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

[BigBlueHen53]

If anyone is using the e-collar to "shock their dog into submission" then they do not understand how to use an e-collar and probably should not use it without professional guidance.

Edited.

 

[Craigatcsi]

We had a dog that just put her head down and just ‘endured’ the shock, just to get a chicken. Even when we went to max shock, she just toughed it out. It got bad enough that we could no longer trust her, when she was out of our direct supervision. It even got bad enough that I truly hated that dog! Of the many dogs that we have had over the years, she was by far, the worst. We finally just surrendered her, because of this and her other severely destructive behaviors. - If she was a human, she would be a repeat offender and in prison!

 

[Fretmark]

My dog has killed SO MANY of my chickens, and I am at my wits end. I have heard of training methods using an e-collar, which I have and he is trained on in other areas of his life, and I am wondering, has anyone used an e-collar to teach their dog not to kill chickens? In more depth, the method is this: put a chicken in the yard, and then release the dog while you hide and watch. Once the dog tries to go after the chicken, you shock him on a very high level with the e-collar. Basically he will associate chasing chickens with pain, and he wont do it anymore. Does this work? Is it "abusive" to do this to your dog? My thinking is that a moment of pain for my dog is worth it if it means the life of all my birds.

Years ago I had a Beagle that killed chickens so I took one of the dead chickens and tied it around his neck and left it until the chicken started stinking and the dog was getting pretty sick of it. He had to sleep, eat, and pack it around with him everywhere and everything he did. After 3 days he never got close to another chicken.

 

[R Gallagher]

A few questions before I do it: Should have the e-collar on the highest level (100)? Or should I have it a little lower, like 80 or something? Also, should I let the whole flock out during this, or just one hen? Should I treat the hens for stress after this? How would I do that?

Whatever situation where your dog chases a chicken! I guess that means let em all out and wait for him to chase one!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Never start on the highest level. Start low and go up till you get a response. But for the safety of the chicken, have it in a safe enclosure like a dog crate until you know what strength the collar needs to be on to get a response. Did you read the article referenced above? Post #49?

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Whatever situation where your dog chases a chicken! I guess that means let em all out and wait for him to chase one!

Thats what I've been doing. They have been out every day, and I let the dogs out as usual.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Little mini update about Rangers progress: I haven't had to correct him in at all for a few days now. He avoids them and they avoid him for the most part. Even when a hen was sitting on a bench only about 3ft away from him he just slept, and then the hen jumped off and he glanced up (no perked ears) and then just fell back asleep.

Now, tell me if I did this wrong: So I had Ranger in a down stay, and I had his fav toy, so he was focused on me, then my brother came holding a chicken and started circling Ranger (he didn't care about it at all, not even a glance), and then my brother starting getting closer and even touched the chicken to Rangers tail and butt (not a flinch, not a glance, he didn't care), and then the hen jumped from my brothers arms and Ranger leaped AWAY from the hen (he was startled by the movement), and moved towards me. I rewarded big time and played ball with him. No correction needed. This was a stark difference from what he did about 5 days ago (when my nephew dropped the hen and Ranger went at it).
To be honest, it went well, but I don't think I will do that again - I don't want him to get reactive towards them out of annoyance. Hopefully that wasn't a horrible thing to do...

 

[macaw1us]

I would and have killed the dog by now.
Yes E collars work, but you need to be up on it and use it when it even thinks about going after a chicken. In your case it needs to be on high because you have let him kill several time already.
The thing that is abusive is the fact you keep letting the dog murder chickens.
Either handle it or get rid of the dog.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I would and have killed the dog by now.
Yes E collars work, but you need to be up on it and use it when it even thinks about going after a chicken. In your case it needs to be on high because you have let him kill several time already.
The thing that is abusive is the fact you keep letting the dog murder chickens.
Either handle it or get rid of the dog.

woah, ok. I am handling it, and I have not been "letting my dog murder chickens". What do you think I made this thread for? It's because I AM handling it. I feel terrible that those hens died, but I love my dog and I am not going to kill him or get rid of him just because he needs some work with the hens.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

woah, ok. I am handling it, and I have not been "letting my dog murder chickens". What do you think I made this thread for? It's because I AM handling it. I feel terrible that those hens died, but I love my dog and I am not going to kill him or get rid of him just because he needs some work with the hens.

I don't think that was aimed at you ...