Devon, this design is ingenious! I am actively involved in rescue and have used traps, trail cameras, snappy snares, catch poles and nets but all of these aren't particular good for skittish dogs. Although this is a lot of work on the front end, I could have used this at least a dozen times this year. I'm going to your website now to get the parts list. Thank you for all you do to help these animals in need!
I was trying to figure out a way to catch BrokenLegs outside my yard and was really surprised to watch you on the video Devon.I am planning to build something similar to this soon.It is great to see a valued friend here again.Thank you Siyami.
First off, I just want to say thank you! Second, I want to say thank you! Third off, I appreciate Ya'll sharing your experience with the rest of the world! This design is absolutely amazing plus it is practical for more than just dags. Do you like dags. I like dags. However, ***cough cough** this trap's design can be used for more then just dags. My buddy loved this video so much he built one for a feral hog that has been wrecking havoc. The feral hog tore up a few gardens and killed my neighbors mastiff. The feral hog could actually identify traps and was VERY skiddish. He trapped it with the Missy trap and found the owner of the hog. Now the owner faces damages. Eh it is what it is!
Just a couple of things left off of the materials list, the two Gate Latches and the T-Hinge for the trigger arm. Also I had trouble finding enough steel spring clips at my local home improvement stores so I went to a local Northern Tool store and they had plenty of all sizes. I purchased the 3/8" ones at $1.29 each.
A suggestion: while the regular pliers will work to close the links back up, an inexpensive pair of 'hog nose ring' pliers will be much easier and less likely to 'bite' the operator.
Be sure to see our tutorial on building the latest version! It's a lot easier to make and has been substantially improved since this first version. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yuyiGsqLVPs.html
Great job I have to build one of these for my backyard who is I can't cash the doggie that I caught once before and I have to get a collar and Leash on her and I don't know how I'm going to get inside of that catcher to be able to do that maybe I could crawl in through that doorway
We live in heavy wooded area. A week ago one of our dogs chased a deer. We searched for a week and thanks to FaceBook some one finally spotted her. Now the issue is she is frightened major scared. Every time we see her she is more then 100 yards away. Even though she stops to look at us she then runs. I have been awake for 24 hours researching on how to catch a frightened run away dog. All the live traps we have are small like for raccoons. We are going to make your trap right now and put our cameras around it and Praying she will go in since its been a week on the run from other animals and people. I will return with an update in a few days. Praying we can get her and bring her back home. Thanks for sharing your video with details on how to make this.
Lynn, we'd be happy to coach you in the building and use of the Missy Trap. Please go to our website and theretrievers.org and click on Request Assistance to get started.
Ive got a lost domesticated dog in the area. It's been 5 days and hes trap shy. Ive done everything youve recommended. Are there different types of traps or techniques you recommend? Thank you.
Hi, Brent. Conditioning a dog to enter a trap is basically about increasing motivation and decreasing fear. You could try increasing motivation by using different kinds of baits. Sometimes a toy/stuffed animal will motivate a dog where food won't. Usually, though, we have to decrease fear by dismantling most of the trap and re-introducing the dog to it when it's in a less threatening form. Start with enough panels to form an open "U" at the back of the trap. Put the food bowl a couple feet in front of it. If the dog is comfortable eating there, then add another panel on both sides while inching the bowl toward the back of the trap. This can take days or even a couple of weeks, depending on the dog's reluctance. If at any time the dog balks, then back up a step. If you're using the original design with the drop gate, the most challenging point will be getting the dog to walk under the gate. We can help you through this better if you want to open a case with us and consult by phone. It's free. www.theretrievers.org/request-assistance/
GREAT TRAP IDEA, I am having problems with dogs chasing my ponies day and night. I will be making this trap. I'll probably modify it a little. thanks bunches
Needing some clarification on the 2x2s. in the video you say cut them all the 67 inches but it displays on the screen 2 at 67 and 1 at 80. Please clarify which is correct. Also, if it is 67,67 & 80. When putting the trap together at the site, which board is the 80inch? tia!
Go by the titles. There should be 2 67" boards and 1 80". The two shorter boards form an X at the back of the trap. The longer one braces the widest part of the trap. See the assembly starting at 33:15.
Thanks for sharing this video and helping people all around the world to catch dogs in order to bring them back to their owners. We are also going to build one and right now i'm starting to make the gate and that is why i have a question or two. At 13:04 you can see that you have 20cm at the right side and 40cm at the left. I wonder why you don't put it in the middle? (there probably is a good reason that i missed) At 18:47 you see the gate close and there it became clear why i was struggeling with the measurements (the panels that i have are slightly different). On the left side the door is 10cm wider than the gate, but on the right side there is no overlap, is that on purpose, and if so, why? Thanks again! Regards, Fred. (The Netherlands)
The overlap gives the gate a backstop for more security. You could put an overlap on both sides, but we didn't find it necessary. By the way, we are now using a sideswing gate, which eliminates the threshhold and overhang, which some dogs object to. To find more information about our 3rd Generation Missy Trap, just Google "Retrievers" and "Missy Trap". Our resources page should be right at the top of the results. We have videos and other information on how to build the new design.
