Can I rehabilitate my chicken killing puppy?

[FarmerCarl]

My six month old German Shepherd puppy went on a killing spree and killed twelve of my hens a couple days ago. He's been around the chickens since I brought him home at 7 weeks old and ignored them for the most part. He would chase a few halfheartedly but never tried to bite them. Now it's all changed. He killed for fun and left the bodies. My DH left him loose (bad DH) and went to work. I was already at work so neither of us could put him up. When I came home he was on the porch with his trophy. Yesterday he snagged an old hen and ate half of her. I thought I would be clever and hung her from the electric fence so he'd get a jolt when he went back for her, but he's too smart and won't go near her.

Is this it for my dog or can he be rehabilitated? I can confine him, but the odds of him getting loose sometime over the next 10 to 12 years are pretty high. I can confine my birds but prefer not to. I really want to break him of this.

Do you think it's possible? Have you ever had success and how? Should I get rid of him? I don't want to because he's an awesome dog, but I will if he can't be rehabilitated.

This sucks.

 

[rancher hicks]

Don't own a dog, but you might want to try a dog post forum and see what they have to say there. I'm sure there is a forum for dog owners.

I do hope you can find a solution.

rancher

 

[bobbi-j]

You're going to get answers on both sides of the issues here. Some will say that once he's tasted blood, you can never train him. Personally, I don't believe that. There are those who will say that you can train him. The only way you'll know the answer to that question is to try. You know more about your puppy than anyone else. It would take LOTS of time, training and patience on your part. How much of an investment are you willing to make? I hope you're willing to give it a try. For me, if it came down to the chickens or the dog, the dog would stay. But that's my opinion. One thought - until you've done the training, can you have the dog confined while the chickens are out and vice versa? Separation or supervision are very important until you decide whether or not you can trust your dog. Oh yeah, you'll also get opinions on both sides of THAT issue, too. The "You can NEVER trust a dog with your chickens" people and the "Look at the pictures of the chickens eating and sleeping with my dog" people. Once again, you are the only one who will be able to make that determination. Wishing you and your pup all the best.

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Trust me on this, NO you will not be able to break him of it, trust me Ive been thru it and don't let some trainer tell you otherwise....if it's in a dog to have that prey instinct you cannot take it away, I have one

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

You MAY be able to get him under control when you are out with him, but the minute you leave him alone he will do the same thing and kill them. So just make sure they are very secure....my dog will and has killed a chicken in a heartbeat But he has Never tried to get in the enclosure, of course it's chainlink, but he has never tried digging in or anything, but the second one gets out it's gone and he will eat it....he is a 150 lb dog and just has that in him to kill critters, but yet my cats and chihuahuas are fine, in his eyes anything running around the yard is fair game.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Honestly, I would say no, for the sake of the chickens. When it goes bad they are the ones who suffer terribly. I have owned dogs all my life including a few German Shepherd's. Most of them naturally have a very high prey drive.

You may be able to train him to leave them alone, in your presence. I am one of those who will say, never trust him alone with the chickens again. I don't believe you can train a natural prey drive instinct out of them. It will always be there. Your pup has shown you his level of drive.

And it doesn't have to come down to keeping the chickens vs the dog. I've had dogs and chickens for many, many years and never lost one to a dog. They just don't mingle, ever. I do believe that once a dog has had the "fun" of chasing down and killing the chickens it's a long road trying to train that out of him, if ever.

Also, the benefit of posting on a chicken related forum is that you will get more well rounded, experienced views and suggestion's from folk's who own both dogs and chickens, probably more so then on a dog only forum.

 

[al6517]

What I have seen is that folks do want to solve this behavior but lack the knowledge, skill and most importantly the patients & time to do it right, so the odd's are against you even with a smart breed like the shepard. Good luck though.

 

[schellie69]

first

I just lost 5 1 month old chicks to my DS's husky. We are doing submissive training and obedience training with her. Will I ever trust her with the chickens NO NEVER she will be supervised outside. When the chickens are out she is locked in the house. When she is out the chickens are locked in their secure pen. It will take a lot of training on your part but I would not leave the dog and chickens loss together ever again. Good luck.

 

[Montana cluckers]

I'm so sorry about your dog and chickens! I have a mini schnauzer that thinks it's his life goal to get chickens if left unguarded. I am very careful to keep on eye on the chickens if he's in the back yard, because occasionally they decide to commit chicken-cide and fly over the fence. I know that even if we're out with the dog, he would still go after a chicken if he could, because schnauzers are notorious for not listening, but I don't know about german shephards. I don't know if you can ever train a dog not to kill them, like the other posts said, you are going to get varying opinions on this issue. You have to make the best decision that works for you. I don't believe in luck, so I will just say God bless!

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Quote:
Knowledge, skill and patience have nothing to do with it....I have had trainers work with me and my dog and between us all we had All that......when a dog has that In him, I don't care what Anyone says, you Cannot take it out and if someone tells her diff they are just taking her money. I have been around dogs my whole life and have worked in veterinary offices for 25 years, I do know dogs very well and as much as I'd like to say that you can completely change a dog and he will Not kill another chicken, it's not going to happen....I couldn't get rid of mine so I made adjustments, when he is out the chickens are in their run, when I know he will be in for hours I let them free range, Ive gotten so used to doing it that it's no big deal. I just could not get rid of him, he is so bonded to us and not thrilled with strangers I knew he would not do well if he were placed.