3 month old Hangin Tree Dog (seems heavy on the Catahoula) puppy killed one of my girls

[Vekja]

I have been a lurker on this forum for years and I’ve found a lot of useful information. Today though, I’ve had an incident with my new puppy. She’s barely 3 months old. She’s a Hangin Tree Dog. I had her tied out back seperate from most of my flock, but I had one lone chicken who has never fit in with the flock that has been around my pup many times. I would say she was with my hen about 10 minutes today before I found my pup with feathers in her mouth. My hen was dead but I don’t see any blood. This pup seems to be pretty heavy on the Catahoula... those of you who have experience with dogs and chickens, do you think it’s possible that the pup was just playing and played too hard? I know that this hen specifically was very submissive to my dog. She would lie down for my pup as though my pup were a rooster. Or do you think I should never trust her alone with them again?

 

[Beer can]

Looks like a Catahoula, pretty pup.
I have a brindle Tennessee mountain cur which are a similar breed. I don't trust him around the chickens at all. He gets excited pretty easy and I'm sure would instinctively kill the chickens. Our Lab and Beagle are just fine with the chickens and I've had neighbor dogs come around that luckily pay them no attention either.
I'm sure your pup can be trained not to kill chickens.

 

[Duckstail]

The thing you got to watch out for is pups teeth are very very sharp and thin so they could definitely puncture a chick or chicken very very easily compared to an older dog. But its great hes learning young!!

 

[Duckstail]

100% dog was playing around and not deliberately trying to eat it. Your dog pretty much knew I needed to do something with the chickens and since their puppy all they really knows to play with their mouth! you have a cattle dog I hope you have more than chickens this dog is like having a formula 1 car in nyc!

It's going to be a learning process. I suggest watching some Cesar Millan online he will teach you how to use your dog properly. Each breed has a specific purpose and if you don't give your dog a chance to express thierthier you're going to have issues! Its about having a well balanced dog!

Start by taking your dog for a long walks or just some exercise, its really good before you introduce it to the chickens that your dog is very really tired at that point and it's not going to be so uptight looking to play. They will be in doggie relax mode!

 

[Doug in Colorado]

I have a Catahoula also. She is good with the chickens, but I wouldn't leave her alone. Sometimes she gets a bit aggressive with her herding skills. Even with the cats.

 

[Vekja]

100% dog was playing around and not deliberately trying to eat it. Your dog pretty much knew I needed to do something with the chickens and since their puppy all they really knows to play with their mouth! you have a cattle dog I hope you have more than chickens this dog is like having a formula 1 car in nyc!

It's going to be a learning process. I suggest watching some Cesar Millan online he will teach you how to use your dog properly. Each breed has a specific purpose and if you don't give your dog a chance to express thierthier you're going to have issues! Its about having a well balanced dog!

Start by taking your dog for a long walks or just some exercise, its really good before you introduce it to the chickens that your dog is very really tired at that point and it's not going to be so uptight looking to play. They will be in doggie relax mode!

I really agree with you 100%. I just don’t see her being aggressive in *that* kind of way.
I do have goats too and she’s great with them. She learns fast. For now, she knows to stay away from my chickens... I haven’t had any other issues with her. I love your analogy of the formula 1 car in NYC. It hit the nail on the head. Lol

 

[MROO]

A formula 1 car in NYC? Absolutely perfect!
I totally get the analogy! My pup is a six-month old Border Collie/Plotthound mix. That's her on my avatar. She's another one who doesn't know her own strength and just wants to "play with the funny birdies!" She's learning, but it will be a long time before I can trust her with them, if ever. For now, we're just trying to be firm and consistent with the "Leave it" command. So far, so good!
Good Luck!

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

I have 3 dogs that all run loose with my free range chickens. A pitbull, dachshund and weimaraner. I also had a german shepherd/lab mix who I recently had to put to sleep due to cancer and liver failure. Point is .. some breeds that are deemed "aggressive" and some of my dogs are 100% bird/hunting dogs and none of them ever have killed a chicken. Ever. They will chase other birds like wild robins and sparrows, but they know chickens are OFF limits. Its all about training and respect. Does your dog respect you enough to listen? If no that can be taught too. I can completely trust all my dogs with my chickens supervised or not. Obviously my dogs are all grown now (youngest being 3), but they were still all pups at one point.

Since your dog is still a puppy start now! Teach your pup on a leash around the chickens she cant just run up to them, rough play, or chase them. One of my dogs used to burst through a peaceful flock pecking outside. He was not being aggressive just trying to follow me (the chickens are not afraid of me so they just stand there).. The rooster attacked him (good rooster) and I corrected my dogs behavior. NOW that specific dog when he sees the chickens, I don't even have to say his name. He immediately slows down and tip toes past the flock slowly and quietly. That took 4 trial runs for that dog.

It takes time like all things good, but it can be done. Even if your dog doesn't run loose like mine do, you still wont have to worry when she is tied and a chicken or the flock wonders over to her. Use a firm tone at the first sign of disobedience with your flock and be direct and correct the behavior. Ahhh one of the many joys of having a puppy lol... Good Luck!

 

[coastingangel]

I have 2 foxies, 1 grew up with chickens and has never been an issue, the other however..... she has never actually killed one but she will stalk them. She seems to just want to play, she does the same with calves trying to get them to chase her. With the chickens she is now at the point where she will sit with them without an issue, if we have young chicks we really have to watch her, but otherwise she is ok. All we have done is just kept her close when walking through them talking to her the whole time really praising her when she is good.

 

[MROO]

It takes time like all things good, but it can be done. ... Use a firm tone at the first sign of disobedience with your flock and be direct and correct the behavior. Ahhh one of the many joys of having a puppy lol... Good Luck!

Yup, Yup and Yup! That's what we're doing with our Skye. She's a rescue and we've only had her about three weeks, so it's all still new to her. We'll get there, I'm sure. My last dog, also a border collie mix and also a rescue, was awesome with the chickens. We were never able to break him of the herding instinct, but he was so gentle it didn't matter ... except to the chickens! I have to say I miss watching them circle around him to get back to whatever they were busy doing, scolding loudly the entire time.
I'm sorry about the loss of your shepherd/lab, too. I had to put my Tag down about a month ago (at almost 16!) due to cancer, as well. Even when you know it's time, it hurts. I will always have a border collie shaped hole in my heart!
Thanks for the support!