Boxer Puppy Attacked Chicken For 2nd Time

[deerman]

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My husband has already informed me we are NOT giving away an $800 dog

Sounds like I need to get the fence builder out there to build the run so I can keep them separated. Hubby finished the coop right before he had to leave to go to work in Louisiana and we didn't get to build the run. Seems like that is the best option. Would love to see some pics of your Boxers! Thanks to everyone for your advice!

never mind

 

[boxermom]

We moved to the country when my boxer was just a year old. Our dogs do not have the run of the farm. They are to stay by the house unless we give permission to be elsewhere with us. That spring, when Tank turned 2 was when we got our first chickens. Unfortunately, Tank had to be tied up all summer because he chose to go thru the under ground fence and go after the birds. Then next year when he turned 3, it was like a switch was finally turned on. He is wonderful. He still leaves the "yard" without permission sometimes, but does not even look at the birds. They belong here, so he doesn't see the need to chase them away. Tank is now 4 and I've added 4 goats. He watches them, but has never made an aggressive move nor even a playful move toward them. I was afraid I was going to have to give up having boxers again, when he was gone because they are "city dogs", but it looks like he just needed to grow up. We had a late start in training him because he was 2 before we had birds. The next pup will be different. His training will be started as soon as we get him.

 

[coreybee]

Some dogs just have a higher prey drive than others. I know I can't trust my dogs loose with chickens. In their eyes they see "birdies", the kind you hunt. So I will always have a fence between them and the chickens.

You may want to work with an animal behaviorist, that way at least you would know whether harmony is possible, or if you should just put the fence up.

Good luck!

 

[Okie Amazon]

NO E-COLLAR ON A 4 MONTH OLD!! Bad, bad, idea, unless you want a spazzed out, fearful dog. Long line and prong collar. Never leave pup (or any dog, IMO) unsupervised around your birds. Harsh verbal correction first, then if that's ignored, immediate correction with the prong anytime the pup heads for a bird. Don't try to make them "make friends" with the chickens. Just impress that the chickens do not exist as far as they are concerned. Don't look at them, don't walk towards them, NOTHING. Heavy praise and a puppy party if they ignore the chickens.

 

[chickadiddle]

Quote:
X2

 

[louisiana50]

Hi, I am kinda late seeing your email. Our first boxer just wouldn't quit killing our chickens. Nothing we did would work. We finally got rid of the chickens because we loved the dog the most and I am glad we did. We were able to focus just on her for 12 whole years and she just starting dying so quickly. She's been gone nearly 2 years and never a day goes by we don't miss her. So, we got some more chickens. Then, finally after grieving Ruby so long, we decided to get another boxer, Jake. He has now attacked and viciously defeathered one of our favorite hens. He is so powerful he forced the gate open, chewed through the rope and shoved concrete blocks away from the gate to get that chicken. I can't believe he didn't kill her. I caught him and hit him with the broom. Now we have his gate chained. I don't know how to get this out of them. .But, to us, he is the most loving dog. We LOVE boxers. We just haven't been able to get them from killing chickens either.P.S. Take a look at our beautiful Buff Orpingtons - the best chickens in the world.

 

[Michael Apple]

my 4 month old Boxer puppy has attacked one of my chickens for the second time in a month.

The first time the pup attacked this chicken, I found her just sitting in the yard when I got home. He had chewed on her back end but I got her doctored up and all was well. Kept a real close eye on the pup ever since.

I really thought he was getting better. Then this evening we go out to put them in the coop and as I walk out on the deck, I see him with this same chicken down in the yard. I immediately hollered at him but he didn't even move until I started running down the steps towards him.

You didn't learn the first time. All dogs have a prey drive. A 4 month old pup won't be familiar to the routine of obedience over stimulation, even if it has received some obedience training.

She got chewed up pretty good on the legs and on the side of her head. After the first incident, I called to talk to the vet about it and he said the pup was probably "playing" with her.

Yeah. They all look cute killing things when they're young.

We have about a half acre fenced yard where the dogs and the chickens have run of the yard all day. Short of isolating one of them, I'm not sure what to do.

Control your dogs on a leash when chickens are in the yard or build a fence to separate chickens from dogs. Premier electric netting turns dogs away pretty quick. Problem is if you have flighty birds, they don't have much trouble getting over 4' of electric netting. That means it's wing clipping or a different type of fence.

Does anyone have Boxers AND chickens and advice on how they can peacefully coexist in one yard?

It doesn't matter what breed of dog it is. All dogs are stimulated by running, hopping, furry things that make noise. Control your dogs and teach them obedience.