Anyone See a Problem Here?

[theoldchick]

Well, Cocker Spaniels were at one time considered a hunting dog. With training your pooch might be a good guardian!

 

[Ole rooster]

From my experence with Cockers I do know it will take more persistance and patience than most any dog I've ever seen to calm down the hunter/killer instinct of the birds. To them it's all a fun game and you've provided her with more targets. It can be done but you're in for a long fight. I won't have a Cocker on my place.

 

[DangerChickenHouse]

My father's cocker was the same way. BEST mouse catcher.....or chaser.

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

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I know what you mean - 'what chicken? there was a chicken in here? i'm sure i never saw a CHICKEN in here...'

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

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It's funny - I never considered her a hunting dog until we moved out to rural San Diego County and she started catching gophers and rodents. Perhaps I was being hopefully naive, but I didn't think she'd go for chickens. Even with training I don't think I can ever trust her, given her laser-like focus on the chicks in the coop right now. My hope is that she grows bored with them and goes back to her gopher holes. Still gonna put in that fence, though...

 

[KandiandJerry]

Yep, I would build that fence...

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

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You're right, Ole Rooster - she's the most determined, single-minded and downright stubborn dog I've ever met. She's also super sweet and the most 'normal' of all our dogs (sad but true). I wouldn't have chosen a cocker, but I found her dumped on the street and took her in years ago, long before we even contemplated moving out to the country. She's no problem in the city but got rough and rowdy once exposed to the fun and games out here. I am NOT going to let my birds be her targets...I'll keep her indoors or get a dog run set up on the other side of the house if the fence doesn't work.

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

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Yep - that's in the plus category

Perhaps naive, but never thought it would translate to the bird population

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

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Already have the pickets and posts. Just need to get a post driver and the hardware. Then we're in business

 

[hmmcc123]

I wonder how interested your dog will be once it is flogged by your rooster and pecked in the face by a hen or two? My hens have had our two dogs in check since they were little after a couple of just curious face pecks. We have a Poodle (breed as bird dogs) and a Schnauzer (vermin chaser). lol