Acclimating Pet Dogs? Can it be done?

[aoxa]

Mountain Man Jim,

The imprinting I seem to be realizing is to individual chickens. This contrast with what I think ideally goes on with sheep / goats where imprinting can be effectively to a large herd where imprinting to individuals may not be realized other than simply belonging to so same group owing to a common smell. Logic I have employed is when dog is imprinted on a smaller core of birds, it gives a starting point that softens the interest on chickens outside the group imprinted upon. Despite this the dogs seem able to recognize birds as individuals, at least older birds, even when not part of core dog was imprinted upon. Both dogs spend particularly attention to core birds even when they are scattered about in different pens during off season, the attention is of a socializing sort rather that the undesirable aggressive sort.

Additionally, in past I used a coonhound to aid with capture of specific hens or stags on walks where roost could not be identified. I could start walking after a specific bird and dog would then figure out I wanted that bird and proceede to capture it by penning it softly on ground. it took a while but dog learned not go after targeted bird all that hard. I would then pick up bird for examination or bagging, if former, then bird would be released on spot and dog would not pursue it unless directed to do so. Same dog could then be directed after another to repeat process and ignore first bird. This could then be repeated at another walk with minimal stress on birds captured. Dog could do this even with 30 birds running about. It may be only of academic interest but the dog's ability to focus and recognize individuals was impressive. Recognition seemed based on a combination of sight and sound.

How did you get the dog to know which bird you wanted it to pursue in order to realize it recognized the individual?

 

[Mountain Man Jim]

Aoxa: Sorry, my comments were from a position of limited information (ignorance) on your training methods. It looks like you are on your way to a good little CGD.

Centrachid: Imprinting is one of of the terms that has a very specific definition and many of us use to a little to broadly. Imprinting for the dog happens around 4 to 12 wks of age. In this period, the dog can imprint to a number of species. But, since I have adopted a number of dogs past this critical period of imprinting and they have been good CGDs I know that it's not critical for them to imprint on the chickens. In fact, it's more important for them to be well socialized or imprinted to humans for my purposes and to chickens. They need to follow my direction.

It's interesting that you find the dogs bonding to individual chickens. I have found that when we get new chickens, it takes some time for the dogs to accept the new members of the flock and we need to watch them and socialize them with the new birds. I'm guessing you see something similar.

Jim

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa: Sorry, my comments were from a position of limited information (ignorance) on your training methods. It looks like you are on your way to a good little CGD.

Centrachid: Imprinting is one of of the terms that has a very specific definition and many of us use to a little to broadly. Imprinting for the dog happens around 4 to 12 wks of age. In this period, the dog can imprint to a number of species. But, since I have adopted a number of dogs past this critical period of imprinting and they have been good CGDs I know that it's not critical for them to imprint on the chickens. In fact, it's more important for them to be well socialized or imprinted to humans for my purposes and to chickens. They need to follow my direction.

It's interesting that you find the dogs bonding to individual chickens. I have found that when we get new chickens, it takes some time for the dogs to accept the new members of the flock and we need to watch them and socialize them with the new birds. I'm guessing you see something similar.

Jim

If that last part happened to us, I'd be doomed. We have a lot of birds being hatched, sold and what not, so imprinting on specific birds is not what we want at all. I'd much rather they just be part of her scenery.

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

 

[centrarchid]

How did you get the dog to know which bird you wanted it to pursue in order to realize it recognized the individual?

This all took lots of practice for dog and me to get down and dog was exceptional in her ability to take direction. Dog was three years old before she was good at it. I was also in high school at time enabling lots of time for training process. Some of birds used initially where also trained which helped dog get into process slowly with birds not scared for their lives. Dogs I have now are not ready for such use although male could possibly begin training this coming spring.

As a side note, some chickens would fly way up into tree or loft of barn as soon as it could determine what we were up to.


Proceedure is to walk after specific bird and stare directly at as I do. Dog would look back and forth repeatedly between me and bird as she would vector in. At some point only one bird could be correct one then she would get into the chase usually with some sort of verbal encouragement from me. Chase was not all out but rather an easy trot for dog causing bird to barely get into a run but not hard enough to feel compelled to fly like fox or coyote might promote. Key is to walk bird fast to exhaustion before birds tries to fly. If bird flies up I push back to ground usually by throwing a corn cob at it or shake branch it hides on. Once bird is worn so it cannot jump into air then flight is no longer an option. Even my games have to jump into air in order to fly. I used to run birds down myself in part to condition them for endurance. With minimal practice you can see what jumping ability they have left by watching how they run and ventilation rate.

I think that capacity for following a designated target is innate in dogs as derived from wolf ancestor. In wolves once somebody in pack indicates which prey item to pursue, generally the entire pack focuses all effort on that potential victim. Initial part of selection process likely based mostly on apparent ability of individual prey to be subdued (i.e. apparent health or size). Herd of prey (when herding) pushed to test for infirmities or sometimes sick prey can be distinguished by scent. I bypass the selection process based on vulnerability and get dog on track. Dog is very good and figuring out what human is looking at (study shown this but could not demonstrate grey wolf's ability to do same with human providing cues) and catching even a healthy gamechicken is very easy for dog in good physical condition that has lots of practice.

 

[bethbug74]

Spaniels are kind of a berserker-rage type little dog to begin with. You can probably tech him not to bother adult birds, especially after he has a conversation with a protective rooster and the scars to prove it, but I'd never leave such a dog alone with birds. Our golden retriever/lab mix is very good with them, but even he gets very excited and more focused on finding the red liquid stuff (like any predator) when something small and squawky and flappy (like any prey) runs away from him. He has never actually hurt a bird, just thinks the flapping is funny, really. He has also been socialized with birds since he was ababy, and no chasing has ever been tolerated at all. He has also had a run in or two with protective roos, drakes, and toms, with very little provocation on his part, so he respects all birds for fear of a peck or a kick. Just supervise and reward good behavior and make sure that he has good recall understanding. This means that when you call him, every time, he MUST obey. There are no questions about his obedience to recall...even if it does require you to physically retrieve HIM, gently and firmly, when he does not mind. Punishment does not work with dogs, unless they are caught int the act of what they are doing wrong, and usually not even then. A good routine, established pack order, with you at the top, and continual teaching of what TO do (with lots of treats and love), rather than what NOT to do, is the key.

 

[rachaelakers]

I have a 5 year old Catahoula Leopard dog who wanted to kill our chickens for about 3 weeks after we got them. He is very small animal motivated. It took a lot of "corrections" to get him to chill the heck out. Now he just messes with them. Just to see them run every once in a while. But he wont bite them. But he also knows what I claim is mine. and I claimed them.

 

[chickenboy2001]

My white lab loves our chickens. We made him acclimated to them by introducing them to him when they were 2 days old.

 

[rigtrae]