are your dogs and chicken friends

[LoneStarHen]

I've got two Great Pyr/Anatolian mix dogs. They love their chickens. They even get after the hawks when they come around.

 

[thehappynunu]

Uggg - I'm so jealous of all of you that don't have to worry about your dogs and chickens together. I have a year old lab mix (he was 6 months when I got chickens) and he is absolutely crazy about them. I have them in an enclosed run and he will never get tired of chasing them. Does anyone have any suggestions? He killed one of my ladies in January which I am still heartbroken about. What did you guys do to make your animals all get together well? My lab is very well trained until you put him near a chicken or rabbit (I breed rabbits as well). Grr I'm just frustrated with the situation.

It is funny though - a lot of times my Orpington will chase him back and peck him!

 

[PaintedFeathers]

My Welsh terrier loves all baby animals. Last year a baby chick died and he laid down and put his head right next to her. It was obvious in his eyes he was sad. I just hatched 16 new chickies in this hatch-a-long...he was there every step of the way this weekend and is excited to be with the new babies. He gets so nervous around the tiny ones he shakes and licks his lips non stop....or he is thinking chicken dinner. But he is great with all the big girls.

I would watch out with that... that is the look of "omg... need... to...restrain myself!", this means I want to kill it but I know I shouldn't.

 

[OnceYouGoQuack]

We've been so thankful that our mixed dog has been good so far. Tikka is a Australian cattle dog mixed with Jack Russell, and I was worried about her prey drive. So far she seems to think of them as part of her pack, and when they are free ranging she will herd them back into the coop on command! I do not trust them alone, b/c any dog can snap if unsupervised, but so far so good!

I'm with you, Abserbean. My Australian shep/chow mix has done well so far these few weeks with my 5 week old ducklings but not sure if I can trust her alone while because of the prey drive. I'm hoping things will continue to be peaceful, and now I'm hoping she will be like your Tikki and learn to herd them back when it's time to hit the coop!

 

[cary 1973]

This is our Lab/Rott mix "Missy". She loves to watch the chicks, but I'm afraid to let her get too close. She is a water/bird dog. She kills kittens (sad I know) and chases rabbits so I'm a little weary of letting her get too close to the chicks yet. They are 2 weeks old today and she is showing less interest in them. When they get a little bigger and she gets a little less interested maybe I will let them meet face to face. She hasn't tried to get to them while I change their water/bedding and such. So hopefully they will get along ok. Our cat "Oreo" loves to watch them too, but doesn't seem to interested in hurting them. Sometimes it's hard to tell what's going on in their minds. When we first brought them home, she and the cat would get in little hissing/growling matches when the cat would get too close to the brooder. But I don't know if it's because she thinks she is protecting the "chicks" from the cat, or if she is protecting her "snack" from the cat.

I would say never trust her with the birds if she already proved she is a killer then rule of thumb killed once will kill again.

 

[cary 1973]

I have to point out every story of the mean killing breed of Pit bulls are the only ones not listed as trying to kill chickens that includes my candii who loves her chicks and so sweet with them. Just want to throw it out there as pits have such a bad rep when they really are not a bad breed just bad humans that get a hold of the breed

 

[rekkas peeps]

we introduced our 12 weeks old shephard lab mix to the new babies we got 3 weeks ago. he loves them (including the ducklings). we had 2 that we had to seperate and try to nurse them back to health and Rusty (the dog) kept taking their blanket in his mouth and carried them to the couch where he ladi with them to get them warm. it was so cute yet sad when they passed. he kept looking for them.

we just introduced him to the full grown flock last night and let him run around in the run....he did so well even herded in the 2 Cayugas up when it was time to go in. he made a best friend out of Soliel one of the barred rock hens we have. SO FUNNY

 

[CinnamonQueen]

Our dog is a big coward. He's scared of everything. He's most likely scared of the chickens too.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Dogs, cats and chickens get along at our farm


Kitty "Cash" hatching something.....probably and evil plan!

This is hilarious. I love it.
Angela

My Welsh terrier loves all baby animals. Last year a baby chick died and he laid down and put his head right next to her. It was obvious in his eyes he was sad. I just hatched 16 new chickies in this hatch-a-long...he was there every step of the way this weekend and is excited to be with the new babies. He gets so nervous around the tiny ones he shakes and licks his lips non stop....or he is thinking chicken dinner. But he is great with all the big girls.

Licking his lips.

I would watch out with that... that is the look of "omg... need... to...restrain myself!", this means I want to kill it but I know I shouldn't.

Yeah this is the same with my dog so we have to keep a close eye on him when he is with my chicks.

 

[instar8]

I have trained five dogs not to bother free ranging chickens...all mutts, two of them had pitbull blood, one was a fox terrier/chihuahua mix, lots of hunting dog traits mixed in. I hate to say it, but corporal punishment was involved...when i caught them going after chickens, i smacked the snot outta them, scolded them, and dragged them by the scruff up to the house, and they only got out on a leash for quite a while. I've never needed to do that more than once. My dogs know what "mine" means. They look the other way when the chickens and peacock walk by them. THey live in the house, they sleep with me, they're spoiled rotten, but they KNOW what "mine" and "leave it alone" means.

A friend once called me 'dog whisperer'...nope, more of a dog hollerer...

They aren't children, though apparently, exerting my dominance didn't hurt when i was bringing up two kids on my own. Most people would call me a VERY liberal parent, but i insisted on respect. You can say anything to me, if you do it respectfully, and in return I will respect you as a person. I worked 12 hour night shifts as a nurse most of the time my kids were teens, and they didn't get into trouble. Respect was the key, I think. I had no clue about parenting, my own parents left me floundering...but i figured out that respect for your parents is a prerequisite to respect for yourself...or others ....or God...or wherever your path leads you.

Respect your dog as an animal, as a DOG, and make yourself the dominant one...and they WILL respect that.