Witness a Dog Defend Its Best Buddy Against an Abnormally Large Eagle

Alaska has plenty of amazing animals. Most people think of bears, moose, or whales when they think of animals holding their own in a fight in the Last Frontier. But the video below shows a normal pet dog defending another by going toe-to-claw with an eagle.

The clip we are referring to in the video below captures multiple examples of eagles and animals engaged in fights. The specific one is clip #6 at 5:12 minutes shot from inside looking out to a paved road where two dogs are playing. The eagle is on the ground in a mild tussle with one of the dogs. Shouldn’t eagles be up in the air? Normally that is true. But the valiant protector thwarted this eagle’s plan to snatch its sister for lunch.

Don’t Miss This Heroic Dog in the Video Below

The dark grey dog is in the eagle’s talons at the beginning of the clip. Normally the eagle would just swoop down quickly to pick up the smaller animal. But for some reason, this eagle is on the ground. The dog squirms, knocking the eagle onto its back.

The other dog, tan and similarly sized, takes the chance to nip at the eagle’s wings. The dog defends its sister. Distracted momentarily, the eagle lets go of the grey dog long enough for her to wiggle free and escape. The two dogs run off. Left preyless, the eagle sits on the road for a moment. The bird of prey looks almost dazed as he processes what just happened.

Dogs are known for their guarding tendencies, although not all breeds or individual dogs react the same. We’re sure this dog was happy that her sibling reacted so quickly to come to her aid. Not only did the dog defend its home turf, but it also made sure that they didn’t become lunch for the hungry eagle.

Is it Normal Behavior For Dogs to Attack Eagles?

Although it’s not a common occurrence and it is rare when it does happen, there are times when a dog might have to defend itself against a hungry eagle, hawk, or owl.

Eagles pose a similar threat to small pets as venomous reptiles and arachnids. Their talons can strike with a force of 400 pounds per square inch, and their high-speed dives of over 100 miles per hour make their attacks swift and alarming.

It’s important to remember that these birds are predators and should be recognized as such. The good news is there are some ways to keep your pets safe while outdoors.

Here are a few tips:

• Keep your furry friends indoors at night
• Keep an eye on them when outside
• If you have a dog run, you can cover it with mesh
• Using a lease can also aid in safety
• Avoid hiking or walking in areas where these birds are prevalent if possible

What Do Eagles Normally Eat?

Fish and small animals are an eagle’s food of choice most of the time. Eagles love to go after salmon and other similar fish. They are the right size and are easy to snatch from the water or land. We have to imagine that they taste good to these large birds of prey as well. Small dogs and cats often fall prey to birds like eagles or hawks. In this case, the dog was lucky that her sibling was there to distract the eagle on the hunt long enough for both dogs to get away.

Is It Normal for a Dog to Defend Against an Eagle?

Small animals are more vulnerable to eagles than larger ones. While a dog defending against an eagle attack may not be the norm, it isn’t out of the question for a dog of this size to be snatched up.

Eagles possess a few key features that make them perfectly adapted to hunt prey. First, they have strong, powerful wings that let them swoop down and back up quickly. Their prey is often snatched up without suspecting a thing. Second, their sharp talons and beaks keep their prey right where they want them. In this instance, the eagle let go of the dog, who got away.

It’s possible that this is a younger, less experienced eagle. Most of the time, their prey is held tight in their talons and unable to wiggle free. Third, eagles have superior sight and hearing. This makes them excellent hunters since they can track and go after prey under just about any conditions.

This dog should count themselves lucky that they didn’t end up on the menu for this hungry eagle. We love this show of bravery as well as the bond that the two dogs clearly share.