How to catch unsocialized dog?

[Horsegal984]

There’s also a risk when heavily sedating a dog, even more so with a dog of unknown history and health status. Many vets will not be comfortable with that level of sedation in the field even if they are present. With a TNR program there’s no owner to cry and sue if the dog dies from sedation.

That’s what I was asking about ownership/age/health.

You’re best bet is time and a trap. Sorry to say but that’s going to be the least stressful and safest for all involved. If the dog is in a contained environment you can try using 6ft chain link fence panels and walking them in until he has nowhere to go but in a crate. Likely though the dog will just jump on top of the crate instead but some choose to hide instead of run.

[MsM]

Having worked in AC, we found oral sedatives not really useful in this situation. If the dog is near traffic, there is a risk of a groggy dog running into traffic - making you liable! Even with a very cooperative vet, we were never able to sedate a stray or feral dog enough to capture it.
Havahart traps, properly set and patience worked the best. It helps to leave the bait food just outside at first. Then just inside. Finally attach it in the back of the trap so the dog will try to pull it. We usually used good sized chunks of chicken. Good luck!

[Coyoteco]

I’m definitely still reading the thread and do appreciate the advice and information.

Today was a no-go because the dog didn’t come up for treats. (This resulted from a change in other things.) We’ll let that settle down and try again.
The dog is healthy, in a unconfined area with no traffic. He’s very smart and well fed - I see no chance of his going into a trap.

My current plan is to get him used to coming up for treats again (few days), put a sedative in the treat: then either 1) place a bottomless Dogloo over him, fit the crate next to the Dogloo door and pull him into the crate with a blanket that was placed into the Dogloo in advance, or 2) remove the bottom from a wire crate/cage, place the crate over him and slide the bottom under him (reinforced with plywood) and reattach the bottom.

Those are my current ideas but I am going to continue asking a local rescue and perhaps call the organizations mentioned in this thread.

I will not deal with local animal control for anything.

[Horsegal984]

I think you’re better off trying to accustom him to light touch and then getting a long slip lead around his neck. The minute the Dogloo spooks him it will take days to get close to him again.

[scierra]

What sedatives are you going to use?

My experience with ACE, just for an example of what can happen. Had. Rottie that had high arousal with any handling, no aggression though. At work, a humane society with full hospital, they had to give him An Ace cocktail to trim his nails and he still fought it. So I was giveen Ace to take home to see if it would work in a less stressful environment. To make a long story short, 4 Ace, stumbling dog, as soon as I tried to handle him, he was up and bouncing. Not a situation I would want with a dog not contained or one had no idea how it would handle being confined.

[Coyoteco]

My plan is contingent on the dog being pretty groggy so if he isn’t I wouldn’t try it.

I did find out that the vet is using ACE.

Hmmm…it remains a problem…

[GypsyQ]

Canned cat food makes a super-delicious-extra-wonderful treat for most dogs. Can you remove his food source or reduce it for a day or two, then hit him up with aced cat food?

[scierra]

I just used the issues with my dog as an example of what can happen with tranqs. He was a special boy. He had a lot of behaviors that pointed to autism, if he had been a person. So just be aware that all might not be as easy as having a groggy dog who then can be caught. As groggy as Archie would get, as soon as a noise or handling came into the picture his arousal went up. And he was a social dog in his own way.

[Nicker]

I would try a dog trap long before attempting a sedative, you don’t know if the sedative will even work or if the dog will have a reaction. We have ACO’s trained in chemical capture and that is an absolute LAST resort. Bait the dog trap with a big stinky cheeseburger, cover it and wait. How is the dog “well fed”? Is someone else in the area feeding the dog?

WTA-I do not trust ACE to do anymore then take the edge off. I was injured by a horse that one minute was close to dropping and the next trying to stomp me like a bug. If this dog is that scared he will blow right through it.

[Horsegal984]

OP- I don’t know if it would work, but if you begged borrowed and pleaded with the vet would he be willing to dispense oral Valium to you? Typically (TBH my experience is mostly with injectable) but it makes animals ravenously hungry so they would be far more likely to go into a trap for food, even if they’re not normally hungry.

[independentlyawesome]

What kind of crate do you have?

If this is truly a feral dog, it can break out of a wire crate in no time flat. My dog, who is just an ordinary mutt, can break out of one of those in about a minute if she gets upset.