Dog Suggestions

[tdgill]

research this further if you think its worth a try...

what about putting some kind of yucky tasting stuff on a killed chicken? The dog probably wouldn't even pick it up but something like this might work? To teach them that chickens don't taste so good after all.

Do you farm meat birds? Wonder if the dogs ever see you "harvesting" and think thats what chickens ARE for. To EAT

eta: I wonder if dogs know that chickens lay the yummy egg treats. The occasional misplaced egg is not a bad reward for watching over the ladies. hahah. My dog collected one out of the box one time. I was appalled and he looked at me like, "just trying to help out mom"

ETA
Wonder wonder wonder wonder. lol at myself

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Quote:
If you want to come pick her up you can have her. She really is a pretty thing and very obedient otherwise.

WV is a long drive from here, I am 35 minutes north of Nashville!

 

[cobrien]

I have 2 dogs that are good with chickens. One is an Australian Cattle Dog cross. As a herding dog she could have been prone to herding chickens but in my opinion herding dogs are easily trained to obey commands from people even when it goes against their natural instincts. This is the best chicken dog I could imagine, she guards them, even seems to know when one is sick or lame and cares for them.

Our other dog is a spaniel / dachsund cross. Not breeds that you would expect to not chase chickens. He was a stray that was with a foster home that we adopted through a rescue group. I recommend this approach because we knew from the start that this dog did not have a strong prey drive. He did not chase cats or birds in the park - good signs. This dog has also become a chicken guardian and we leave him unattended with the hens.

A careful and slow introduction is of course very important.

Generally speaking I think herding dogs or working dogs (not sporting / hunting) like pyrenees, mastiff, etc. would be a good bet but these dogs bark. I think a Bouvier would be ideal. But my strongest recommendation is for an adult rescue dog that comes from a foster home that does well with cats and small animals.

Good luck.
Colleen

 

[cap1717]

Quote:
I agree that most herding or retriving breeds would be a good choice. Great Pyr's are excellent, but so big that that might be problematic for some. Most any "good" breed, raised with the chooks, should be fine. . . training + temperment are the keys.

 

[melissa508]

I can recomend Daschunds & german shephards .. I cant belive i could have ever thought my doxie was a bird killer ...nope..totally trustworthy. I can easily lock the dogs in the barn with the birds for overnite trips..ect.
The doxie was born into birds , the gsd was introduced at 2yrs old, there were 2 gsd's but we lost one.

 

[mylilchix]

Wow!! I'm impressed with your dachs, I have a dorkie (dachs/yorkie mix) who would eat my chickens given a chance. We have a lab/rott mix who is awesome with the birds. He patrols their run, and chases down fox like a champ. Love that dog!!!

Sonja