Dog Reactions?

[werttyy]

I just got my 1 week and 2 week old chicks and I also have a dog. How do your dogs react to the chicks? The chicks are in his old dog crate but he (dog) wants to smell them, just like he wants to smell everything! I'm worried that he might bite them. Any previous experiences that you would like to share? I don't know what to do!

 

[homesteadinmama]

We just got our chicks yesterday. Our dogs are 12 yrs old. One dog is a sheppard mix and he could careless sniffed but wasn't interested. The dalmation however was sniffing (through the bars) and wasing thinking "moving chicken nuggets" She is NOT trustworthy on chicks. I thought she'd be more motherly but nope, she is bird dog. Dogs and chicks don't mix, maybe when they get older, bigger but not worth the one bite/nip to kill the chick.

 

[86121]

Its all training.
Just like with preventing them from stealing your shoes, or teaching them to leave the house cat alone.
You need to teach them that the chickens are YOURS and only YOURS, or else they may attempt to run off with one and claim it as there own special treat.
You may also want, if you havent already, go threw teaching your dog the basic commands of sit, stay, and most importantly...LEAVE IT! Or NO or ATT!!!
Just make sure to teach them now before the birds get to to active or else they may turn into fun things to chase.

 

[birdstheword]

We have 3 dogs. English Mastiff, Dalmation boxer mix and our wienner dog. Our 2 large dogs would kill the chicks for sure. The wienner we tried to introduce to one of our chicks. She ended up snapping at it. She didn't touch the chick but know we know that she can't be trused.

 

[kstaven]

4 dogs here. 2 lab x, 1 Shepherd, 1 Rotti cross. All trained to leave chickens alone. They know chicks aren't moving squeaky toys.

 

[hlf1996]

We have 5 dogs at my house right now (2 we are dog
sitting) and they all love chasing the chickens around te yard
so we have to "rotate" when the chickens get to go out and
when the dogs get to go out. Dogs are all different so it
just depends.. But if you have even a little doubt don't risk it

 

[henspa4fun]

we have 7 yr old Golden, Rio prefers to roll in poop. She had ACL surgery last winter, limps, but yesterday she hopped like a rabbit up to Henrietta and dog and hen had a little tag game going. Love those built-in dinner and a show episodes in the back yard
.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

I have an 11 year old lab. He sniffed the chicks. The chicks became hens and walk all over him and try to bully him into giving up his bones he is chewing out in the yard. Have new chicks and sniffed them again. Training is key to having dogs and chickens. The leave it command is probably most important. My dog has appointed himself flock watcher when I am out freeranging the girls. I would never, ever leave him alone with them simply because he is a dog and all dogs are predators. I doubt he would ever do anything but its better to err on the side of safety then to chance an accidental death because of instinct.

 

[terrilhb]

I have 4 dogs. They always want to sniff the babies. They are only allowed to do this when either my DH or I are there to supervise. When the chicks are older I do not worry. They ignore them. So far they have never gone after them. But I am always careful cause anything could happen one day. But training is very imporant. Good luck

 

[TalltimberEggFarm]

We have five dogs, 3 English Mastiffs, One Black Lab and a Border Collie Mix. The first time I held up a chick for Bo (English Mastiff) to smell the next second all you saw was two little legs sticking out of his mouth. I had to open his mouth and retrieve the chick who wasn't hurt but had slobbber all over it and it had this look like what the heck just happened. I scolded Bo and since then he hasn't bothered them. None of the other dogs seems to care either. The chickens will actually go into the dog house and lay with the dogs when its cold and will even perch on them when the dogs are sleeping. I guess we are just lucky, we have 43 chickens and not one has been bothered by the dogs. I have more problems with the hawks going after the chickens than anything else.