Are there any dog breeds that AREN'T going to want to kill chickens?

[sarahsark]

Obviously most LSG dogs - Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds, etc - probably will be your safest bet. I don't know much beyond that, other than train, train, train that puppy and supervise, always.

That being said, we had a Lab/Rottie mix that would kill a chicken in a heart beat and tear through whatever he had to, to get to them. No amount of training or supervising would work. We could literally be four feet away from him, and he could be on a leash, and the chickens could be in their coup, but he would never stop lunging, barking, snarling, terrorizing them.

The breed of the dog is very important but so is the individual personality of that dog.

 

[FrizzlesRule]

I would go with a small dog like a chihauhau, poodle or pom. No big dogs. Big dogs are definitely chicken killers. One of the reasons I've always disliked big dogs.

 

[MelaniesGoldenComets]

I can't speak for the breed itself, but we have 2 boxers(male 3, female 10) and they pretty much ignore my girls. I have 2 roosters and 2 hens that stay out most of the time and come close to the house. I can let the dogs out and they'll take off through the woods like idiots and sometimes run right thru the middle of them. But they really have zero interest in them.

Now my dachsund is a different story. He killed my husbands favorite hen(while he was IN his cage) and given the chance he will chase the outside birds all over the property until he's apprehended.

Edit: We also never trained the 2 big dogs to stay away or leave them alone, they just do. But they're very dogs. The weiner dog, no amount of training has kept him from wanting to get at them. We had to put a top on the dog lot because he could climb out in the corners! He is a terror!

 

[wvgal61]

I have boxers. My female will chase a chicken while they free range, but never hurt one. i can put in the lot with the chickens and she pays them no attention what so ever.We even left he alone in our house with a bunch of chicks in a playpen. We raised her from a pup. Our male, well I wouldn't trust him enough to even try to let him near a chicken. We got him when he was a year old. He has never shown any agression toward anything including the chickens, but he is very hyper and might hurt them from trying to play. My two shih tzus never offer to chase the chicks. and they don't shed, and are allergy friendly.

 

[wvgal61]

We also had a germon shepherd that had no interest in chasing chickens

 

[Cara]

Quote:
You might look at how many members have had Dachshunds kill their birds. It's ludicrous to say all big dogs are chicken killers and small dogs are not. Many small breeds are varmint hunters (hence their size for squeezing down setts or holes), so not at all suitable around poultry.

 

[ranchhand]

I've raised chickens for 18 years and various dogs for even more years. I never allow the two to meet any more, because it's so unpredictable. Even the best training can fail sometimes, so I keep a fence between them at all times now.

 

[Zahboo]

Try to choose a mellow puppy. I don't think its really the breed, besides terriers. Just if the dog is more chill you have a better chance. Sounds like you need a Willow.

 

[dntd]

My bichon won't chase anyanimals, she though get worried if they are out of place, just barks at them, great pet rat finder

 

[nzpouter]

all dogs can be trained to live with chickens, all in your consistency over a period of time with a little helping of common sense... I had most breed of dogs throughout my life and all of them get along with chooks, from german sheperd, rotties to daschunds.... and they are fed raw diets (includes chicken).