dog and ducks...

[secretquail]

I have a 10 year old Lab, and I will be hatching out Silver Appleyards this summer. I would love to be able to let the ducks out while my pup is playing in the yard. How has anyone introduced a hunting (not anymore) dog to their ducks? Wile E. (the pup) is gentle with babies, and runs after the neighbors cat, but only for 15' or so. I think she could get used to ducks, but any advice would be great!

 

[lola4795]

Our dog not only got used to the ducks, but she decided to mother them. When they were little she followed them everywhere and herded them together. She also would get them all between her front paws and give them baths with her tongue. It was the cutest thing ever!

 

[Ms.Chunkybutt]

I am curious about this as well.. I have an 11 year old lab who doesn't even know he is a lab (he HATES water

) He watches my 3 ducks who are about 5 weeks now, through the windows and the front door and wags his tail. He was raised with kittens and always just cuddles with them. SO I am wondering how he will do with supervision of course when we let the ducks roam the back yard and he is out with them as well.. He never was a hunting dog, jsut a big overgrown puppy who thinks he is either human or feline!!

Thanks
Toni

 

[duckgirl_19]

he souds cute i would try to see i dont think he will do anything

 

[kat1928]

I have a 2 yr old German Shorthaired Pointer, and she just wants to sniff them, she has been so gentle with my ducks and chickens, but I still watch her like a hawk. She is a bird dog.

 

[katharinad]

I have an English Cocker/Lab mix. His attitude is 100% English Cocker and he is an excellent bird hunter. That is when out in the field. At home he is the sweetest thing and he loves ducks. I have 4 dogs and they have been socializing with the ducks since hatch. I don't trust the 2 girls, they have funky thoughts. One girl we think is a coyote mix, and the other girl is a blue heeler/sheppard mix. We also have a 5 month old golden retriever, who I think will be great with the ducks too. Had the ducks swimming in the bath tub and had to go out an grab a towel. Came back and found him with the ducks in the bath tub. Scarred the heck out of me, but he was sweet with them. Forgot to mention he is water crazed, so I think he was in for the water. Yesterday, we were working on the aviary with the ducks in it. Our English Cocker mix came in with us (he insisted to be let in). No problem at all, no chaise, no nothing. The ducks followed him around, and he was all happy. So it all depends on the dog.
Katharina

 

[janastasio]

My 2 year old yellow lab took out 20 chickens and 1 duck and injured multiple ducks over the coarse of 3 attacks last year. Her dog pen was attached to our coop and she found multiple ways to break in. We would fix it, make it better and then she would find a new way in. Lots of people have no problems with their dogs, but it is certainly in their nature and I would tread very carefully until you know for sure. Our dog never went after the birds when we were in the yard with her. It happened always when she was out by herself. She was worse with chickens than ducks, but I think ducks are a little hardier which is why they were only injured vs. being killed. We have since moved her pen and I work with her and try to show her the ducks and chickens are part of our pack and they are mine (me being the pack leader), but I will never trust her around them.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
I'm confused is the so called 'pup' actually the 10 year old Lab? If so what is the gender and if female has she raised pups of her own?

 

[L0rraine]

My collie is remarkably gentle and protective of all my birds. Anytime he thinks my ducks have wandered too near the fence line he's 'on patrol'. He'll scan the neighboring field for coyotes and then lie near them and keep an eye out. When the chickens are out free ranging, they actually try to hang out with him as they seem to sense they are safer there. I've not trained him much and it's remarkable how instincts kick in. My daughter and sisters' "bird" dogs are a little more iffy though. They definitely want to chase and carry them in their mouth if we aren't right on top of things. They haven't hurt any of the birds yet, but I still don't let them around them much when they are here visiting. Though both "bird" dogs when instructed to "leave it" seem to respond pretty positively.

There are horror stories (I had my own nearly thirty years ago with two retriever crosses) about dogs who have been great with chickens for years and then having a weak moment and doing damage, so it probably isn't a good idea to trust them implicitly.

 

[secretquail]

Wile E. Coyote is a girl (yeah, the name is a bit boyish, but it suites her) and yup, she is 10. but she'll always be my pup. The way she acts, people think she is only 3-4, but her grey beard and eyebrows tell the real story! She has never raised puppies of her own, unless you count my 2 kids.