anything less that 4.5 lbs is not an actual dog. :jester:

Hooooo boy...

I thought his credentials sounded very credible. I think he should know what he's talking about with 15 years' experience with raptors, not to mention hunting with these big birds.

That said, there are too many other things to get to your dog and cat in the yard--snakes and ants, for example. Alligators if you yard isn't walled...

I wouldn't let a Pom or a cat out of my sight outside. (And I'm sure you don't.)

Thanks for the reply, Spicy and JBlum. I don’t worry about my Borzoi (Russian Wolfhounds) jumping the 6’ fence. I was worried about being pecked by large birds or maybe a coyote getting in and them having to fight one. I think if they had to they could defend themselves, although they would probably have to do it together and not be happy about it. It’s not something they are accustomed to doing (hunting). I do worry about their safety. I would love people to meet them. They are a lovely breed and, like everyone else, we love to share our dogs with dog lovers. There are so many people from TOTV that w can’t wait to meet. When we finally do make it down, I do hope to meet you. I know you will love them also (be prepared for a big white head to land in your lap!)

please see new thread, was your pet injured in tv by a wild animal...if yours were injured, it would be huge news...and we'd all be talking about it for years.
so far there is only one truly concerning event, which involves a small dog around a backyard pond with a gator in it.

Yes, I would love to meet them...they look beautiful in your picture. Our pugs also will be in anyone's lap, as that is what they were bred for. They have new met a stranger !!!

Another one who would love to meet your Borzois. Love the breed! They really are sweet dogs. Your biggest worry would be fire ants. Snakes would run away unless absolutely trapped. Coyotes really don't care to go after things bigger than they are and, let's face it, Borzois are not small dogs. Raptors don't go and just randomly attack something large -- it would have to be seen as a threat to their nest or in the way of some real prey. They should do fine with a doggy door so long as they get chances to run and get some real exercise (unless you have a corner lot with a very large yard, they will need lots of exercise here).

People keep mentioning fire ants....How bad are they? Do they cause problems for dogs or is it a rare event?

They can be if they get out of control in your yard, but there mounds are easily noticeable because they are huge, and you can take care of them quickly with special fire ant killer available at hardware and drug stores.

lovsthosebigdogs - what on earth does a dog door for a Borzoi look like??? I am imagining something like a garage door with an automatic opener!:loco:

fire ants hurt when they bite. on my feet I get a tiny blister which heals quicker if I pop it. these are not killer ants that swarm all over you and leave you a skeleton. In the yard they first make a small mound that you can put amdro on to kill them before it gets huge. my dog got a bite once on a walk and yipped. I know cuz I got one too.
I wouldn't say it's rare, but it's not a big deal either and you can keep them mostly off your own turf.

I have a 25 lb. dog. When the weather permits, she stays out back in our CYV. She loves to chase the lizards. I don't worry about snakes; most of them don't want to slither across concrete to get in your yard. I grew up in the south; most animals are as scared of you as you are of them UNLESS you leave food of any kind where animals can get it. Then all bets are off.

We had a pet door put in our lanai on a side so our dog could get into the shade and also when the weather allows, we open our sliders, and she can go in and out as she chooses.

My, my!
The things we find to worry about. Certainly it is in the realm of possibility that a large hawk could swoop down and carry off a small dog or cat. But just how likely is such a happenstance?? After all, poor Fido might wander outside and be struck by lightning. Never heard of it happening but it is a possibility. Or an errant asteroid might enter the Earth's atmosphere and pulverize an innocent pet who is just minding their own business in the fenced back yard of a court yard villa.
I'd much rather just live what's left of my life, and not let it be governed by FEAR.

Bonnie, I didn't say anything about other animals, Just raptors. Your 6 pound cat would be more of a threat to the raptor, especially if it is a female.

Info on Fire Ants
 

I'm doing better with this after the help from my dear TOTV friends who are the voice of reason. And GOMOHO, a doggy door for a big dog isn’t really all that big. They scrunch down and squeeze through like a mouse through a dime hole. It’s teaching them to do it that’s interesting. They are tall but narrow as you can see.