A vent about the "family " dog

[bkreugar]

We have a german shepard. In Feb of this year I heard GOD awful pitiful howling and wimpering up the road. I told my 11 yr old daughter to go see if someone had perhaps tied a new dog in the neighborhood.

She came back with a very tiny puppy.It had been crying because it was cold.Now I am NOT a dog person.Not afraid of them just don't get warm fuzzy over them.My DD and DH on the other hand ARE dog people.This was our second year with chicks and I told EVERYONE, "If I lose a chicken because of the dog she's history". Everyone SAID they understood.

So she was inside at first because it was cold and she was small.Now I am okay with an inside outside dog but my husband will NOT accept a dog in the house. Plus we have a cockatiel she would eat in a heartbeat.

So she IS housetrained as DD and I trained her over the winter.Then in early spring she went out and lived under our back porch and stayed on the property as it is electrical fence she is afraid of.

Then one by one I lost 5 of my originanl 6 hens and DD and dh SWORE it wasn't her because she was too small! Then I cought her IN THE ACT with #5 my FAVORITE HEN.

SO DH and DD had no leg to stand on but wait because my chickens free range during the day Dh said tie her during the day and let her loose at night.Okay we did that. DD also takes her for long walks daily and we would run our 2-4 miles with her occasionaly.

So that worked for a while and I got her spayed in late may and got ALL her shots etc.The vet then said she was a FULL german shepard and that she was 5 months THEN in may.SO I must have got her when she was 4-6 weeks old.

But once we started tieing her during the day it DID make her more hyper of course AND she started runnung to the nieghbors and getting into their trash.I know cuz she brought the trash home.Annoyed DH to no end.SO he decided she must be tied 24/7.So for 10 days she was until he got paid and so today he put up the arial tie line with 50 feet so she CAN"T get caught up in it.

After he did that we went to the grocery store.It was 7 when we left witha good 90 minutes till dark and my big girls really didn't want to go in.SO my DD made sure ALL my little girls (frizzles, silkies were locked into their cage early and got most of the big girls in.

When we get home it is dark and I say at LEAST we don't have to stumble over the dog. And WHO should come running around the corner? The dog collarless as she flipped out of the collar.My heart SINKS.DH unloads groceries and kids and I go to count chickens.

I am missing one barred rock juvie and one mix of almost laying age.Coarse it is dark so I can't see.As SOOn as I see dog running around corner I tell DD and DH IF she KILLED any chickens this is her last day here!!!!

SO dh says I won't know what the deal is till daylight and of course NOW he is willing to get a harness so she can't flip out of it.

But of course the problem is the dog is BORED and wants to be with us all the time which dh doesn't want.SO now I guess I try the harness and NOT have a dog to tell me when I have an tresspasser.

So basically just can't make everyone happy and I told DH if she is going to just pick off my chickens I should just not have them because that is jsut baiting the dog!!!

So I have a full shepard (no papers) who is spayed up to date on her shots IS house broken ,will walk or run with you on a leash views chickens as FUN. SO my choices are a kennell(run) for her or stop free ranging my chickens or get rid of the dog I guess because this scenario is NOT working.

I do NOT for see myself being able to train the dog NOT to chase my chickens EVER.She seems to have a HIGH prey drive. I like my chickens free ranging and had accepted I would have higher losses due to this,But I think the eggs taste better AND it reduces feed cost adn I was dedicated to chickens first.

In case you are wondering yea the dog sees ME as alfa/She does respect me and I am the one that feeds her EVERY freaking day,Just add it to my list of things to feed.EVEN though I didn't ask for a dog.

Okay I feel a little better.

 

[lurky]

I think you should find another home for her. Its not going to be much of a life if she is not allowed to be a part of your family.
I find it odd that your husband wants the dog so much, but does not want it in the house

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Chained dogs are miserable dogs, if you are going to keep her and keep her outside at least build a dog lot for her, its not a cure all of course as she will still be a bored Puppy, but she wont be able to kill chickens, raid neighbors trash, possibly get killed or hurt someone with her puppy antics ( I am a MAJOR dog lover) BUT I also have birds, a cat and more (look at siggy) and I will not allow one pet to kill another, so we fenced in our chicken area so that the dogs cant get to them and we call it Fort Clux. My dogs are first on my preference list of pets, and both of ours are indoor dogs that only go out to potty and I go with them most of the time to watch but we have a FULLY fenced in yard (almost an acre) and then the chickens have their own "yard" lol


I reread your post after posting and have you thought about doing what I saw Cesar do with a heeler? He used a shock collar on the dog and everytime the dog went near a tire he shocked it, you could try that with the dog and the chickens, it might take a while but every time she shows interest in the chickens jolt her a little (not a HUGE jolt of course) and see if that will deter her! I know here a training club will come show you how to use one of these and rent them to you!

 

[bkreugar]

Yea I agree, but he doesn't want a dog IN the house because of hair and smell. I MIGHT MAYBE be able to convince him If I(joy) or DD give her a weekly bath to keep her from smelling.But then I have the whole issue with the cockateil whi IS a member of the family LOVES everyone, enjoys taking showers with the kids and watching TV with dh who wrestles with the cocateil with his foot.The little bird loves EVERYONE and spends time with everyone daily.The dog would eat him for dinner.AND we have had the little guy for almost 5 years. He even talks (ALOT).

So you don't see any other option than the ones I listed?

 

[bkreugar]

Yea I know chained dogs are miserable dogs and ~I~ have seen a direct uptick in her hyperness with the amount of time tied,which only makes sense as there has to be SOMEWHERE for the energy to go.

I did take her on more of my errands once she was tied and DD took her on longer walk/runs but yea not enough and still leaves for a bored dog.Bored dog= hyper dog.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

we have 3 birds and both of our dogs would kill them if given the chance, we put the dogs in their crates when its the birds turns to get out and have fun time with us, we never and I mean never try to mix them as I adore my birds (I have had the Parrot for over 15 years) Our cockatiel is in my daughters bedroom, and she shuts her door to let banjo out to play during the day while she in on the computer! I hope you can figure it out as its hard to place a hyper teenage pup lol (trust me I know) lol I am a foster home for the SPCA and Pug Rescue. That is how I ended up with so many of our zoo family members (I am SUCH a sucker) lol lol

 

[redhen]

I'd just find her a new home.. She dosent want to be tied up 24/7, just like you would'nt want to be. It would drive you crazy..and its driving her crazy. Period.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

I dont want to see them get rid of their dog, its obvious she is loved but they just need to try and figure out a happy medium to keeping her home safe and the rest of the animals safe too!!

 

[bkreugar]

Mom to Syd and emma NOW that IS a good idea, that I had not thought off. I just remember Ceaser doing the electric rabbit with one dog and getting after it verabally right away.With that I think as soon as i was gone for any length of time she would get one.

But the shock collar might work and it would allow her to be not tied when we are out.ANd IF I had to leave for a length of time I could put her in a kennel or put her on the tie line.

Where does one buy one I wonder and are they expensive? Like over $50 less than $100? The is 8 months now and 60#.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

I have never had to buy one but like I said here they will rent them to dog owners from the local kennel club but first they come to you and show you the proper use of it etc.... Look at Drs Foster and Smith I know that they sell them!