Dogs and chickens

[Mickey67]

Does anyone have experience with free ranging chickens, but also happen to be the owner of a large breed dog? I recently moved to the country and wife wanted a GSD for while I'm away ( military) and such. She is only 4 months and my chickens are about 6 weeks. Trying to figure out how to keep her from chasing them, and it is not easy. So far I've been trying to keep her penned or on the other side of the house if chicks are out. Yesterday she discovered them and had a field day. She did not actually get one in her mouth or anything, I think she just wants to play but when they are old enough to lay, heard that they should not be stressed like that or they will lay before egg is ready? Any advice appreciated

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

So, they are hard to get pics of because as soon as they see mom both birds and dog want to have just attention and not just carry on like usual.... but the big blue thing is the dog's prized possession and Doris (chicken) send two friends were just playing with it and she just watched. At our old propetry she was out daily with our flock on 2 acres and her job was keeping anything that didn't live with us away (lots of uncontained dogs roaming). We're in town now and the yard is fenced but there are numerous cats who come over the fence...her job is cat patrol, especially when the birds are out. Once something is introduced as one that belongs to us she keeps it here (and safe), anything else is shown the door. I have zero hesitation leaving her unattended with them. She has never taken so much as an over interested sniff at them, but she was 3 and fairly established in her other training when wee started back into chickens.

 

[aart]

ETA:What OGMare said^^^ (crosspost) haha!

All humans who live with dog need to be on the same page and using the same command words.

Humans often need more training than dog.

 

[sourland]

I would recommend obedience training. GSD are extremely smart and loyal animals but do need a structured environment. Especially with the probability of you being away your wife needs to have control over the dog. Teaching 'leave it' with a quick snap on the leash every time the dog shows interest in the birds would be a good starting point. Good luck with her. By far the most impressive dog that has ever owned me was a massive male GSD.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

You've gotten some good advice already.

GSD are wonderful dogs. Very smart. They can hold grudges, so train just as smart. Therefore, be sure you are clear and consistent with your commands. Inconsistency is very annoying and builds disrespect for a GSD.

I would recommend letting your pup gain maturity first before working too much around or with the chickens. It will help it build confidence and respect (for you and later the birds). How soon chicken work begins depends on the dog, but basic obedience and a good leave it command are necessities before chicken work begins.

GSD need something to do and need mental stimulation. There is no such thing as a bored GSD...but they may find something you don't want them to do. ALWAYS keep them occupied with constructive things during their active puppy hood or things you want them to do. Never allow destructive behavior, not even once. They learn by opportunity and one time can be enough to set that behavior if it offered sufficient stimulus reward. Never let them have the opportunity to be destructive as retraining is much, much harder than training right the first time (and remember that grudge thing?).

As to training positive vs. negative reinforcements, really depends on your particular GSD. Some can be more stubborn, others softer. But they are SMART, so respect that. Back to clear consistent commands.

Generally, we found positive rewards balanced with negative consequences very effective with GSD. In our Guide Dog for the Blind puppy raising program, several projects with GSD, we used food treats and praise (rewards for good behavior) and then quick leash corrections (snapped like the "leash monster" bit...quick downward snap like a towel with leash using a chain training collar set so it relaxes the moment you release the leash) to get their attention if they are overly focused and lunging for something. The moment they look back at you, and they will as you have built relationship with them and they smartly want to please their person, praise, praise, praise. You are always warm and friendly when they look away from the offending object or stop the offending behavior. Use a 3 second rule. Either reward or punish within that window, otherwise, it is pointless. You will be reinforcing something you aren't meaning to address or encourage.

Taking them into overly stimulating situations too soon can "sour" the dog and create situations for failure for the dog.

Lots of basic leash work first then, with lots of controlled positive interaction as a pup and lots of interactive games that make them think to work off excess energy. Build trust. Focus energy. Train with positive/negative balance for obedience and impulse control.

