Advice needed! How to properly discipline a dog.

[cassie]

My husky has always been a chicken killer. Lately she was getting better about leaving the chickens alone.

Today she bypassed me in my house and ran into my ICU room and started trying to attack/kill my chicken through the wire.

Not really thinking about discipline, just trying to save my chicken, I grabbed her muzzle -closing it- and bodyslammed her to the ground. It stopped her, as it should, and she is a big dog so she could take it. But doing so I accidentally cut her nose. I cleaned that up and had a good long minute with her by the chicken firmly repeating NO to her and not letting her look at the chicken. I just averted her gaze and gave another firm NO.

I dragged her out -she was really resistant- and put her in her kennel. Now she's doing the guilty dog look.

Room is now closed off with a board (room was open access).

How do I further teach her that attacking chickens is NOT OKAY. She was fine until she wasn't. We really need help because we are thinking of rehoming her since she likes to kill literally everything smaller than her that isn't another dog or human. Cats included. She tried to kill him for years.

Cyprus

The chances of getting your Husky to be safe around your chickens or livestock are slim and none. She isn't sorry she attacked your chicken. She is sorry she got caught. Huskies and Malamutes have a VERY high prey drive and I don't think there is any training available that will turn it off. That is just the way they are. I always shuddered when someone with either of these breeds moved in near me because I knew it was only a matter of time before they escaped their yards and tried to get in with my goats. Fortunately I had good fences. The only way your chickens and your dog are going to be able to coexist is if you make sure the dog can't get to them. To that dog, chasing and killing your chickens is the greatest fun there is.

 

[Rushdoggie]

I would do a few things:

1. really work on training...pick a system, stick with it and devote 2 15 min sessions a day to teaching her a better recall, a leave it, etc. Its partly about the learning new things, its partly about developing a "working" relationship with your dogs. I had 2 huskies and yes they are houdinis and like to run, but they are also usually pretty smart and like people so training is possible. It sounds like you have struggled with this in the past and I wonder if you have really just gotten frustrated and not stuck to it?

2. Management Always Fails. This is something I learned long ago with dogs. So when its an issue of keeping animals safe, use at least 2 management techniques: a gate behind a door, 2 closed doors, a crate in a room with a closed door, etc. Then when a door gets left unlatched etc you have a bit of time before disaster.

3. finding a way to keep her confined when you can't supervise. Give her an area, a room, etc. If she chews through kennel wire, invest in a steel kennel. Give her puzzle toys, bones etc in "her room" so its not a punishment, its a safe place. If shes arthritic get a warming bed (reflects body heat and feels good on old joints), make it a nice place.