Feeling Very Guilty...Need Advice

[AngBantamLuv]

Thanks for your reply. This is so difficult for me. I’m seriously considering taking the dog back, but would feel guilty about that too. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

I would take him back. Being that cute mix, he will get a new, better fitting home, which will make both of you feel better. Not everyone else has the menagerie of animals we all seem to have!

 

[jolenesdad]

Could you use a pen for the dog while free ranging? What about a tether?

working on separation anxiety is possible, but takes time. What I would work on instead is basic obedience and rewarding attention. In addition, I would do this WHILE you are free ranging the chickens. The most amazing class I ever took with my dog was a puppy class where the entire class was off leash for every dog. Omg. Overwhelming and intimidating at first, but, after that class I could get my dogs attention in any situation.

i would teach a few commands away from the chickens like sit and “look”. Get a clicker or learn how to use your voice as a clicker. I mark with a specific “YES” instead of a clicker. You’ll also want to learn and work on “leave it.” Leave it is the most important command I have. I use it BEOFRE they need to actually leave anything and I use it as soon as I see their attention lock on something. Find the treat that’s more value. Turkey. Hot dogs. Cheese. Whatever it takes to keep the focus on you.

you’ll be able to slowly develop a pattern where the dog is associating chickens being out to learning, fun, treat time. Honestly, I’d imagine you could be very vigilant with the dog on a leash for a week wit these training sessions, and, you could move soon to a tether. With an older dog with prey drive you may not be able to free range them both at the same time, but I absolutely think you can manage the situation.

 

[jolenesdad]

Also, if you do determine the fit is not right, I would suggest going through a rescue next time that is fostering a dog. It’s a wonderful situation where so much more is known about a shelter dog because it’s taken out of the shelter and put into a home environment where the foster family’s entire job is to learn about the dog to make sure they place it with the right environment.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

There is one thing to consider no one has yet mentioned. The longer you keep this dog and the more time and energy you invest in him, the harder it will be down the road to decide he's not right for you, your family, and your chickens. It may be easier to cut your losses now and hope this dog can find his forever home elsewhere sooner rather than later. Sometimes a choice doesn't work out and it's not the end of the world. Over the years, I've rescued many a dog and it turned out my home was a way-station rather than a permanent placement. I took in a beautiful Irish setter and a year or so later placed her with a bird hunter, where she lived happily ever after. Another time I took in a darling Cocker spaniel who later became the constant companion of a child who'd previously had a fear of dogs. This Cocker, when I got him, had feared small children! He'd been shot in the head and left for dead at the county dump. It was a match made in heaven for both of them. The child's mom said the only time she could separate them was when the child took a bath! I'm just saying don't beat yourself up if this dog is not right for you. He may be perfect for someone else.

 

[Folly's place]

Does he look like a Border Collie? Maybe a rescue group is out there for him.
Mary

 

[wyoDreamer]

We used a dog pack for our Irish Setter, because some dogs do not get tired from a walk, no matter how long it is. Before the pack, I would walk him until I was done for and he would still want to play fetch for over an hour. We used the pack for weight to help tire him out. We would put 4 bottles of water in the pack for him to carry - on hot days we would make sure that 2 of them were frozen. That way he would also have water to drink - yes, he would drink out of a water bottle.

 

[FeatherLace]

So how with all of my dogs I've worked exclusively with them first. I teach them recall, sit and stay, etc. A big thing is desensitizing, as a lot of dogs won't jump or chase until something else starts panicking around them. At this point I take them outside, preferably to parks or other places with many other birds, squirells, etc. When they walk calmly and look at you, reaard them. If they jump or bark, or show alert at all towards any kind of small animal that is not showing aggression first, do not reward them. A sharp noise or correction until they look back at you can do good, then rewards them when their attention is back on you. I then practice bringing my dogs on walks near the chickens with the same corrective technic. This may have to be practiced for a while until the dog shows absolutely no interest in the chickens when passing. Then this can be practiced on a leash while chickens are out. If the dog perks its ears or shows any kind of prey-intent on the chickens, correct and get attention on you again.
This works faster and better on eager to please dogs, and may take longer on extremely prey driven dogs. On the latter, one must have lots of love and patience for their dog, but if given the right training and love you will notice it works wonderfully. Also, it really helps when you give the dog discipline training before starting desensitizing, as it will make them more eager to please and easier to control.

I have three dogs. One was born here, one was a puppy when we got her, and one was a year old hyperactive rescue when we got him. While I wouldn't trust them alone for long unsupervised periods of time with other prey animals (as should be the case with ANY predator, no matter how well trained its almost impossible to know all of their triggers and be able to avoid them) I would trust them off leash with the chickens free ranging. If I see something happen that might trigger their instincts, I am simply able to recall and keep their attention until it passes. Another quick note, if the dog pulls on the leash, bring them inside or away from all other distractions immediately. This teaches them they won't even be allowed to see until they calm down. This usually works wonders as dogs are very curious and will do what it takes to see what they want to see.

At one point I raised pygmy goats, and some evil person snuck onto my property while I was put of town and shot all of them. All died except one, which is when I assume they ran out of bullets. My goat had a bullet hole in his face but was otherwise fine. This was when the person went into my home, put my wounded goat in a smaller pen, and forced my three dogs that were much larger than him to go into the pen to finish him off. This goat was smaller and had fresh blood scent on them, but my dogs did not touch him. He survived and is now living on a rescue. A bonus note, my dogs have never jumped at or shown attention at my birds, asides from the first time they met when they were promptly corrected and haven't done again since.

You most likely have already found the solution to your problem, but I hope this helps in the future and helps others with similar problems.

 

[rosemarythyme]

At one point I raised pygmy goats, and some evil person snuck onto my property while I was put of town and shot all of them. All died except one, which is when I assume they ran out of bullets. My goat had a bullet hole in his face but was otherwise fine. This was when the person went into my home, put my wounded goat in a smaller pen, and forced my three dogs that were much larger than him to go into the pen to finish him off.

Not to get off topic, but HOLY MOLY!

 

[FeatherLace]

Not to get off topic, but HOLY MOLY!

I wish it wasn't true! The goats were all very friendly. I had 5 of them. Four of them were shot in the neck, with two of them laying "asleep" inside their shelter, which means the person who did it definitley was unprovoked, just went into these pets' home and did that. Makes me kind of afraid to own any more animals except for my birds and dogs, because I don't know who did it or why or if they'd do it again.
Some people are just so sick!!

 

[aart]

I wish it wasn't true!

It might be true but it's off topic to this thread and rude to the OP.