How do I keep my dog from chasing my chickens?

ALL CAN REPLY
Thanks so much Lady of McCamley! I found the long reply VERY helpful!!! Sorry for my lateness of my reply but something in another state happened and it had to be taken care of.
Lily has been doing better with the chickens and ducks by just watching them from outside there pen when I let her outside on a leash. One time she snuck in and I was like
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but thankfully I remembered that I hadn't let them out yet!

Sometimes she makes pathetic little whines now and then that makes us all laugh like she is complaining that they are sooooooo boring when she can't chase them but she is getting better.
We might be moving so it is possible that we may have to get new chickens depending on the circumstances but do you think that if we raised them from chicks again and if we introduced her to them at the beginning (very carefully) and she could watch them grow up there would be a less chance that she would chase them?
THANK YOU ALL CHICKEN GENIUS'S FOR TAKING TIME TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS!!
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I'd actually take a different track with your dog. I learned a lot through the 7 Guide Dog for the Blind puppy raising projects (over 7 years) our family did, so I know a bit about reinforcement training. I can tell you the "Guide Dog" way to approach a situation like this. (I have used it with my own rescue Rat Terrier who now is pretty good with not chasing chickens, yet will chase rats and squirrels through chickens without chasing the birds themselves).

Positive reinforcement means to give a treat or reward at the moment the dog does something you want it to do. Negative reinforcement means to give a punishment or negative consequence the moment the dog has done something that you do not want it to do.

Dogs have a 3 second rule. If you do not provide negative or positive reinforcement within 3 seconds of the event, it is highly unlikely the dog will attach the consequence with THAT behavior (and still won't unless the reinforcement is done correctly and with the right kind). The time out is completely ineffective for chasing chickens, which is why she is still chasing chickens. The submission you are seeing when you return in 5 minutes is not contrition and acknowledgment she has done something wrong but rather a submissive dog requesting to re-enter the pack. That's normal behavior when she sees you as dominant, but it is NOT attaching any kind of connection with chasing the chickens.

Dogs are also opportunists and quickly reinforce behaviors they find rewarding. The thrill of chasing the chickens itself is a positive reward for that behavior in your dog's mind. Once done, and achieved, the dog will look for opportunity to perform that "fun" thrill again, unless you convince it there is something better or that chasing chickens is not the good thing it once thought.

You absolutely, positively, must remove all opportunity for your dog to chase the birds, on leash or off, until you have established behavior modification. You must make it clear in her mind that chasing chickens does not offer positive stimulation....or quite honestly, you are sunk and your dog will continue to look for opportunities to chase chickens.

I highly, highly recommend training your dog to be reliable with chickens, as much as possible, so that if a dog does get out, it won't go for the chickens the second it hits the backyard off leash.

As you like to focus on positive reward (which is very good), then load up on food treats...her absolute favorite, over the top, I would crawl on my belly over hot coals to get that kind of treat. Break them into small pieces as you will be giving a lot of them quickly and you want her to receive a full boost of flavor the moment the treat hits her mouth.

Since you have some behavior already becoming entrenched, I would start with teaching the "Leave It" command. With her on leash, I would do set ups with objects that you don't want her to get...such as placing a piece of food on the floor. She must NEVER get this piece of food or you have done the exercise incorrectly and reinforced her ignoring you to get what she wants.When she goes for it (with her on leash), tell her "LEAVE IT" and if you are of the mind (it will be most effective for the lesson especially the first time) give a quick leash correction. A training collar works best, but a flat will do...I like what is called a Martingale which is flat with a bit of chain. During the leash correction, give a quick, firm downward stroke, then quick let up. It should be as if the "Leash Monster" bit like a snake. It's that quick. She will almost always look at you in surprise with a "what happened" look. When she does, at that very moment you are all smiles and good things in your being...At the instant she looks at you reward her with "Good Dog" or "Nice" and a food treat in one motion. She must always attach you with everything good, and any negative "bad" with the evil "Leash Monster."

Then immediately walk away from the food on leash. Approach it from a different angle. When she looks at the treat, chances are she will immediately look at you as she is insecure. (It's hysterical but many dogs think the food actually bit them). Immediately smile and praise her with either "Nice" or "Good Girl" and give her a food treat in one motion. She must connect the positive behavior (looking away from the forbidden object) with your verbal reward and the food treat as one motion. If she goes for the treat again (most don't, but some do), repeat the leash correction and quick smile/voice praise/food treat as she looks back at you. Repeat one more time then you are done for the day.

