Training Dogs Around Poultry

I know some people have had trouble with their dogs around their chickens. This article is from Backyard Poultry magazine. I was reading it and I thought it might be helpful to those who have dogs and chooks.

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/6/6-4/training_dogs_around_poultry.html

I hope this helps!

I LOVE the picture in this article with the puppy and chicken napping ear to ear! I respectfully disagree on the subject of dominance though. I have two dogs, one GS and a Black Lab, the GS leaves the chickens alone, she's regal and the chickens give her her personal space, but they all get along well. The Lab has decided to be the alpha protector, babysitter when needed, worrier of all sounds and can identify each noise they make. She's a nag if they have a need or are peeping/crying, until I drag myself out to see what is going on. Oddly, she is not the alpha dog, the GS is, but this is her flock. Both dogs were grown when the baby chicks first appeared, and I took plenty of time in having them get to know each other. The hardest part was moving them outside (first inside the coop, walled on four sides with hardwire cloth). This was different for the dogs, they had to learn that they weren't cute toys, even as part of the family, these couldn't be played with in the same manner. Although their tongues and jaws understood this, they have big paws and wanted to play. Didn't take them long to learn. The Lab created yet another Mothering job for herself within the flock, and when the sun starts to set, she'll carefully scan the yard for any late straggler chicks to bring home, herd them gently by prodding her wet nose (I swear I see the hugest grin on her face) until they stop squaking and comply. Most of the time if they see her at sunset, they beat it to the coop pretty quick, much like a parent playing 'gotcha' with a small child.

Thank you for sharing this article I just posted over to my friend Denise to read.

It's pretty easy to train the dog to leave the birds alone if you do it before the dog chases the first time. Once the dog has chased and killed, it becomes very difficult and the dog probably can't ever be left unattended with poultry.

Thanks for posting this link! As I type this, my cocker spaniel is sitting at the bathroom door barking at my chicks. We have a lot of work to do...

some of her advise is good, some is not entirely accurate.

The muzzle, for instance. To me, it would provide a false sense of security. The majority of the chicken deaths I've seen are just from the dogs jumping on the birds and playing with the birds - no teeth required.

As for the shock collar, in the proper hands, they are an EXCELLENT tool for proofing behavior.

Start early.

Quote:
yeah, but the average dog owner, which is who this article is geared towards, is NOT the proper hands, so I am glad they said this. The author clearly is not a dog trainer though, as she refers to basic obedience as operant conditioning.
Overall a decent article.

Boy, do I ever agree with Watchdog. Most of what I've read on this site about chickens and dogs is based on ignorance. That is only the fact of not knowing. A lot of statements are made from what a person have been told or what they've heard. So a lot of what's been said is coming from people that really are not dog trainers and don't know what to do. This is not a dig on anybody, but a dog can be trained at what to do and what not to do. And they do not have to be a puppy to learn either. When a dog knows you're his master he really wants to please you. Remember it and use that fact when you working with him. Anybody working with his dog just needs to be patient, persistent and calm when dealing with a dog gone bad, or one you think is bad. I really hate to hear a dog has killed a chicken, but one with no training is not doing what his nature is. His nature is to kill to survive. These are killing for fun and that's not a bad dog Just one that didn't know better and made a gosh awful mistake. And anybody that thinks it can't be done just doesn't want to take the time. You just have to love the dog and know what to do in dealing with him.

This my take on dogs and chickens and please don't anyone take this as a personal attack. Just what I believe to be a real issue.