English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Pup birth date is May 10, 2015. Sire is Dreamcatcher's Duke and dam is Dreamcatcher's Daisy Mae.

 

[aart]

Scoob was intact, Lucy neutered. This dog will remain intact unless something found to be wrong. Intact dogs I suspect at more able to mark and defend boundaries with respect to Coyotes. It is easier to keep intact dogs in good weight and the additionally activity associated with that likely contributes to efficacy against Coyotes. Later LGD will likely be neutered but will have backup.


Lucy's behavior has changed big time. Her mourning period seems to be over and pup helped with that. She must be laying down new neural pathways as she swtiched into the alpha role. She rolled pup multiple times this morning. First for going beyond property boundary with latter times for running ahead and for going after chickens. Lucy's efforts will be much more effective than mine when it comes to discipline.

We took a 30 minute walk this morning around fence perimeters. Normally Lucy and Scoob could do it in about 3 minutes. Pup is still very gangly and prone to fall in holes. Pup also does not seem to understand the fun of rabbits.

Glad to hear Lucy is stepping into the dominant role......you may now see just how much she knows how to do of the stuff Scoob used to take the lead on.

I don't know that dogs mourn(not like we do for sure) as much as they are kind of confused by the change in pack order and the inherent stimulation.
When my older, and dominant, dog died a few years ago the remaining dog took months to learn to prompt me for food, play, going outside, etc.
In hindsight I realized it was always the dominant dog who performed these functions. Other aspects contributed to remaining dogs behaviors.

 

[centrarchid]

The "mourning" process I think is real even in the chickens. It occurs when you have a mismatch in behavior / expectations owing to an abrupt change in social structure. Mourning animals are prone to make inappropriate decisions and appear confused. Part of correction is simply re-wiring while some may involve some sort of hormonal timers best exemplified by how a broody hen behaves after premature loss of a brood. She keeps acting broody for days after loss when it also puts her at greater risk if depredation. The delay in process might be a safety in case change is not real thus preserving social arrangement if social interactions resumed.

 

[scottcaddy]

The "mourning" process I think is real even in the chickens. It occurs when you have a mismatch in behavior / expectations owing to an abrupt change in social structure. Mourning animals are prone to make inappropriate decisions and appear confused. Part of correction is simply re-wiring while some may involve some sort of hormonal timers best exemplified by how a broody hen behaves after premature loss of a brood. She keeps acting broody for days after loss when it also puts her at greater risk if depredation. The delay in process might be a safety in case change is not real thus preserving social arrangement if social interactions resumed.

I find this line of thought very interesting, it is a reasonable explanation behavior that I have seen and dealt with.
Scott

 

[centrarchid]

I have seen enough animal behavior with proper training and had similar problems understanding humans to make me think nothing along these lines makes humans unique. What makes humans special is the volume of information stored and how that information is processed. Others are increasingly being seen to have language so that is no longer a uniquely human quality.

 

[Mini Meat]

I can't wait to hear how this pup works out for you.

This is the breed I want to get next, after our old border collie/aussie passes on. She has been a good dog but inherited some negative traits that I do not want to deal with again.

 

[drumstick diva]

Really nice looking, healthy pup - I believe he will turn out to be just what you want, with Lucy's help. Had to laugh at the way you describe your daughter, aren't 2 yr. olds expected to be that way?

 

[centrarchid]

This daughter is rougher than I am accustomed to. Downright predatory with respect to critters her size on down. She holds her own extremely well even against older kids which sitter has commented on many times. Her elder and tough brother is ready to back his sister up but thus far she has not needed it.


Until about midday yesterday pup was into chasing chickens but he responded well to verbal commands and really well to being rolled by Lucy. I can already see biggest challenge will be as usual with juvenile chickens that are not defended by adults or inclined to get promptly out of harms way or even hold ground. This problem is particularly evident with the first cohort of American Dominiques.



For now concentration will be on getting him to stay tight as I go about yard feeding and tending pens. One dog, now Lucy, is to be proactive patrolling perimeter while the reactive hammer holds back around core. With time I expect the hammer to release when the patrolling dog gives a signal and to do so in an appropriate manner.

Pup also needs to learn about bees. They seem to really go after his coat.

 

[centrarchid]

Today was a good day. He was involved with capture of first rabbit and paid no attention to juvenile flock after rabbit encounter. He is also trying to keep up with Lucy as she runs perimeters but is a couple months away from that yet. Lucy enabled the rabbit action. Interesting observation on rabbits later.

 

[centrarchid]

Another good day.

Pup can now go back and forth freely between house and poultry yard without Lucy. He is also starting to tentatively back her up when she talks smack to coyotes but I prefer he not engage in the but sniffing with coyotes yet. Scoob and Lucy where able to get away with that but a pup dog or Coyote would do so at considerable risk if adult fellow pack members not present. I wander if he will howl like Scoob and Lucy or will he simply bark. The dogs howling is quite pleasing to the ear but unnerving to strangers. Scoob did the deep long howl and Lucy did the yip. It will be interesting to see If Lucy switches over to doing the deep long howl.

Pup also got his first zap by fence which I allowed since it was largely grounded out by veggies. Zap detectable but does not knock you down. After pup took a couple hit I cleaned fence up making good and hot again. I did not want pup to get first zap that a surprise and very painful as that can ruin a dog for later when it needs to be able to take a good zap and still go after a bad guy on the other side.


Pup also had extended time with free ranging games in yard today. All could be accounted for and in good health not more than 30 feet from where pup was hiding from heat. At same stage Lucy and Scoob were problematic. Lucy seems to take a more active role in disciplining pup when he does naughty. Scoob let Lucy get away with a lot more. He is also refraining from bowling the cohort 1 flock of American Dominique's allowed to free-range each day after work. He is walking slow through birds even when they panic because they trapped on pinch point provided by bridge.

Pup also playing well with my son. It appears they are in process of becoming real buds.