"Stephen Howard" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 8 Oct 2004 21:46:31 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"Stephen Howard" wrote in message


Dogs seem to be attracted by the smell ( as opposed to the
movement..of which there's not usually a lot ), and seem quite
happy
to sniff, bark and tentatively prod the hedgehog...the latter
being
something they only do a couple of times before the message sinks
in.

The hedgehog just rolls itself up and contemplates its navel.

This is good news. I reported in the way I did because when I
enquired from a hedgehog sanctuary whether they have any hedgehoga
to
spare, they stipulated that they would only let them go to folks
with
completely enclosed gardens and no dogs.

Presumably such animals that turn up in a sanctuary have suffered
some
sort of physical trauma - hence the need for the defence of an
enclosed garden...which is certainly and most definitely not the
hedgehog's natural environment.
I suspect too that such places are, quite rightly, somewhat cautious
about well-meaning Joe Publics ringing up asking for a brace of hogs
for the garden.

In any event, it's entirely possible to train dogs to leave
hedgehogs
alone ( should they not be discouraged by its considerable
defences ).

My problem is that, although we have no dogs, our garden is not
completely enclosed. I presume that that means the hogs could wander
out and into dangerous regions.

Franz