take the bread from me (whole slices that I was breaking up), completely freaked me out and I'll never do that again.
Whilst feeding swans now I will run if they come up on to the edge of the pool,pond, river or canal. It must be awful to be attacked by one. A duck bite is bad enough let alone something that big.
I know what you mean about dogs and swans - they don't mix! I've seen it when I have been walking round the pools, the dog would come scurrying past and some time later the owners turn the corner.
Most dogs are just nosey and want to say hello, but that can be quite nasty especially against a swan!
I've experienced it the other way round when I have been out with my Westie, Bobby. He is never off his lead and has one of those retractable ones instead and has had one all his 11 year life. Well we've been up the pools and given the swans a very wide berth but it doesn't stop them coming at us and hissing! I put it down to him being a white dog though, as I've seen them just watch other dogs.
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Hi KatTai
Glad that all was alright with the Swan and the Dog. The outcome could have been so different and you would have witness to the event. Nature Reserves are not really places for dogs for them to run about, bark, and scare the wildlife.
Last year, I was walking myself around Bedford Park. A Spaniel type dog was off its lead and 'openly' harassing a Swan - nipping the Swans legs etc... The bird was getting more and more stressed out. The dog owner did nothing at all to stop the dog misbehaving as it did. He just laughed and thought it was funny {not happy with that attitude}
The outcome could have been so different and the dog really hurt as the Swan would have been pushed to its limits, snapped, and who can blame it.
I feel that dogs and wildlife never get along, and Dogs and Swans with young less so. Swans simply do not like dogs no matter what time of year it is. It will take a major event one day and then dogs will have to be kept on a lead in all parks, Reserves, and all public places.
Simple answer to the problem - keep dogs on leads at all times.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Could say the same about children though! They run about, make a load of noise and chase and sometimes even cause injury to wildlife and the owners of those children do nothing. It isn't the dogs (or the children) that are the problem it is the attitude of the people that are responsible for them.
I certainly don't agree that dogs should be on the lead at all times, they need to run around and explore and there is no way I'm joining my dog for a swim in the river lol She drove me mad when she had to be on the lead for 10 days after being spayed, her energy just kept building up and building up while I was struggling to stop her jumping around. She had a really mad race around the park once she was off the lead again. But people should be sensible as to where they let their dog off the lead to run about. There are places for running around like mad, but there are places for on lead/heel walking. Not to mention she loves playing with other dogs in the park, and none would be able to play together if they were on the lead.
I've never had a problem with dogs and swans either, I've fed the swans and ducks with my old dog there at various locations and they couldn't care less about each other. Couldn't do that with my current dog though because she'd jump in after the bread lol
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True with children too. Maybe that is the birdwatching part of me coming out on the posting on this particular thread.
On another one of my Forums there is a lot of debate about dogs v's birds in nature reserves and it can get a little 'strained' at times. Some birdwatchers are of a mind set that dogs disturb birds/nesting birds, and that is how it is viewed.
Only today I was at one of my main parks, and two dogs started to fight one another right in front of us. This was a large mixed breed, and a little Dachshund.
Not so nice for spectators to see all the dog hair, teeth, and fur flying about. Both dogs where not on leads.
The owners of the mixed breed dog did nothing but stand there not doing anything to stop the fight.
The owner of the Dachshund did all of her best to protect her own dog.
Not so good.
KatTai said: Could say the same about children though! They run about, make a load of noise and chase and sometimes even cause injury to wildlife and the owners of those children do nothing.
Could say the same about children though! They run about, make a load of noise and chase and sometimes even cause injury to wildlife and the owners of those children do nothing.
I couldn't agree more. There should be notices up saying "children must be kept on leads at all times"
As for swans ... on one of our narrow boat holidays we were moored up having breakfast one morning, sharing our toast with a huge swan. Hubby gave it his last bit of toast and then turned his back on it. The swan bit him right in the middle of his back. I'm afraid I was too busy laughing to do anything about it!!! Now that swan was just vicious and angry because we had run out of food. He wasn't protecting either himself or any cygnets.
I'm not getting into the dogs v. wildlife debate.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
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Hi there
Swans eat vegetable matter, some insects and small molluscs. All the vegetable matter grows in the water and that is their 'natural' diet
Toast and human food is not part of their diet at all
Adults are similar size-wise. They are always the same or very similar size.
I watch out for the local Swans where I stay, and report their ring numbers for records. They never give me any grief whatsoever.
Never known a vicious Swan yet in my own experience.
They get a bit rough with each other through the mating season and that is all. That is nature doing things naturally as it should do.
Considering what people have said about dogs and swans, I'm wondering if its my Bobby's colour that means they're more defensive around him - even if we're further away and not paying any attention to them.
Maybe being white they see him as some sort of threatening swan, lol!
Hi Paul E
True about the white colour of your dog - it could be that the Swans see white as a threatening colour
Never thought of that at all - interesting
Hi Paul,
You could be right about Bobby being regarded as another swan!!!
Hi Blackbird,
I know that swans eat vegetable matter from the water, also insects and sometimes small frogs and fish. According to the RSPB they can also be fed with grain, lettuce and potato, and a small amount of bread (which is made from grain) does them no harm, as with most birds, unless it is all they get. Providing it is given as an occasional treat, it is fine. This particular swan deliberately bit my husband for no reason whatsoever. Maybe it had a headache and was feeling grumpy!!!! However, it is well known they can be aggressive and that angy swans should be avoided.