Dog Training Advice

[rosieabby]

How's the training going KJM279? We have 3 chicks and a rescue mutt from the south. She doesn't seem that interested in the chicks. They are in her old crate in our small office. Hoping that's a good sign for when they move outside! We also live in the city. Love to hear an update!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I think that keeping your dog away from the chickens will only increase the dog's curiosity if she can see them out the window but not being able to get them. I would say the muzzle idea someone suggested might work, but I think you just have to keep her on the leash and take her every day to visit the chickens so your dog can get used to being around their presence. Soon enough it will feel normal to have chickens around and her curious instinct to chase and bite, will hopefully cease.

I'm no dog expert, though I do have a dog myself...... with mine, sometimes her instinct will 'kick in' and if the chickens starts running she will kinda chase them. For the most part she doesn't have much interest in the chickens but I do get the 'instinct' part where people talk about it, it's like a switch that turns on which have been pre-programmed in them, but as the owner you have to know how to keep that switch in the OFF position best you can.

 

[Kjm279]

Hey rosieabby! Lula is actually pretty good at leave it. She is generally such a good listener, except when you tell her to sit and she just stands there staring at you But otherwise she does everything you ask her. She still really wants these birds though!

This is not her first time being around chickens. Our good friend has some in her backyard. I let my dogs out over there all the time and she pays no mind, so I think it’ll end up ok.

I brought the chicks kennel out while Lula was out. She wanted to get at them but I told her to sit and she did. I put the kennel on the wall and told Lula to come with me and she followed me around while I cleaned up the yard and then into the house where I gave her some treats.

We’ll keep working on leave it to reinforce that and also keep her rewarded and distracted and see how things go before we let her outside while the chicks are out of the kennel.

 

[Kjm279]

My bigger dog thinks she is the chickens keeper.