I wanted to touch base. We had a chihuahua run off, into a forested area, and we tried so many things to catch her. We used live traps, she wouldn't go in them. I finally came to RU-vid in an attempt to build my own, I found your video. She's much much smaller, so we built a smaller version, but I used your technology. We placed it Sunday, she took the bait Tuesday. 18 days after running off. Thank You Thank You! Her capture video can be seen here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8WIiJrP55-4.html
That is such great news! Love how you had the bait up on the kennel. That's an uncomfortable position for a small dog, so she was bound to pull it down. Great work. :) BTW, what kind of camera were you using?
The Retrievers - We had tasty raw meat sealed inside the small kennel, for smell. It was just a knockoff GoPro. I was lucky she came within the hour, I think the camera has a two hour battery
How long do you estimate it takes for someone to create the trap for the first time? We have an Akita at large in a heavily wooded neighborhood, she’s often spotted but she bolts.
It can be done in a day. Instead of cutting the panels, you can also buy a premade 4x8 kennel and adapt it by putting latches on the gate. For an Akita, we'd recommend adding two extra panels per side to increase the length to 12'. Also, if you use a kennel, you'll need to work out a different way to close the gate, as it will be a sideswing door instead of a gravity drop. We use a Raytripper triggering system. We have tutorials on RU-vid showing how to build one of those. Or you can open a case with the Retrievers and we will loan you one.
The latest information about the Missy trap, including an updated design and full parts list, can be found on the Retrievers website. Google Retrievers Lost Dog Team and click on the Resources tab.
Thanks for posting this! Our flighty rescue escaped and eluded us for more than a month. We caught her with a Missy Trap and could not be happier. Here's the blog post about her. facebook.com/notes/arctic-rescue-southwest/misty/1071307799666256/
do you have any recommendations for how to retrieve a dog from the trap who has been stray for many months, possibly over a year. We are getting close to trapping an elusive boxer. We don't feel it is aggressive as it almost approached one of the neighbors. But it is very skiddish of any huan movement.
Yes, good question! You'll need at least two people. Let the dog calm down in the trap before you do anything. It could take five minutes or half an hour or more. When the dog is calm enough to accept treats, you're good to go. Working from outside the trap, have one person get a slip lead on the dog, making sure to snug it up with the leather keeper. That person should hold onto the dog while the second person enters the trap and gets a second slip lead on the dog. While the first person is holding two leads, the second person locks the gate up and out of the way, then brings a kennel over to block the opening. If you have a third person, have them sit on the kennel outside the trap. The first and second person then trade off moving the dog toward the kennel, making sure that at least one of them has hold of the dog while the other one is moving. Depending on where you are in the trap, you may need to do this a couple of time. Eventually both of you will be at the gate end, where you can then get the dog into the kennel and secure it. If the dog becomes aggressive, it's trickier. You'll need a catch pole to maneuver it into the kennel. Just be sure that the gate is never open while the dog is unsecured.
Laura Miller No, it won't be any weaker. We built a panel/door to catch a Great Dane a couple years ago. The opening was about 48" tall. Here's a case study with some photos: theretrievers.org/velvet-the-dane/ We did use ropes and stakes to brace it a bit more so she couldn't knock it down if she got unruly. Greg mentions this option toward the end of the tutorial.
Devon TT thank you.. this dane has been roaming for about 2 months and we desperately need to catch him. but have had no luck. I saw this trap a few days ago and we hope it works for him
Laura Miller Good luck! Please feel free to contact the Retrievers if you'd like to consult further about the trap and strategies to catch your lost Dane. You may need to condition him to the trap, and we can give you suggestions for how to do that.
This would not work for some dogs. One here could easily climb out of a six foot pen. The trap would need a top. Otherwise its a very interesting idea.
not wanting to trash on you or your video here. Honestly just looking out for you. You need some grinder safety help/ education. I guess you have not seen any pictures of grinder accidents. Better yet use some heavy wire cutters instead of a cut off disk. its not for grinding its for cutting metal and im not talking about wire. furthermore use the handle gloves and two hands. thats not all but would be a good start. At least you have safety glasses. cringe its like watching someone use a file like a saw.
Fair comment, Scott, thank you. We actually no longer use livestock panels that need to be cut down. Look for a video called 4th Generation Missy Trap for the latest design. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yuyiGsqLVPs.html
