Advice for family dog running chickens

[Ninjasquirrel]

If they "escape" it is because I opened a door and let them out. And on occasion I have lost a bird if the bird managed to escape the run. When that has happened I feel bad and take full responsibility for it, I do not punish the dog or worse yet "get rid of the dog" because of my mistake.

I love my dogs and am committed to them for life. They are *not* disposable pets.

How would a dog "escape"? Never had this happen. If a dog is well trained and watched it wont "escape". My dog figured out how to open the front glass door and ran out once to greet a friend who was stopping by. I yelled for her to leave it and she came right back. A dog only "escapes" from a poor trainer. I firmly believe there are no "bad dogs" just bad owners who do not know how to effectively train their dog

 

[Sonya9]

Harsh methods? What harsh methods? Using the leave it command, along with others, doesn't strike me as harsh.

The suggestions in this thread include chaining the dog up, using a shock collar, or simply getting rid of the dog. Suggesting a stranger buy a shock collar to zap their dog can become overly harsh very quickly.

 

[centrarchid]

The suggestions in this thread include chaining the dog up, using a shock collar, or simply getting rid of the dog. Suggesting a stranger buy a shock collar to zap their dog can become overly harsh very quickly.

Not roductive

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

The suggestions in this thread include chaining the dog up, using a shock collar, or simply getting rid of the dog. Suggesting a stranger buy a shock collar to zap their dog can become overly harsh very quickly.

I suggested positive reinforcement using leash techniques I dont agree with shock collars either. Positive reinforcement works better imho. It's not quicker but it does work. People like instant gratification. I actually watched an episode of a kids show with a talking dog. The girl's other dog didnt talk and was poorly behaved. She kept trying to find ways to quickly train it before she realized that these things take time. I thought it was a very good message. By the end of the episode the dog did all the tricks she asked but they showed a progession.

 

[Goldsgirl9]

We have a Catahoula who has killed several of the neighbors chickens that ventured in to our yard a year ago. He is a natural born hunter. We put our coop on the other side of our 6ft fence and also have a invisible fence that shocks him if he gets too close. He barks at and bays my hens if we get near them. Otherwise he mainly ignores them now.

While some may not agree, we purchased a training shock collar. I carry the remote and correct him verbally. If he continues to bark he gets a beep warning and if that doesn't stop it he gets a shock. Usually only one or two does the trick. I wish we could have gotten chickens when he was pup so we wouldn't have this issue but for now, our training seems to be working. There are days he won't even venture out to the back of the property where our coop is located. I will say our hens are completely desensitized to his barking. It annoys us more than the hens. I would suggest a see appropriate shock collar and proper training. Shock collars are not always necessary but for our breed and situation it was.