Darn that dog.

[Lovmybirds]

So we Recently got a German Shepherd, she is nine months now, we truly did our best to adjust her to our chickens and ducks. Yet to be fair we have the birds in a well constructed pen, to not tempt fate, yet my boyfriend last night did not latch it good so when the dog was put out for her morning constitution, we think she went in and got the duck, because she knows she is not allowed near the pens we think she dragged it off to a corner of the yard where we might not see. Problem is we did not see all this, just found her over a dead duck. Not seeing the actual offense makes it hard. We realize it could have been a coyote or skunk ( we live in on a ranch) but we love our birds, we have a Turkey two chickens and now just one duck. We hate to get rid of the dog, we have put so much into her, but the birds mean more to us.

 

[quackiemama]

I am sorry about your duck

 

[PirateGirl]

I am sorry you are going through this. It may have been your dog, but if the gate failed it could have been anything. I would keep working on training your dog. Also double check your gate or maybe add a second latch so you are sure it’s shut well each time you tend to the birds. I didn’t shut my gate well this morning and had a chicken escape. I can only imagine how it it would have ended if I was not the first to get to her.

 

[sourland]

As you know, it is not the fault of the dog. Just be careful to keep the gate latched. Obedience training plus hot wire around the pen are great educators. The best dog that I have ever had was a German Shepherd, and once he figured out what I wanted he did his best to please me. It's all in the training.

 

[Lovmybirds]

As you know, it is not the fault of the dog. Just be careful to keep the gate latched. Obedience training plus hot wire around the pen are great educators. The best dog that I have ever had was a German Shepherd, and once he figured out what I wanted he did his best to please me. It's all in the training.

Thank you so much for saying that, it means a lot and it confirms to me what i feel. We have put so much into her, and I do not think its fair to her not to do all we can. I am sure by boyfriend would love hot wiring the fence. He loves that stuff.

 

[DellaMyDarling]

I've got a GSD mix, a "black mouth cur".
When we first moved here she consistently hunted the neighbors chickens and ducks. We had to use serious aversion and redirection training. Shock collar capable of emitting "beeps" was a key component.
Getting our own birds, she sees us caring for them. Feeding, picking up, etc.

And now? You'll see her coexisting with chickens in my avatar. They don't mind her one bit. They are all friendly on the farm.
It's very true that these breeds desire to please. You have to teach them it is not pleasing to their hoomans to eat certain creatures. We compromise and let her have all the squirrel and shrew she can catch. Some people will consider the shock collar cruel, but we personally believe getting our dog shot by a pissed off neighbor is worse. A few light shocks and a number of beeps can be carefully used to train.

 

[Lovmybirds]

I've got a GSD mix, a "black mouth cur".
When we first moved here she consistently hunted the neighbors chickens and ducks. We had to use serious aversion and redirection training. Shock collar capable of emitting "beeps" was a key component.
Getting our own birds, she sees us caring for them. Feeding, picking up, etc.

And now? You'll see her coexisting with chickens in my avatar. They don't mind her one bit. They are all friendly on the farm.
It's very true that these breeds desire to please. You have to teach them it is not pleasing to their hoomans to eat certain creatures. We compromise and let her have all the squirrel and shrew she can catch. Some people will consider the shock collar cruel, but we personally believe getting our dog shot by a pissed off neighbor is worse. A few light shocks and a number of beeps can be carefully used to train.

Thank you so much, you are the second person to suggest a shock collar, and both love the dogs and the breed. I know that my dog is very stubborn so this may be the way to do it to be fair to all the animals, we love her and she knows that.