Once they have worked through the appropriate basic level stage (how long depends on the dog), then you can begin higher stimulus situations...but always introduced slowly with you in control at the other end of the leash or drag line and a pouch of tasty food treats. Some GSD are environmentally sensitive and need to think through the new situation. Allow them the time to do so in a positive way.

My thoughts.
LofMc
Former Guide Dog for the Blind puppy raiser (7 projects...2 with GSD)

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Are you doing any training with the dog with regards to impulse control sand general obedience? What approach are you currently using in the training? Knowing the foundation you have and your general approach to training outs key.
For the time being, all interaction between birds and dog needs to be on leash so you are able to provide immediate feedback.
It can be done.....I'll have to snap a photo of my gsd and *her* current flock.....

 

[ericaperry]

We are training our two boxers (Max is 4 and Mia is 2 years old). I agree that basic obedience will lay a great foundation. Two other great things to train are impulse control and patience...they go hand in hand. I knew since before getting our two dogs I would need to train them on that from the get go.

Find out a comfortable distance from the chickens your dog on leash can handle (i.e. she knows they're there, but will still pay attention to you and respnd to commands). Work at that distance until you can move closer and closer. Training takes time and if it takes her a few months to move a foot at a time than so be it.

Do you know if your pup is food or treat or attention motivated? Use that to your advantage now for training. Unless your pup doesn't care about treats or toys..Then you have to move on to different training methods.

Both of my dogs have considerable prey drive. I have trained both of my dogs using various methods since pups from positive reinforcement treat focused stuff and more "harsh" methods from martingales and prong collars. I have found, in my own experience, positive reinforcement works in certain low-stimuli/low-distraction situations. I gauge each situation though..for chicken training I however combine treats and praise with e-collar training.

We live near farmlands and go on regular outdoor adventures like hikes and days at the river. After too many close calls with wildlife (deer, bears and coyotes included) I have since graduated to dogtra e-collars and will not use anything else nor trust any other method to break their focus, especially around other animals.

With the e-collar and leash on, since Max is used to training with it, on our first training day with the chicks loose in the yard he was able to come about 6 feet close without becoming too focused. Mia (our female) couldn't go any closer than 10-12 feet. They listen perfectly with the e-collars on, but since this is brand new training to them, we are working on finding a comfortable distance between them and the chickens. The collars are pricey but great investments if that means keeping my dogs and other animals safe.

Of course, find the appropriate training method for your dog. If your dog is "soft", a positive reinforcement method will be suitable. I own two crazy, high energy, stubborn boxers and after various incidences I had to match that level of intensity appropriately.

 

[Kiki]

Lots of daily training the dog to leave the chickens alone.
It takes time but can be done.

 

[Suzi18]

I have a Standard Poodle and after 3 months of leash training he no longer follows the chickens around because he is interested in them....but because he loves to eat their poop. On the up side....we never have to worry about stepping in poop while walking in the yard. He's a beautiful dog but still just a dog....a beautiful,poop eating dog.

 

[3riverschick]

I had a collie years ago a smooth collie named Pappy. Pappy actually came from a line of smooth Collies that were chicken herders .they were turned loose in the chick house with the young chicks and they carefully kept chicks from piling on each other and suffocating .Pappy knew instinctively what to do with the chickens. if they got loose, he would herd them into a corner ,hold them for me till I came to pick them up.
my current thirteen-year-old smooth collie girl is not related to Pappy .she has a higher prey drive. the other day she was out with me. I do not let her near the chickens .she was out with me and one of my best pullets got loose. the chicken was heading for the road and I knew if I didn't catch her swiftly( which I couldn't do ),she was going to get killed .so I turned to my collie and I said ,"get her!". this girl ran the chicken along the edge of the garage and held her in the doorway softly with her mouth until I came to pick her up. soon as she saw me reaching for the bird she let her go. I picked up the bird and everything was fine .so that's my chicken story. you never know what birds and dogs are going to do when they get together .
have you considered putting a pen up right next to the chicken run so that your dog can spend some time very close to the chickens watching them? I know they do that with Great Pyrenees. it's a thought .
Karen