I have a 2.5 year old chocolate lab that is trained to retrieve ducks. He is extremely hard headed and stubborn. Take one look at him and he is "pure lab" he loves the water and learns command very quickly. I got my chickens after I got him and I knew I would have to train him to not go after them. You can't keep them separate their whole lives.
Because dogs are pack members, they think in a group setting. Having 2 other dogs meant that they had to know I am the boss, not them. That's the first step. As long as the dogs know that you are the boss, no questions asked, it'll be easier to train them not to go after the chickens. The way I started was walking him past the chicken coop on a leash. I didn't pay any attention to the chickens, and corrected him when he did. I wanted him to know he can only pay attention to the chickens when I said it was okay. After I was able to walk past it without him paying attention to them, I let him look at one. I held the chicken in my hand and gave it attention. I have him attention too at the same time. As soon as he started to put his face near the chicken I scolded him and stopped paying attention to him. I repeated this several times and eventually he didn't care when I was holding a chicken, he didn't even look at it. Now I let him look at the chicken, whether its on the ground or I'm holding it. He knows the chickens are mine, not his. The goal you want to teach the dog(s) is that the chickens are a member of the family and they belong to you. I taught him that chickens are different than ducks and are not meant to be chased, retrieved, or bothered. They're members of the family. Hopefully your dogs will realize that and try and protect them like my lab does! He senses when there's trouble outside(raccoons, hawks ect.) and whines to go outside and chase the danger off.
Luckily labs are very trainable and tend to remember what you teach them. Hopefully this helps start the relationship with the birds and the dogs, good luck!
Because dogs are pack members, they think in a group setting. Having 2 other dogs meant that they had to know I am the boss, not them. That's the first step. As long as the dogs know that you are the boss, no questions asked, it'll be easier to train them not to go after the chickens. The way I started was walking him past the chicken coop on a leash. I didn't pay any attention to the chickens, and corrected him when he did. I wanted him to know he can only pay attention to the chickens when I said it was okay. After I was able to walk past it without him paying attention to them, I let him look at one. I held the chicken in my hand and gave it attention. I have him attention too at the same time. As soon as he started to put his face near the chicken I scolded him and stopped paying attention to him. I repeated this several times and eventually he didn't care when I was holding a chicken, he didn't even look at it. Now I let him look at the chicken, whether its on the ground or I'm holding it. He knows the chickens are mine, not his. The goal you want to teach the dog(s) is that the chickens are a member of the family and they belong to you. I taught him that chickens are different than ducks and are not meant to be chased, retrieved, or bothered. They're members of the family. Hopefully your dogs will realize that and try and protect them like my lab does! He senses when there's trouble outside(raccoons, hawks ect.) and whines to go outside and chase the danger off.
Luckily labs are very trainable and tend to remember what you teach them. Hopefully this helps start the relationship with the birds and the dogs, good luck!
