Did the dog test

[Darklingstorm]

I have 1 yellow full blood lab (female) and 1 chow/black lab mix (male) and I needed to know how they would be with my chickens. So with the 5 week old chicks in a not very secure but fenced in area (temp run), I let the two dogs out of their kennel/run. I was sitting right next to the chicks to make sure no stress was brought on to them by the dogs.
I was surprised. The full blood lab looked to see what they were but never with aggression and then walked off and never came back. The mix however tried twice to go after them. He would put his head down, ears up and charged the fence; of course he only got to take two steps before I told him NO! After that he tried one more time, but this time as soon as he did the stance he was told NO! So I worked with him for a about an hour, watching him closely and every time he looked at the chicks with ears up, he got a NO! sent his way.
I don't think I will ever fully trust either dog (the female I know would hurt the chicks by wanting to play/chase them) but I also want them to know that the chicks are not on the menu, because I'm going to let them free range the yard.

Even my 2 year old had to have training. I think the dogs are easier to train though.

 

[schellie69]

I let my chickens free range and lock up my son's dog, When son's dog is out the chickens are locked up just not going to chance it with her. I would keep working with the dogs you might be surprised.

 

[Okie Amazon]

We raise and train working-line German Shepherds, and start most of their training working with food drive or prey-drive. We actually use what is called a "flirt-pole" (a buggy whip with a small furry toy on the end of it) to INCREASE prey-drive in our pups. We channel that into drive for biting tugs/toys and later the decoy. Animal aggression of any kind against any species is not allowed.

When we first turned our guineas loose, two flew into our dog kennels and were killed by a couple of our dogs. Dogs were scolded and now the guineas can walk right up to the dogs with no problems. The dogs now know that the guineas "belong" on our place and are off limits. The young pups will try to herd them some, but if they get too close and it looks like they might be about to get too "physical" they are called back. Of course having a lot of native intelligence and natural protective/herding instinct helps with this.


Some dogs are going to be poultry (and anything else they can catch) killers no matter what you do. NOT a dog I would own and certainly NOT a dog I would breed.

 

[annep]

My pyr got one of my hens when I was busy with something..We nailed her on it, and then about a month later, tried it again, and we got on her again..I do not trust her at all...Seems she knows when I am busy in the house or not looking...

 

[Darklingstorm]

no dog breeding here, the girl be fixed.

 

[schellie69]

We have 5 dogs that are great with the chickens no problems my son's new dog does have a high prey drive so we keep the chickens away from her. No breeding here either all the dogs are fixed. I just think some dogs can't be around chickens it triggers their prey drive. Not saying we won't work with son's dog to try and make her not go after the chickens but I won't trust her for a long time.

 

[bobbi-j]

Sounds like a good idea not to trust either of them. Our lab is great with the chickens. In 8 years, has never touched them. But then, we had chickens before we got him at 8 weeks old and the first thing I did was take him to the coop and taught him NO. I've had other labs that liked to "retrieve" them - until they quit moving, and then they'd find another one. The chow mix might obey NO as long as you're looking....

 

[StephanieD]

I had my 4 year old mutt dog trained perfectly to free roam with the chickens, it was great! I would come out with treats and when the dog wanted some- the chickens would move out of the way.

UNTIL...the neighbor's dog got into yard (I have no idea how) and got a hold of two of the chickens, harming one pretty bad. Well my dog was out there at the time and she got into the whole act, chasing the chickens. So now she is not trustworthy. We are working all over again and she may never be trusted again....

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Pack mentality. I've always said that kids and dogs are alot alike. They both forget the rules when there's company!

 

[maizey]

Our mini schnauzer went for the chicks the first time he saw them. He was used to getting fuzzy squeaky chew toys so I can understand his reaction. We scolded him and tried again several times until he got the message. The only time he was aggressive was when he was leashed and the chickens had a flapping fit for some reason and scared the daylights out of him. He tried to run but his leash was connected to my belt loop and he was trapped and snapped at the closest one. Missed, but I never leashed him in the back yard again. He responds very well to voice commands and soon learned. Now they are as big as he is and they chase him and drive him out of their busy area. Most of the time he retreats on the double, but if he's feeling frisky, he thinks it's fun and does the "let's play" doggie pose with butt in the air. He will chase back from time to time, but it's a scampery, rompy chase, not an aggressive, predatory chase and he always gets a verbal command to cease and desist, and usually a peck on the nose too. I don't leave him alone with them..at least not on purpose. He has accidentally been left outside a couple of times and seemed to remember his training. I honestly don't think he would kill them on purpose, but he could hurt them trying to play. He's a good boy