Do you trust your dog around your chickens?

[Lalaith]

My dog is a coon hound/doberman cross and he's great with the chickens. He likes to sniff at all of the animals on the farm and he's gotten his butt handed to him a couple of times for being too nosy but he's never hurt any of our livestock or pets. He's a prince

BTW the butt kicking was by the mother sheep and the cats- I never had to discipline him myself

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[rachelbinnc]

My chickens are perfectly safe with my poodle/corgi mix. However, their pellet feed better watch out! He's on it at every opportunity

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I intentionally chose my dog based on temperament -- at the time, I had three cats and I didn't want a dog that would chase them. I went through local rescue groups because their dogs tend to go through foster homes where they can really be observed with other animals. My dog demonstrated that he could live harmoniously with cats and after getting the chickens, we found that his good will extends to them.

To echo what others have said, I also established from day one that I am boss. I did this with attitude and consistency, not through any kind of physical punishment.

The combination of the temperament with the high expectations will set you up for success.

 

[bobbi-j]

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Our bird dog (black lab) is a great retriever, and points pheasants. He does not bother the chickens. They can be trained.

 

[bobbi-j]

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Love the pic! Your dog looks like she'd love to play with them. I've gotta ask. Are those to chickens on the right side... PINK? Or is it my screen?

 

[mediazeal]

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Gorgeous dog, Popcorn Puppy.
I have an austrailian shepard and a border collie. They both ignore the chickens and dodge them when the chickens decide to get in their face.
I have grown to completely trust them around the chickens whether I am there or not.
They will get 'overly excited' by an injured or flailing chicken (I had an ill rooster that acted sick and was flapping around once that drew the dogs interest) but have never had them hurt any of them.
I feel very lucky!

 

[city kid farm]

I love hearing about all these well mannered dogs.

I wish we could trust the dog with the chickens. He's a lab/dalmation mutt. We can't trust the dog with the cats either. He doesn't do anything to them but terrorize them with barking and over enthusiasm. Still, I worry that he'd get mouthy.

 

[AmberH]

To answer the topic question... No, I do not trust her with them. Dogs are predators and they do chase and sometimes kill other animals. That being said... I'll let these pics do the talking.

Emily (American Pit Bull Terrier) and Ophelia at 1 and 3 weeks old. I am always supervising their interaction.

 

[dieselgrl48]

I have a Poodle.He was a city dog of 1 1/2 years old when We bought the farm here 6 year's ago.He has been excellent around the bird's and actualy trie's to Mimmic our neighbor's Aust.Shepard at rounding up stuff.He get's a lil nutz sometimes but does chase the bird's out of yard etc. But he's a ham basicaly and has taken some abuse from a couple Roo's We have had in the past.Hehe yea he has a major underbite too.

 

[blefky]

I have a two year old American Bulldog who is enthralled with my chicks, she loves to mother them and we all get a big kick out of it. That said, I would still not leave her unattended with them - I just wouldn't be comfortable testing nature that way. Right now we're constructing the run for the chicks so they use my garden as their temporary exercise yard. It's fenced but not covered, so I only put them there when I can be outside with them - but it would be the foolish hawk who drops down on one of those chicks cuz Gracie never leaves the side of the fence when they're out. Wherever they settle, so does she. Interesting that she has chased every kind of critter out of my yard but seems to consider the chicks (and my parrot) part of the pack, and has never, yet, caused me any concern. The link below is to a youtube video of Gracie and the babies. I posted it once before, but it fits here so I thought I'd put it up again.

 

[ellieroo]

Yes my dobe is on her 2nd batch of peepers and squeekers. I have left her with them running loose in the yard and gone to town many many times ! She loves her fluffy butt kids!