Anyone trained their dog to stay away from chickens like this?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Update! It has been going really well! At this point, I dont really ever have to correct him unless something crazy happens. For example: While Ranger was sleeping on the patio, one of the hens came up and my nephew got excited and tried to pick her up. He's small and couldn't really support the hen, so she flew away out of his arms, right in front of Ranger. He got surprised and his prey drive spiked, and he jumped at the hen; as soon as he made the move, I corrected him and he stopped. The hen was fine, he never got to her, and Ranger was fine too. That was not a situation I would deliberately put Ranger in, but he also needs to be able to control himself when unexpected things like that happen. Aside from that, he has been avoiding the hens like the plague, and even when one brave girl approached him (the same hen as before - so close that they were almost touching) he completely ignored her and continued sleeping. Even when I'm not there, he stays away from them (I always watch from a window to ensure the hens safety). These pictures are about as close as he gets to them of his own free will, and its never in a stalking kind of way (he just like eating their poop....). He was also following me, and he wouldn't usually be that close unless I was there. But even if I called to him he wouldn't go any closer. Is that a bad thing? It's a large yard, so even when the hens are free-ranging there is still lots of space for the dogs to run around and play together.

Any tips on moving forward would be great!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sounds like a good thing to me! Chicken Aversion accompliished!

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Sounds like a good thing to me! Chicken Aversion accompliished!

So how do I know if he is foolproof? I mean, he doesn't go after them from what I have seen, but I don't want to bet money (or chickens) that he wont go after them ever... Is there some sort of "test" that people do? Like, if he is good for a month, he's reliable, or something?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm curious about your second picture above. He seems to be watching them intently with his head down. Is he in stalking mode there? If he had the e-collar on, I think I might have given him a light correction. That's kind of an intent stare, ya know? And I would continue to keep an eye on him for a while, maybe a month. What you want is for him to act as if he does not see or acknowledge the existence of chickens whatsoever.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

In other words, he is resisting the desire to go after the chickens in that picture, but the desire is still there.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I'm curious about your second picture above. He seems to be watching them intently with his head down

It does kinda look like that from behind, but he is eating chicken poop. Right after that picture was taken he walked away. He does sometimes stare at them though - I should correct for that?

Also, I am really struggling at getting him to be outside without me for a decent amount of time. I will let him out, and he will go potty and come back in. There are some times that he will go out there alone for a while, but it is few and far between, and usually only with my other dog.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It does kinda look like that from behind, but he is eating chicken poop. Right after that picture was taken he walked away. He does sometimes stare at them though - I should correct for that?

I think I would, but not hard. Just a quick bzzt! reminder. Might be all it takes.

Also, I am really struggling at getting him to be outside without me for a decent amount of time. I will let him out, and he will go potty and come back in. There are some times that he will go out there alone for a while, but it is few and far between, and usually only with my other dog.

Will have to think on this.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I think I would, but not hard. Just a quick bzzt! reminder. Might be all it takes.

I tried it today, and it worked well! When he looked at them with his ears perked I gave him a small buzz, and then he came over to me and did it again, and again I buzzed him. After that he was ignoring them a lot more. Here are some pictures I took from that lesson!

In the background of this picture (below), Ranger is kinda staring at the hen that I am taking the picture of, should that have gotten a small correction? Sorry if I am asking too many questions, I just want to do this right!

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Will have to think on this.

This is what I get every time I try to go inside :

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I tried it today, and it worked well! When he looked at them with his ears perked I gave him a small buzz, and then he came over to me and did it again, and again I buzzed him. After that he was ignoring them a lot more. Here are some pictures I took from that lesson!
View attachment 4225558

In the background of this picture (below), Ranger is kinda staring at the hen that I am taking the picture of, should that have gotten a small correction? Sorry if I am asking too many questions, I just want to do this right!
View attachment 4225559

When you "zap" him and he comes to you, praise him big time! That's always the right answer and you want him to know he's doing the RIGHT thing. Remember, Red Light, Green Light. For every "no" there has to be a "yes." Listen to me, sounding all Kung Fu-ey, lol. So sounds like he's doing great, and so are you.

If he wants to keep close to you, I would encourage it. He's still a puppy right? Under two years old? He'll gain confidence with age and also by being close to you.

Oh, and don't zap him any more unless he actually seems to be going after them. I don't want him to be afraid of the chickens, or afraid of looking at them casually.