Chicken Killing Family Dog

[barredrockgrl]

Quote:
Trust issue is a BIG factor. My husband's family had a dog when he was about 8 or 9- that dog took to killing small calves that were born to their cows. The dog would dig around the fence and then drag the calf underneath it. The first time it happened they tried to "train" him. Then it happened again. They tried to build better fences/etc. Well- it wasn't shortly there afterwards that my husband (a boy at the time) was walking across the barn yard to the house and the dog got between him and the house and would not let him pass. It then became a trust issue and the ended up getting rid of the dog.

Flash forward 30+ years. Our dog took to killing chickens this winter. The first one he killed when the chicken escaped his run and I didn't realize it. I forgave the dog...but we started watching him more often, putting him on the chain if the chickens were outside etc. Well, On Christmas day I forgot and let the chickens out into their Inclosed run- I went out later in the day as it got colder to close up the coop and the dog was sitting inside the coop. My heart sank. He had killed 2 birds and injured another. ( later I found out he took at 3rd bird and buryed it behind the shed. We did many of the things other's have suggested and put the dog in the barn when we weren't with him. The first day we let him to roam freely as he used too we watched him from the house- The Chicken coop was closed up tight, with all the chickens inside. The dog paced back and forth, back and forth around that shed. we watched as he stood up on his hind legs and tried to use his front legs to open the gate to get inside. He didn't stop - he went and sniffed at the door and scratched at the door- trying to get to my chickens.
Its been said that once they get the taste of blood they crave it and want more- --- if the dog can't be trusted, I see no reason to feel obligated to keeping it around. ESPECIALLY if you have small children ( our youngest was 2 at the time)

Unfortunatly- the dog we had loved for over 10 years ( he was almost 15 years old) had to go.

I hope you have better luck then we did.

A calf is NOT = to a child. A chicken is also not = to a child. I have two dogs who are "killers". As hunting breeds they LOVE to chase anything small and fuzzy. They've gotten feral cats and groundhogs. That DOES NOT mean they would harm a human, large or small. Both also love kids, even though they aren't exposed to them often. Management of your existing pets is important. There's a good reason we built the coop outside the fence line that contains the pooches. We also had the forethought to use a dog kennel (re-enforced with wire) in case any dogs wander up. Plus, I kind of take issue with people who are so quick to give up older dogs.

 

[redhen]

just becaue a dog is animal agressive..it DOES NOT mean its going to be human agressive.

 

[BellLisamo]

Quote:
He did.... even after he was disciplined for it. He was only 4 or 5 months old when he did that. It was a chase game that ended up in a yummy tasty treat. I thought right away about getting rid of him, but he was just a puppy. He was still learning. But I began taking him to the coops with me, and telling him no if he got that crazy look in his eyes. There are a few ways you can train a dog... but you have to be consistanct and WANT to keep and CHANGE the dogs ways.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

My Dachshund would happily eat anything small and fuzzy or feathered. I can't trust her with small animals of any kind. But she is as child and baby and people safe as any dog gets. She loves children and babies, and when she is around them she assumes a submissive stance, makes herself very non-threatening and will try to get them to play with her. She has visited the dying in hospice facilities where she will sit very still with them for hours, being careful not to move too much or jostle them. She has NO people agression.

People agression is an altogether different kind of problem than prey agression. Prey drive is natural in dogs, but agression towards people is not something most dog breeds were selected for, so agression towards humans is usually due to poor socialization, bad experiences or untrained dogs run wild.

As for "culling" dogs with chicken or other animal agression, isn't that something that should be reserved as a last resort or emergency? Back in the old days they didn't have the internet, breed rescues, dog training, or animal shelters, so it made sense that a dog might be culled to solve that kind of problem. Nowadays there are tons of ways to get a new home for a dog. We have options that old timers didn't.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

First and foremost the dog came first....So your responsibility comes to the dog first. Killing chickens and small prey? Nature, plain and simple. Some dogs have a high prey drive, some have the herding instinct, some have the flushing instinct, and some are just lumps on a log. I have one dog with high prey drive a shepherd/chow mix and she's a nut dog. I recently aquired a shock collar as a deterrant when she nears the coops. This works, and i praise her for coming back when being called and not having to use the collar. I also treat my dogs with eggs. I have a pit mix that is food aggressive with other animals, she even likes to kill mice, squirrels, etc. but for some reason she will not touch the chickens. She's an older dog but she'd never been around chickens until she was 6 yrs old, so I don't know what it is about her. I had a chicken get loose one of my ameraucana, and i come outside close to dusk to lock up the chickens in the coop, and find the dog, with the loose chicken on her back roosting!!!

As the owner, the human, the creature who is responsible for keeping everyone healthy, happy, and safe you need to re-inforce your coop and run (I would say your hope of free ranging is not going to be possible atleast till MAYBE next year) - get a shock collar for your dog, go to a trainer or find a trainer to seek advice from about how best to attempt to train him. be repetitive, consistant, and positive. Do not out right punish a dog for bad behavior, but reward good behavior. A dog that you punish left and right for all the bad things and dont have a higher dose of praise, will never learn to stop chasing or killing things...They will become spiteful I've seen it happen with other people. I've seen dogs go out and kill livestock and drag it back 1/2 a mile to their owner's and just sit out beside their 'prize' and then run off as soon as you come home or go outside. Even in a pack setting the alpha will reprimand the disobediant but will show affection and praise to the pack for a job well done. thats what the pack lives for, to please the alpha and to have that love, praise, and unity. Just remember that.

 

[PhlyinPheBee]

From a dog trainer's point of view, yes you can train the dog. Now saying that it is a long process. Daily training and the whole family has to help. I have 4 toy poodles and they LOVE the chickens. I started the chicks in the house and they learned from day one sniffing is good anything else is not. I can give you some ideas if you like.