For those of you who feel that their personal dogs are safe around the chickens-stop fooling yourselves!
We have a three year old boxer. He was raised around the chickens, never showed any signs of agression what so ever toward them. If anything he has always been a bit shy of them. We have never allowed any of the dogs alone in the yard with the chickens while they are out. Yesterday while I was at work, hubby took the dogs out to go to the bathroom. As always, he was there with them, watching.
We have an acre around the house fenced, this is where the chickens free range during the day. In a split second the boxer ran past him and nailed one of then hens. By the time he got to her she was mortally wounded. She died an hour and a half later. Hubby is so upset, he feels responsible. Needless to say the dog is in the "doghouse", he will never be allowed in the yard again while the chickens are out.
Please learn this lesson from me, this is a sweet gentle dog, he's the last one of my pack that I would have expected this from! He has always been the "nursemaid" for all new or sick animals around the farm. I truly do not believe he meant to harm her but I will NEVER trust any of my dogs around the chickens again!
We have a three year old boxer. He was raised around the chickens, never showed any signs of agression what so ever toward them. If anything he has always been a bit shy of them. We have never allowed any of the dogs alone in the yard with the chickens while they are out. Yesterday while I was at work, hubby took the dogs out to go to the bathroom. As always, he was there with them, watching.
We have an acre around the house fenced, this is where the chickens free range during the day. In a split second the boxer ran past him and nailed one of then hens. By the time he got to her she was mortally wounded. She died an hour and a half later. Hubby is so upset, he feels responsible. Needless to say the dog is in the "doghouse", he will never be allowed in the yard again while the chickens are out.
Please learn this lesson from me, this is a sweet gentle dog, he's the last one of my pack that I would have expected this from! He has always been the "nursemaid" for all new or sick animals around the farm. I truly do not believe he meant to harm her but I will NEVER trust any of my dogs around the chickens again!