Feeling Very Guilty...Need Advice

[rosemarythyme]

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

Sorry, I started it. Just can't believe someone would do that.

Back on topic, none of my dogs are terribly interested in toys so trying to keep them busy with toys never works. Food is their only motivator, if that (the newest one was too upset to even eat when we first got her).

One other option that was suggested by our trainer for keeping the dog out of trouble for a short period of time, is to use your car as a crate. I forgot the exact logic behind it but it did work for us when we were dealing with severe separation anxiety with the dog that could even open doors in the house, as we had to have the dog with us every moment of the day, until a combination of medication plus repeated desensitization training mellowed her enough that she could be left alone for brief periods.

 

[Malquid]

Hello all. This is slightly embarrassing for me and a long read. We have a current flock of 11 chickens (Five 2.5-year old hens and six 12-week old chicks). I am the primary caretaker of all of them, and I am very, very attached to my chickens and they are attached to me. My husband jokes that he thinks I love the chickens more than I love him sometimes.

We’ve been debating rescuing a shelter dog for almost 5 years now and we finally adopted a 3-year old border collie/pit bull mix who comes from an abusive home. We have had him for about 5 days now. The dog pound didn’t know much about his background. He’s a surprisingly good dog despite his upbringing (friendly towards people, is semi-house trained) but as we’ve come to find out over the past few days, he has a very strong prey drive when it comes to any animal (rabbits especially). We’ve done a very controlled (fully leashed) distanced introduction with the dog/chickens and the dog has lunged and pulled to get closer.

We are keeping the chickens in their run/coop for the time being and I am feeling INCREDIBLY guilty about it. The chickens are used to free ranging during the evenings and have been vocally complaining, making crying sounds, moping around the pen/coop. I feel so horrible and have been trying to spend as much time in the pen as possible but it has been difficult with the new dog (husband works a lot and I’m the primary care taker of the dog while working from home FT). It is making me so emotional and sad and almost resentful towards the dog. Am I being crazy? Over analyzing every move the dog makes? I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to my chickens because of the dog. Just looking for some advice from others on this...

Some dogs work with the chickens and others don’t. Usually with time the dog will get used to the birds. Imagine how exciting a new toy is for a dog? Hopefully eventually your dog will get they are pets. Giving chase is normal at first. If they go for a kill, you might not wean that out of the dog.
separation man.

 

[esme13]

You have a lot of wonderful advice listed. When it comes to owning a dog, you honestly never know how they will react until facing the situation. My dogs are conditioned to know the hens are well “pets”. However the new pullets in another shed are not yet known to my dogs. So when I brought them into my yard, my terrier mix was truly interested and went to grab the pullet.

So what I’m Saying is some dogs can be conditioned to know what is not a toy. But you must remember they have an instinct and it doesn’t make them a terrible pet.

there is some perfect dogs and some not perfect dogs. We learn to love them even with their flaws. it’s a new dog, it needs training , books are good and videos. Repeat -commands. A dog does take commitment And yes , you might cancel some plans. But there are positives to having a dog. Talk to your dog in a calm voice and walk pass your coop everyday , don’t look at your chickens with the dog. Show no interest. Your chickens will be okay for now, the dedication needs to be to help the new member and ask for help from the rest of the family

 

[lbgreenfield]

Wow lots of replies here from the last few hours I was from my computer

What are you using for treats when training? If he's losing interest quickly, either your treats are too big or they are not high enough "value." Or both. Try tiny bits of hot dog. And only give one per right response. Make him work for it, and quit while he's still motivated. Don't work to the point that he loses interest. Several short sessions a day will bring you success much sooner than one marathon session that leaves him bored.

I’m using his favorite Blue Buffalo soft chews (broken up into really tiny pieces). It’s the only treat he likes. I haven’t tried hot dogs or cheese, but those are both good ones to try. I’m using LOTS of praise too. I’m trying to watch his cues to when he’s done with training, and keeping them short. Hopefully he will improve with those changes!

 

[lbgreenfield]

You have a lot of wonderful advice listed. When it comes to owning a dog, you honestly never know how they will react until facing the situation. My dogs are conditioned to know the hens are well “pets”. However the new pullets in another shed are not yet known to my dogs. So when I brought them into my yard, my terrier mix was truly interested and went to grab the pullet.

So what I’m Saying is some dogs can be conditioned to know what is not a toy. But you must remember they have an instinct and it doesn’t make them a terrible pet.

there is some perfect dogs and some not perfect dogs. We learn to love them even with their flaws. it’s a new dog, it needs training , books are good and videos. Repeat -commands. A dog does take commitment And yes , you might cancel some plans. But there are positives to having a dog. Talk to your dog in a calm voice and walk pass your coop everyday , don’t look at your chickens with the dog. Show no interest. Your chickens will be okay for now, the dedication needs to be to help the new member and ask for help from the rest of the family

It’s so hard for me to walk past the chickens in a calm manner! I’m always talking to them or saying silly things (HELLOOOOOO CHICKENSSSSSSSS). I’ll do my best. I know my chickens will be fine, but it doesn’t seem that way right now. I think it’s taking more of an emotional toll on me than it is the girls!

 

[birdlover2]

If we do rehome or surrender him back to the dog pound, I don't plan to get another dog/cat/etc. I will stick with chickens.

I totally understand your thinking on this (I wouldn't want to replace my dog I gave up and would worry about it happening again) and generally agree that you probably should not get another dog. However, the right kind of dog can protect your chicken against predators if trained right, something to consider if you have trouble with predators in the future, but of course it doesn't help if your dog is the predator Cats, however, are generally another matter. While they could be a threat to your birds as chicks, they can do virtually nothing to hurt an adult bird and after being hen-pecked or chased by a roo once or twice learn their lesson and maintain a large distance between them and the chickens. In fact, one of my mother's cats is afraid of the chickens! Even her bantam flock which couldn't do her much harm! And even chicks! She was found in the chicken coop as a kitten, so we imagine she had quite the tramatizing chicken experiance in there to make her so afraid of the birds!

 

[lbgreenfield]

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.

Thank you so much. These are all really good tips and suggestions. I’m going to do indoor training until I have a few under my belt that I know he will listen to before moving outdoors with a leash. I need to find a higher value treat based on other recommendations, I think I’ll try hot dogs. Who doesn’t like hot dogs?! Haha.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

use your car as a crate. I

If doing this, be very aware of how quickly a car can heat up to lethal temps!

 

[rosemarythyme]

If doing this, be very aware of how quickly a car can heat up to lethal temps!

Good point. Though with using it to "crate" an anxious dog, the dog should not be left in there for any extended period of time, regardless of temperatures anyhow. We were using it to be able to eat out or go to the farmer's market, and would check on the dog every 15-20 minutes to ensure she remained calm and comfortable.

 

[lbgreenfield]

If doing this, be very aware of how quickly a car can heat up to lethal temps!

I personally don’t plan on trying to use my car as a crate, but if it works for some people and their dogs, that’s great!