Dog plus chicken owners chime in please

[RoosterML]

I recently rescued a 4 month old Pyrenees/Lab mix. This week I took him in the field with the goats and chickens. All he wanted to do was play. No sign of aggression. I think Diesel liked the flying feather balls.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Hi all. First comes a disclaimer: I know that each doggo is a different 'person' and behavior can't be predicted by breed. I also realize that training, age, and various other factors come into play. But I'd very much like to hear from folks who owned dogs plus chickens and can say "My dog RoverSpotLucyBingoCharlieWhatever was around our chickens a lot and never showed even the slightest inclination to chase or harm them, plus what breed they were - or if not known, what breed they resembled. It's not time for us to get our next dog yet, but I'm in the process of gathering information for when that time does come. Thanks!

I have not read all the posts but I dont believe you can predict the behavior based on the breed. You need to train the behavior. Our rescue dog is a border collie mix. Every day since we got her I have exposed her to the chickens. Her first reaction to them was to run violently at the run and chase them. If only jumped up she would try and take it. Now she knows THEY ARE NOT FOR EATING. If she is in close proximity of the chickens she will try to "cut the pie" around them. She avoids them because I trained her out of seeing them as prey and they peck at her. She knows not to attack them if they do so she avoids them. Every dog is different so you just need to train and monitor. Hope this helps

 

[jolenesdad]

I have several dogs that are fine with the chickens. Part of every dogs education is basic obedience training here, and that should be important for any dog. The most important command they learn for the farm is “leave it”. I use it all the time, and I even use it to break focus when the lock onto something before they even can react to it. I’ve never lost a chicken to a dog.

 

[Rushdoggie]

I have 2 Border Collies who both knew about herding animals before they met my chickens (one was an adult who had worked ducks before so he always saw the chickens as livestock to work vs prey; one was a trained sheepdog who came to me as an adult and knew about working). I have also had 2 Papillons while having chickens, and they were very interested in eating the baby chicks but once the chickens were bigger they ignore them.

 

[littledog]

My dog is a Border Collie/Heeler cross, who's now 14 but we first got chickens when he was 5. When they're safe in their pen he considers it fun to woof and get the rooster going, but when they're free-ranging (under our supervision) he takes his job of protection seriously.

 

[littledog]

Rushdoggie, Yes! "Leave it" is so perfect.

 

[Perris]

I have a Lakeland terrier, who was here before I started keeping chickens. I did fenced introductions and lead etc., then let them free range. He chased the first pullets once (the evidence was missing feathers on one's butt and a butt feather stuck in his beard ) and got a stern telling off. Henceforth he and the chooks just avoid each other.

 

[Wilkinsbird]

My partner has a lanky half blind beagle mutt who might try to sniff my hens’ butts sometimes, and when he’s zoomy he might barrel through the flock. If one of them (like my very ditzy Polish hen) gets startled and jumps and flaps he’ll think she’s playing and get close, jump, maybe open his mouth, but no biting. I’ll tell him loudly that that behavior is too intense and he meanders off. He also protects the chicks. If they’re peeping loudly in the brooder or while you’re handling them he’ll go inspect and make sure they’re okay. He’s a good little guy.

 

[Shadrach]

I think you probably need a cute waggy tail type doggie that you can cuddle in bed if you want your livestock protected.
One like in the pictures below.

 

[igorsMistress]

I've had one dog that didn't chase my chickens, an older Silkie Terrier. I had many years of training with her but not specifically to leave other animals alone. She could go anywhere without a leash and I never had to worry she'd wander. While I couldn't leave her alone with them, she was able to run the yard if I was there.

I have 2 Bull Terrier/Pit Bull mixes now. The male would be fine with them in a similar situation, but not the female. She loves to chase and will rush the fence to see them run.