Dogs attack! >.<

[Duckchick2011]

Sigh* I wasn't sure what to do with the dog. He's a beagle, and running, chasing, and catching are part of his DNA. I did my best to get my point across, and I couldn't resist whipping his little tail when I found him eating my poor drake. I even got him out and put a duck in front of him, saying no every time he even made eye contact with it. Then I went around and did my best to re-secure his pen, I made sure the electric fence was working properly and filled in the hole where he escaped the best I could. Even after all that he was still eying my ducks...the whole situation was very distressing for me. I mean, he's been seeing the ducks his whole life, he's been around them many times without any trouble, I've let him know multiple times that the ducks and goats are not to be touched, or even looked at and still, he gets this wild hair all the sudden, and just HAS to eat one of my ducks. Its confusing and frustrating...at this moment I'm actually seriously considering the option of re-homing. I mean I love him, but he's got such a powerful prey drive, even just this morning I noticed him staring at the mallards. I just have to many small, defenseless animals around my place. He's fine with people, other dogs, just not anything small, fluffy, fuzzy, and feathery

...

 

[Going Quackers]

aw, that is to bad. I'm glad she's doing ok, i had a drake with a huge rip out of it from a coon's reach & grab.. he almost made a full recovery..Lost the eyesight in one eye but otherwise you'd never know there was a hug chunk ripped out of him.

 

[Going Quackers]

I think it's hard with dogs though, i mean they don't know the ducks are pets.. i'm not sure if they even know what they are? I know with herding dogs for livestock purposes it's a different matter if they start eating/attacking what their supposed to protect but a typical pet dog?

 

[Duckchick2011]

I know what your saying, he's just an ordinary dog doing what ordinary dogs do. When I said "rehoming" it was really more of an emotional thing. I'm frustrated, if you know what I mean, cause I really love the dog, I've had him since the first day he entered the world, but I really loved my ducks too, and this isn't the first time he's killed a dearly loved pet of mine. I guess its just something I've got to learn to be prepared for.

I mean, I know he's just a dog...its just that I can't help but feel a little betrayed, he KNOWS that those are MY ducks, as much as a dog can understand that concept. I've done "duck aversion therapy" before and many times, and in the past he's been perfectly fine with them, I just don't know why, all the sudden, he's decided he can just get duck take out whenever he wants...

I just went out there to spend a little time with him, and there he was again, completely ignoring me and staring down my ducks with that crazy predatory look in his eyes...If he's not going to leave them alone, no matter what I do, what can I do, except for find him a home with someone who doesn't have small creatures to worry about?

 

[Crayonsmom]

Good luck with your poor Pekin!

Several months ago one of my ducks had a chunk bitten out of her leg and even had fly larvae laid and beginning to hatch. I cleaned her up really good with dish soap (to get the larvae out, it didn't hurt her) and then used hydrogen peroxide on the would before covering it with Wonder Dust (best stuff ever!). People will tell you it's not good to use hydrogen peroxide too much, but I've used it to clean a cuts on my horse's leg to prevent proud flesh scarring, and on this duck. Both animals' wounds were cleaned with hydrogen peroxide for a few days until I felt comfortable just using water. Anyway, we kept our duck on the porch and made sure her wound was always covered in Wonder Dust and she healed up wonderfully and was back outside within a month. Today she doesn't even have a limp! So there's definitely a good chance for your girl!

 

[cassidy22]

My big mutt puppy just killed 4 of my ducks (all drakes) and several turkeys over the course of a few weeks.

He only does it at dusk and dawn, so now he is crated at night. We are working on more basic training right now - come and heel (he gets skiddish and runs off is someone sounds angry) so we need him to first respond to us, even if we sound mad.

I used a training collar on him to stop chasing my chickens. A combination of walking him on a leash around the birds, every time I did chores, so he got used to being around them adn NOT reacting at all. Added in some beeps (he doesn't need the shock,the beep is enough for him) anytime he pursued a chicken. I couldn't hollar at him, or he would tuck his tail and run. I needed him to be around the birds, and get a gentle reminder that he can be by them, but not pursuing them.

Once he gets better at come and heel, we will do the same work near the ducks. The difference is, the chickens don't care if he is there, when he is calm. When he pursues, they run. The ducks don't ever let us get near, so He'll have to be off leash from me, so I can try to train him better. BUt he has to listen to me first. But until then, he gets restricted access until he learns.

 

[Going Quackers]

Yes, i do understand. I have no experience with this so i can't offer suggestions. Our dogs come out leashed if the ducks are loose.. if the dogs are loose well, we pen the ducks.. although they have landed in the dog yard (hens and those wings) and they haven't touched them but i worry.. i don't like them being near one another.

 

[Kmoreau]

I pm'ed you to offer some advice. Please message ne back, I think I have some ideas to help. I do dog training and pet nutrition for a living, and have not only my experience, but also experience with clients.

Thanks hope I can help before you have to rehome him.

 

[Duckchick2011]

Thanks so much Kmoreau, though I'm thinking the issue of re-homing has passed and gone.
I Just went out and spent some time with my buddy,(his name is Shiloh), and decided that I wasn't really mad at him anymore, furthermore, that I didn't even have the right to be angry. I mean, I really love this dog, he's beautiful as all get out and crazy sweet to anything not fuzzy or fluffy. Of course I'm going to miss my drakes sweet little innocent face but I realized I would miss my silly little guys face even more. So, to be honest, I would appreciate any and all help you could give me

...I sent you a little PM with the info you requested

Oh yeah, I forgot to do a ducky update! GLorias Doing fine, in fact she woke me up this morning with a little ducky chatter! She's seems in high spirits this morning, and I have yet to see any signs of serious infection! Thanks sooo much for all the wonderful help guys