Dogs and Ducks

[wafflesandmoe]

Hey everyone! So I'm thinking of getting some more ducks, probably Pekins and Black swedish, anyways I'm worried about my dog. He is a bird-dog and has gone hunting for pheasants his whole life. However, when i had a duck and chicken before, he was always more interested in the chicken and didn't care as much about the duck. But, is there anything i could do to try and train him to be good around the ducks and not try to kill them? Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

[buff goose guy]

you could always try to train him but if from a puppy he was taught to kill and catch birds then i dont really know if that can be undone

 

[veronicasmom]

Instinct is VERY hard to retrain. While most bird dogs only flush or retrieve, that can still hurt, frighten or kill a duck (or chicken).

I know people on here will allow their dogs with their ducks. It is just my personal opinion that it is just not a good idea. Only takes a second for something to go horribly wrong. Believe me, I speak from experience. I have posted before about an incident I had with my dog and my guinea pig.

The other thing that is very upsetting to me is that when the dog hurts, or does something worse, to or with a duck, owners will often be very angry at the dog. When my dog got my pig, I blamed myself and only myself (still do, I will never forgive myself). I did not punish my dog, or give him away. He is A DOG and I should have been smarter. So, just a word to say that if you value your ducks, and dog for that matter, think hard about whether it is worth it to you to take the chance.

 

[Amykins]

Just ask 18angovem, he's caught his dog with one of his birds in her jaws on several occasions ;;

 

[18angovem]

Yeah! I have a bird dog and birds! But the good side is that bird dogs are trained to just carry the bird in their jaws and not eat the bird. I have had my dog come up to me with the birds in her mouth but the birds were just fine! But you do have to worry about the birds going into shock.

 

[18angovem]

you could always try to train him but if from a puppy he was taught to kill and catch birds then i dont really know if that can be undone

Bird dogs arent trained to kill birds... Just to bring birds back.

 

[seashoreduck]

Hunting dogs, or all dogs with the words "bull" or "retriever" or "spaniel" or "hound" or "terrier" in the name should never be fully trusted around small critters unless they were specifically raised with them. Even that can be a gamble.

Shepherds and toy breeds are probably more likely to be well behaved, depending on when they were introduced. But dogs are prey animals.

You wouldn't bring a duck to a mealworm farm and trust the duck.

Long short, don't risk it.

 

[Amykins]

Yeah...my mom has westies, and when I stayed there for Christmas with my kitties one of them caught my cat Stu and shook him! He's not getting within a ten mile radius of my Wobbles, that's for sure x_x;;

 

[buff goose guy]

Quote: depends on the type of bird dogs personally down here in the south labs and retreviers , well this applies to my neck of the woods, have trained there labs into whatever hunting they have wether it be duck(i do duck hunt) deer, dove, hog, rabbit, and squirrel hunt when they retrieve the shot animal if its not all the way dead yet they are prepaired to kill it the rest of the way so i wouldnt make ageneral statement that all bird dogs dont kill the birds

 

[18angovem]

depends on the type of bird dogs personally down here in the south labs and retreviers , well this applies to my neck of the woods, have trained there labs into whatever hunting they have wether it be duck(i do duck hunt) deer, dove, hog, rabbit, and squirrel hunt when they retrieve the shot animal if its not all the way dead yet they are prepaired to kill it the rest of the way so i wouldnt make ageneral statement that all bird dogs dont kill the birds

Oh well at least up here you cn judge how good a bird dog is by if it kills its catch or not.