I don't know what to do with my dogs!

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This is really NOT true. Dals got a bad rap when they were being so badly overbred after the 101 Dalmatians movie, but a lot of those problems are gone now that the fad has mostly passed.

However, dals ARE very energetic dogs. So are English setters. I bet the cross of the two has produced pups with LOTS and LOTS of energy, as well as lots of prey drive.

These guys need something to keep them busy! Toys, training, exercise, runs. The saying is "a tired dog is a good dog". It's true! And when I say "exercise" I don't mean just running around the ranch at will. I mean taking them out and running with them, or biking while they run. I mean throwing a ball for hours at a time. And so on. Remember, a bored dog is a dog that is going to be looking around for something to get into.

Good luck! I personally don't think that you'll ever be able to really be able to trust these dogs with the birds, but giving them lots of work and exercise will at least make it easier for you to control them!

Oh, I forgot -- edited to add, I own a dal and she absolutely ADORES children. The other dals I know are basically the same. The key with children is also training, training, training!

Ah, yes it is true. You may just have been lucky and have a good one. In my years, both before and after the disney fad, I have seen multiple families have issues with Dalmations.

If you haven't had problems, that's great, I commend you. But, this bread is much like a pit, and does have an aggresive side to it and they need to understand that with children around. Especially if it has already been killing chickens.

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P.S. Please don't take this the wrong way by any means. I am not here to argue with you or anyone about this. I just get upset about this breed sometimes because I have witnessed the damage it has inflicted to several families first hand and want the poster to just be aware. I know there not all bad, as well as pits, it depends, and I am happy that you have had good results. I apologize if I ruffled any feathers with anyone.

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Well, I've seen multiple families have issues with dogs of many different breeds. That doesn't mean that I can make generalizations about those breeds. Each situation is different.

Dalmatians were created to live with horses in stables and to travel with them. In the stables they killed vermin. When they traveled with the horses they had to be able to run for hours at a time. This history means that they tend to have high prey drives and a lot of energy and stamina. Both of those traits can get them into trouble, but it has nothing to do with human directed aggression per se.

If you want to learn more about dalmatians, there's a good list on yahoogroups that's devoted to them:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Dalmatian/

Dog threads are the deadly third rail of this website. You would think I would have the good sense to keep my thoughts to myself, but no.

So my thoughts on the subject are that dogs will be dogs, and it is pointless to be mean to the poor creature for doing what instinct tells it to do.

It is pointless to hang a dead chicken on a dog. Dogs love dead animals.

If you are going to have chickens and dogs, you need to really make sure they stay separate. Keep dogs out of the chicken yard because they will have a great time killing chickens, and they tend to eat the poop. Good fences and gates are necessary.

Rufus

Its not the dog's fault he thinks their toys, you can't expect the dog to know.

First of all, watch what you say here.... There are some fanatics here...

Second, Don't take what they say personally... Or seriously for that matter...

Third- If the dog can associate being hit with a chicken to being hit by a human, then it can associate pain with a chicken coop. Cats aren't exactly the most obedient animals, but after one incident, it no longer goes near my chick pen.

I saw him stalking my chicks one day while they were in the pen. I went outside and of course he knows that when I come out, that I'll pet him. So he runs up to me. I went back inside, got a BB gun and stalked him while he was stalking the chickens. He didn't know I was there. I was behind a wall. I let him have a good shot to the rump and he jumps up about 3 ft in the air and runs. Hasn't been near it since. Did it break the skin? No... Did he know that I did it? No... Did it work? YES! Does he still come up to me, jump in my lap, and be as obnoxious as he possibly can be? YUP!

Truthfully I think he associated the live chicks with pain because he doesn't go near the chicks either. Now if I could just leave them alone with this worthless dog of mine, I'd be fine.

Another thing you could do, which may take some time to do is run electric fence around the bottom of your coop run.

A suggestion about your dogs also. Get a working breed like a Heeler, Shepherd, or Anatolian Shepherd. Make sure it's something easy to work with. I prefer Heelers myself. Their instincts tend to lean more toward working than hunting.

I too have a young Aussie that took a couple of shots at my chickens. I was with her at the time and scolded her soundly. She now pays them no mind and concentrates on making sure nothing comes into their yard. However she is still a dog I would not trust her alone with them if I were to go away. I would be surprised but no shocked if she were to take a chicken some time. I dont think we always know what triggers them to get after a bird.

If she does I will have to make some different choices or arrangements. I agree some breeds are more inclined to stay away

Get a book titled Kohler's Method of Guard Dog Training, It has a very good section on training the dogs to avoid things like chickens. Chicken training involves a rubber mat, a small pen for both the bird and dog, bare wire and a 12 volt car battery. Very effective.

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You are more than entitled to your opinion. I can tell you for my dad and step-mom my step mom could never have kids and they have 2 female black labs that they got together. My dad has raised labs since as long as I can remember and he said so they have company when they can't be home....For my step mom they are her kids....then some one dumped a yellow lab on thier land and they tried to band him (to neuter him) and there was an infection and my parents grew to become attached to him. So now they have 3 dogs. I dont know why to each every one has personal reasons for more than one pet.
For me when I found our dogs they had been together since birth and they were already 6 months old. I thought since I worked 12-hour shifts when I do work (home 4 days a week) they'd have company. But they just encourage bad behavior...

oh I did. I thought my coop was predator proof too! The dogs went searching for them and killed for pure sport of it.

The dogs must know the chickens are yours...body language goes miles with working/game dogs. When the dogs look at the chickens get between them and verbally correct until their eyes are averted. With time they will figure it out. Keep training sessions under twenty minutes multiple times a day. Positive reinforcment cannot be undersold. Beating a dog creates distrust and the dog will never forget. Long leash training works well. But mostly you must understand how your dog operates and be johnny on the spot with corrections