We live in an area where we see eagles in the trees behind our home regularly. Earlier this week, one swooped down over Gigi's play area. Marie estimated only about 10 feet off the ground. We never let Gigi out alone. We also have alligators and poisonous snakes in the area. (OK, to complete the diversity of our "biosphere" we also have bob cats and coyotes in the area, but never have come into our yard during the day.) We use "Snake away" and have a dock with a vertical seawall, plus put in riprap along the waterfront where gators have come into the yard in the past. Gigi has another area of the yard--which is her "do your duty area"--and has trees at each end, and a large 20' foot high "swimming pool cage" immediately adjacent to this several hundred sq foot area. Because of the trees and pool cage, it would be very difficult for an eagle to attack and take off from this area.

Marie yelled and made waving gestures with her arms, and the eagle flew away--did not make any more threats. An adult Mini Poo (3 yo & 16 pound weight) is too big for an eagle to attack. But we do worry about puppies, and when young, we keep a much closer watch.

I doubt that any "jacket" would save a puppy from a determined eagle. Our experience with some time in AK and the PNW, is that Eagles are opportunistic. An adult eagle can only lift and carry 3 to 5#. It would be extremely unusual for one to attack a dog over 10#. Now all bets are off if a dog threatens an Eagle's nest, but that would be a defensive attack.

 

I don't have personal experience with either product, but the web site says the spikes can be removed from the Coyote vest. I think raptor attacks can be plenty dangerous even when they fail. Even if the bird only gets a few feet off the ground before losing hold and dropping the dog, that's still likely to leave a small dog with lacerations and broken bones. I also still remember the wails of the internet when an eagle parent near DC showed up on web cam with a domestic house cat and proceeded to feed it to the nestlings.

 

In the spring and early summer we usually have a couple of large hawks that raise a family in the trees. Most everyone is aware this happens, so they don't let their puppies or small dogs out unsupervised. I don't know how well those vests work, if at all. More concerning for small pets and even little children are the coyotes in the area. I suppose you can get spray for them. I don't worry about Rhonda and I. We are both big enough to not be prey.

 

My toy poodle (6 1/2 pounds) loves running around during "offleash" hours at the park with the other dogs. However, recently we have had a large bald eagle spotted in the park and I have been afraid to let him offleash since in fear that he would get snatched up.

There've been more than a few threads on the topic of wildlife threats. Below are a couple of the more recent. I think I remember seeing these kinds of protectors mentioned but not finding the references just yet.

(7) For those with small poodles, a sad warning about wildlife | Poodle Forum
(7) HAWK | Poodle Forum

I've seen reliable information on this site. There's information on the wildlife threats and reviews of some products, including the two above.
How to Protect Your Dog From Hawks, Owls, & Other Birds of Prey (k9ofmine.com)

Eagles can take some pretty large prey so I don't think I'd feel comfortable relying on either product.

 

Bald Eagles are dangerous to small pets. Golden Eagles are more deadly.
They're capable of taking much larger prey.

 

We have hawks and owls and still have a neighborhood infestation of feral cats. I wish we’d get an eagle!

 

A friend of mine recently got a Coyote Vest for her Papillion, and I think another friend uses them on his Chihuahuas. That's all the experience I have with them.

 

I have a covered run that I used for my chihuahua. Only way to protect a little one.

 

I built an enclosed catio for my sphynx after a hawk swooped down and brushed against my head when I had the cat in my arms. The problem with vests or spikes is the intial talon contact. Once your little dog's skin is pierced, there is a good chance of infection setting in. So, even though the bird will drop your pet, you will still have expensive vet bills (assuming there is not a fatal injury). We have owls here that kill rabbits, too. They got a neighbor's Chihuahua. Out at the dog training yard, there were some Pomeranians that were allowed to run loose, but there were about a dozen people scanning the sky as lookouts.... and we had "watch" geese. Be careful!

 

Thanks everyone for your comments and insight. We actually just had an alligator in the park (we live in NYC) so things just keep getting stranger/scarier for a small dog here. I may go ahead and try out some of these bird protection vests. I'll report back if I do.

 

Maybe you could string up a bunch of shiny CD's to dangle and shimmer in the backyard. They supposedly keep birds away.