Does anyone know how to keep a dog away from the chicken coop?

[chook rescuer]

I have a dachshund who whenever I go to the coop follows me down and true to dig under the coop, if anyone has any suggestions I will warmly appreciate them.

Thanks

 

[missnu01]

Have you tried getting him used to the chickens on leash...like taking him with you into the coop? It worked for my dogs...they now know that chickens aren't for eating by them...unless I share...You just have to get everyone acquainted...if he sees and smells them up close he might not be so curious about what is up there...my dogs used to get all weird when I would go in the coop, but now they know I am with the chickens and aren't interested in going with me anymore.

 

[chook rescuer]

Have you tried getting him used to the chickens on leash...like taking him with you into the coop? It worked for my dogs...they now know that chickens aren't for eating by them...unless I share...You just have to get everyone acquainted...if he sees and smells them up close he might not be so curious about what is up there...my dogs used to get all weird when I would go in the coop, but now they know I am with the chickens and aren't interested in going with me anymore. 

I have tried this but it is like my dog is super jealous and he needs to kill the source!
I have even tried taking him in the roosting and nesting boxes when the chickens are free ranging!
Any more advice?

Thanks

 

[nzpouter]

well... it's your job to teach it that those behaviours are unacceptable.

 

[NovaAman]

Yes... A fenced in dog run, and since he's a digger, buried.down 1/2 foot.

I have a chicken killer too. Fencing is the way to go.

 

[HEChicken]

I don't think you'll have much luck teaching a doxie not to go after the chickens - they are among the worst pet dog predators, having been bred to hunt small animals. Your best bet is to keep them separate. If the dog is an indoor dog, I would leave him indoors when you go to see the chooks. If he is an outdoor dog, fence him in so that he can't go with you.

 

[PineTopFarm]

Depending on how your yard is set up you can consider a wireless electric fence. You can set the peramaters so your dog can run free in areas of the yard that you allow but keep him from the coop.

 

[thebanthams]

My dogs will never give up, they like to chase them ! its up to you how you want to save your chickens ! train the dog, or keep the pen locked up. Once they kill a chicken they will do it again ! My problems is my neighbors dogs and coyotes. So, its hard to keep them away !

 

[earlybird10842]

We have had several incidents involving dogs. Try to train you dog not to go near the coop.

 

[missnu01]

I have a yorkie poo and a husky/pit bull/lab/German shepherd mix...quite a mutt he is...The little dog patrols the coop, and the larger dog does enjoy chasing the chickens, but not maliciously. If they stop running he stops messing with them...All the roo has to do is flap at him and he just sits down and watches. The chickens are getting used to seeing Chase (the mixed up muttley) so they don't make themselves quite so much fun. Lol. I mean think about how dogs play, and then think about how chickens act...I am a firm believer in that you have to get everyone used to seeing everyone else so both parties know how to act...if the chickens get all excited and scared then the dog has a fun game...if the chickens are just picking at scratch then they are pretty boring...but we have gotten everyone acquainted and it seems to be going well. I started with Chase when he was just a tiny puppy. I would take him into the coop with me when the chickens were in there, and then I would feed him treats anytime he wasn't paying the chickens any attention..and when the chickens are in the yard and me and Chase go out with a cup of scratch in one hand, and a cup of dog food in the other, and I toss some dog food down for chase and scratch for the chickens and everyone is just nose to the ground and happy...It just seems terribly unsafe to have a dog that isn't used to chickens around chickens...so my first line of defense was to make them friends...my Yorkie poo just does what I want him to regardless of what it is...when he first saw the chickens he tore out after them barking all the way, but the one he singled in on just stopped running and laid down, so he gave her a really long and intense sniff, and now he hasn't chased them since.