➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[Conan]

Anyway, I think I thought you were saying any dog that even chases chickens at all or kills by accident was a bad dog. That’s part of why I was saying I don’t think that alone makes a bad dog or warrants death. Sorry, misunderstanding I guess.

Not at all.
Shoot, my awesome dobie/lab chased a chicken the first time he saw one. Once.
Same with the street rat. I do understand that it's instinct, and is stronger in some breeds than others. Training is required.
These specific dogs destroyed two coops/runs and killed two flocks of birds within a couple weeks. Who knows what else they did in that time period. I sure as heck would never want a dog like that and I doubt anyone else would either.

 

[BantyChooks]

Sorry about your birds.

What happened to the dog? Did you end up shooting him?

Completely understandable in that case.

Although I still think it’s on the owner for not providing him enough mental stimulation and exercise. Huskies and GSDs are smart dogs and need to use their brains as well as running.

No. I was not armed, so I had to chase futiley after him while he killed my birds. If I had been armed, I would not have hesitated to put a bullet in his skull.

That would have changed nothing. He was allowed to roam wherever and whenever he wanted. Their dogs had miles of forest as their playground. He had plenty of things to do. They trained him too, so he wasn't lacking in mental stimulation. He had several other dogs to play with. He chose to come on my property and kill them for sport. I don't think a dog with instincts like that belongs anywhere around here except in a sled team. They should not be in a farming community, period. The hard facts are that there are few places nearby where there aren't chickens and other small livestock running free, and hundreds of better dogs are getting put down daily. Why save the difficult dogs at greater cost to time and resources when you could save two other dogs instead?

I accept there are risks to free ranging, or keeping birds at all, but I will defend my birds with lethal force if needed, and I see no reason why dogs should be exempt.

 

[BantyChooks]

I don’t think that’s true. I’ve read plenty of stories, even on this very site, of dogs that have killed a few chickens when first being introduced/trained and then never again after being trained. It is possible.

But obviously it’s different if it’s not your own dog and I completely understand protecting the flock but training is possible if it’s your own dog.

But also it’s completely different here. We can’t shoot so I have to come up with other options.

KILLER dogs. Not dogs that have chased a chicken once or twice. There's a difference.

 

[Conan]

Agreed. I had a husky that repeatedly terrorized my flock a few years ago. The damage he did to my run was such that I thought a bear had done it. He killed more birds than I can even remember at this point, some of which were very special to me. I don't think he deserved any more chances after that. He was a far cry from a random overexcited mutt that thought he'd have some fun chasing feathery things. He caught them, killed them, and then moved on without even sniffing the bird ever again. I don't care if it's instinct or not. It's a bad instinct.

I'm so glad that creature is gone. Rotten dog.

 

[BantyChooks]

I'm so glad that creature is gone. Rotten dog.

He was a terror. There was no way to contain him. He could get out of any run or slip any collar, and when he did, he'd come right back to my birds. Damages he did went well over $300, I'd say.

 

[Conan]

No. I was not armed, so I had to chase futiley after him while he killed my birds. If I had been armed, I would not have hesitated to put a bullet in his skull.

That would have changed nothing. He was allowed to roam wherever and whenever he wanted. Their dogs had miles of forest as their playground. He had plenty of things to do. They trained him too, so he wasn't lacking in mental stimulation. He had several other dogs to play with. He chose to come on my property and kill them for sport. I don't think a dog with instincts like that belongs anywhere around here except in a sled team. They should not be in a farming community, period. The hard facts are that there are few places nearby where there aren't chickens and other small livestock running free, and hundreds of better dogs are getting put down daily. Why save the difficult dogs at greater cost to time and resources when you could save two other dogs instead?

I accept there are risks to free ranging, or keeping birds at all, but I will defend my birds with lethal force if needed, and I see no reason why dogs should be exempt.

YES. This. If folks want to have the difficult dogs, fine, but they sure as heck better keep them contained and controlled at all times.

 

[Conan]

He was a terror. There was no way to contain him. He could get out of any run or slip any collar, and when he did, he'd come right back to my birds. Damages he did went well over $300, I'd say.

Did they end up putting him down or rehoming him? I forget.

 

[BantyChooks]

I guess what it comes down to is that I've turned the other cheek far more times than my limit. I've picked up the bodies, said "that's okay" and I asked them to find a way to keep the dog contained again, and again, and again. I'm sick of people that breed dogs like this and make excuses for dogs like this and I've long lost any sympathy or desire to give second chances.

Touchy subject. I'll shut up now. Our values clearly contradict on this front.

 

[Tesumph]

I told myself I wouldn’t get involved in anymore debates...


I disagree that the two GSD in question were neurotic (“bad dogs”) based solely on their actions. Clearly they had no training and were neglected by their owner.
The pack mentality is real; maybe it’s weird for one dog to break into a coop to kill an entire flock, but it doesn’t surprise me at all that two would.

For the record, Triumph has maimed his fair share of small animals. Yes, for fun. I’ve seen him rip apart an armadillo and drag it’s intestines out, while wagging his tail and having the time of his life.
No, I did not condone that and would’ve stopped it if I could.
I have no doubt that in his younger years he would’ve killed an entire flock of chickens (given the chance) if he did not have the proper training.
All dogs kill for fun. It’s a game. It’s whether or not you can curb that behavior with training that really matters.

That being said, I’m not disillusioned and those dogs will probably be euthanized by animal control, if for no other reason than there’s just too many dogs and not enough homes. A dog with a record is a hard sell.
In an ideal world, I think they should be evaluated for human and dog aggression, and offered up for adoption (with a disclosure) if they cleared that. But that’s just my opinion.

 

[BantyChooks]

YES. This. If folks want to have the difficult dogs, fine, but they sure as heck better keep them contained and controlled at all times.

Exactly. IMO, there are ever so many more difficult dogs than there are owners suited for difficult dogs.