As you attempt the next day, or the day after, but soon, she will begin to look at you rather than the forbidden food object Reward instantly the moment she looks at you. Begin to walk around and approach from different angles. Put the treat in different places. If she sniffs or looks intently at the treat either leash correct or give a firm "NO" or "ACH" "Leave It" The moment she responds by leaving it give the "Nice" or "Good Girl" command and immediate food reward in one motion. Watch her as you work through the exercises. As she tunes more and more into you reward her for focusing into you...especially as you go by the treat and she hasn't even looked at it. Now you have her attention and she is zoned into you for positive reinforcement (hopefully leaving the negative reinforcement behind for this exercise).

Continue practicing "Leave It" commands in short sessions until she has it down. Change food objects. Always keep early sessions in a very controlled environment like your living room or kitchen so that she cannot become distracted or get into something she shouldn't. Do NOT do this in the backyard with the ducks or chickens.

Once she is capable of a solid "Leave It" command without needing any kind of negative reinforcement (leash connection or "NO" or "ACH"), then on leash, away from chickens, approach your ducks. Watch her as she looks at the ducks. The moment she looks away from the ducks and looks at you (she isn't that interested anyway), reward her with "Good Girl" or "Nice" and a food treat. She should be putting the pieces together now. Approach the ducks from a different angle. Again reward her for looking away. Walk through the ducks. Reward her. If she tries to interact at ALL with them, even in a minor way (looking intently even in curiosity) tell her to "Leave It" and reward her immediately as she does so.

After you have reinforced that behavior with the ducks so that she is very competent...then...under controlled leash conditions with a helper in case she gets too excited....take her on leash up to the chickens. Watch her behavior. The second (she probably already is staring) she looks at the birds, tell her to "Leave It." Hopefully she will instantly look at you. If she does "Nice" or "Good Girl" and food reward. If she doesn't, you'll need to give a leash correction (lighter) or verbal correction. If you have done the prior exercises correctly, she will look at you and away from the chickens. The moment she does give verbal praise cue and food reward in one motion. Walk away from the chickens. You are done for that day.

Keep the sessions short and keep working her through walking up and around the chickens without looking at them. Reward her every time that she looks at you and away from the chickens. If she gets silly and out of control, leash correct, tell her "NO" and walk away from the situation. Drop back to the ducks or food on the floor until she can become more controlled again.

In time she should be reliable to walk on leash with the ducks and chickens.

Now the big step....you'll be back at the kitchen floor for this one. Place a long drag line on her...about 6 to 8 feet...one you can step on to bring her back under control if she gets silly or giddy and runs away from you. Begin with her on drag line with the kitchen set up (food, cat, whatever she might go for). Use the same "Leave It" command with negative/positive reward system. She should transition pretty easy as she will be eager to please you and get the treat so she may just walk over and sit by you. This is a major victory. Praise and food treat. You can give 2 or 3 successive quick treats as a "jack pot."

Now the next test...yup....you take this outside on drag line with the ducks. Watch and positive reward as she looks away from the ducks and looks at you. Chances are she knows the game by now and will come and sit by you for her treat. (You should also be teaching the sit command as a submission act by now as she looks up for you for her treat).

And now the final test....you begin with the chickens on drag line. By now she should be really good at the "Leave It" command and should know to drop whatever to return to you. If she doesn't, stop her with the drag line. You must not let her chase the chickens not even for an instant. If she can't remain under control with the drag line, go back to the leash walk throughs.

As she advances and becomes reliable on the drag line, eventually you should be able to have her off leash and line without concern IF you are with her in the backyard. DO NOT let her alone with the chickens until you are absolutely confident she is trustworthy (which may be never at that level...depends on the dog...you just want her to be perfect with you present...chances are she won't immediately run to them if she gets out when you are gone...but she MIGHT...and that will set you back weeks/months of training).

That would be my approach. It is very intensive, but if you are consistent, you should see marked improvement within a week or two with the "Leave It" and may see transition to drag line within a month or so...depending upon the dog.

I have worked with my Rat Terrier rescue (who was a feral dog the first year of his life) who chased the chickens on sight. He now is much, much more reliable and even chased a rat through the chickens without disturbing the hens. (I reward him for chasing the rats). I still don't trust him completely, and honestly need to follow more of my own advice and do some back drag line training to avoid any chicken charges, but he responds quickly to a "Leave It" and returns for treat 100% of the time....ignores the chickens 50 to 75% of the time even off leash. I've been working with him since February in the yard.

I hope you find something helpful in my long answer.

Good luck with her.
LofMc


This is so very helpful. We just got an eight year old Springer Spaniel who wants to chase. I will try the method you've shared. Thanks for the detailed instructions!
 

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