Feeling Very Guilty...Need Advice

[Abrown1021]

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.

If you’re feeling this way already go ahead and re Home the dog before you become super attached and can’t bring yourself to re home the it because
I have been through this same thing several times I have 6 dogs, 3pit bulls (all fosters who had some aggression issues) 2 walmart dogs ( pit/Dane/lab mix and little mutt looks like a black fox) and a blue tick 10quail 30 ducks and Roughly 100 chickens. The two walmart dogs terrorized everything and since ducks easily hurt legs when trying to escape Things like this so I ended up having to walk dogs and reprimand then constantly it was very time consuming and tiring because I’m the sole keeper for all the animal plus two kids (husband bought all the birds but has taken up fishing instead ) after a solid two or 3 months and a couple trips to the vet the bigger one has refrained from terrorizing birds except for the occasional galloping through a group to startle them but the if the fox one is left unattended and free for more that 10 minutes and she knows I’m gone inside She instantly chases them and when she catches on she tosses them like rag dolls (no deaths knock on wood so far) some dogs can’t be broken of bad habits unfortunately and if you can’t give it all the attention and dedication it needs you will definitely end up with some dead birds eventually my last pit bull was the best dog ever to me with the exception she would kill anything and everything that was an animal and she could escape all cages or dog runs. it was full time job keeping everyone safe while she was alive but I couldn’t part with her so I just did what had to be done to make it work. So now to help with the problems one dog is on a runner or in a 10x10 and She takes a pill to calm her urges of terror While the other 146 animals get to antagonize her with their freedom

 

[Marc D]

we finally adopted a 3-year old border collie/pit bull mix ... he has a very strong prey drive when it comes to any animal ... 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...

Hi! I'm sorry to hear you're having this problem. As an avid Border Collie owner and former competitive shepherd, you're absolutely correct that it has a very high prey drive. That is one of those misconceptions the public has about what makes a dog want to herd other animals; it's part of prey drive. Usually, my Border Collies don't care too much for smaller animals, but they have been used for herding ducks and geese. So, they aren't completely indifferent to them either.

There are two things you'll have to do. First, be aware that you may actually loose a chicken while trying to gain control over the dog's will. You will need to start working with the dog on a long line and the chickens in a pen. The basic idea is praise the dog A LOT while he is behaving and not planning his afternoon snack. Give him simple tasks to do the entire time he is near the chicken pen, so you teach him to focus on his tasks, not his desires for dessert. There must be a flip side to this, as well, because you need to exert your dominance in the pack as Alpha. If he breaks and attempts to chase the girls, your correction needs to be rapid and strong enough to get his attention. Then, return him to doing other things and praising him for paying attention.

Keep your training sessions short, but frequent. Increase their length and difficulty over time and as the dog shows more trustworthiness. The dog is 3-yrs-old, already. So, this may be a long process. It should be achievable though.

My Border Collie is only interested in the chickens if they are roaming too far from their end of the property. He gives them a short bark and stomps his front paws. They quickly return to their B. Collie approved area and he goes on with his day. Honestly, he treats the cat with the same attitude. He doesn't like when she gets in the front of the chow line at feeding time. He reminds the cat of her place in the line and all is good in the world again.

Warning! DO NOT attempt to socialize the dog, as is often done with chickens, by leaving him chained where he can see the chickens, but is just out of reach of them. Though the birds may become acquainted that way, it has more of a tendency to drive the dog over mental cliff. The only thing that will be on the dog's mind after that will be KFC and mashed potatoes.

Good luck and have patience. Do not bend your rules you set out for the dog and praise him for colouring inside your lines. You are Alpha; he only gets chicken for dinner when you give it to him and his job is to ignore those girls.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree, but start with your six foot lead, then the twenty foot lead, and then the shock collar, which is just a longer leash!
Mary

 

[Sammbalina]

Get electric poultry netting. It’s mobile so it can be adjusted to different parts of the yard, and the dog will get a good zap if he gets too close. My Doberman Shepherd would never be able to go out if it wasn’t for an electric fence. She got hit by it once and won’t go near it again. I even had to carry her 85 lb butt over a wire that wasn’t even hot. It was 8 inches off the ground and she could have easily jumped it, but no, she just sat on the other side whining... and no matter how badly she wants to race cars/ bikers, she skids to a halt at the fence... We haven’t had her near the poultry since we set up their fences, as we also have a garden that is not yet fenced and I KNOW that she would destroy it, but I’m sure the first time she touches that fence, she would NEVER do it again.

 

[Flockincrazy]

how is your dog doing with the chickens

 

[nimrah]

sometimes the dog just wants to play it might not be trying to kill the chickens. But anyways you should let the dog run around when he gets tired take him inside, then free-range your chickens while he's asleep. Or you could tell your husband to watch the dog inside while you're with the chickens or the other way round.

 

[Mmanist]

I have 2 pitbulls that are roughly 70lbs. They was never around chickens. But been with cats and other small animals. Since I keep my dogs tied up, and leave my chickens free-range. My chickens learned the dogs boundaries pretty fast. Now 2 years with the flock. My dogs have been yelled at enough, that they don't chase them anymore. My chickens will walk right pass the dogs. My male pit bull, does like to bop them on with his big feet though sometimes makes me worry about my bantams. But they are normally pretty easy with them

 

[MROO]

Hi! I'm sorry to hear you're having this problem. As an avid Border Collie owner and former competitive shepherd, you're absolutely correct that it has a very high prey drive. That is one of those misconceptions the public has about what makes a dog want to herd other animals; it's part of prey drive. Usually, my Border Collies don't care too much for smaller animals, but they have been used for herding ducks and geese. So, they aren't completely indifferent to them either.

There are two things you'll have to do. First, be aware that you may actually loose a chicken while trying to gain control over the dog's will. You will need to start working with the dog on a long line and the chickens in a pen. The basic idea is praise the dog A LOT while he is behaving and not planning his afternoon snack. Give him simple tasks to do the entire time he is near the chicken pen, so you teach him to focus on his tasks, not his desires for dessert. There must be a flip side to this, as well, because you need to exert your dominance in the pack as Alpha. If he breaks and attempts to chase the girls, your correction needs to be rapid and strong enough to get his attention. Then, return him to doing other things and praising him for paying attention.

Keep your training sessions short, but frequent. Increase their length and difficulty over time and as the dog shows more trustworthiness. The dog is 3-yrs-old, already. So, this may be a long process. It should be achievable though.

My Border Collie is only interested in the chickens if they are roaming too far from their end of the property. He gives them a short bark and stomps his front paws. They quickly return to their B. Collie approved area and he goes on with his day. Honestly, he treats the cat with the same attitude. He doesn't like when she gets in the front of the chow line at feeding time. He reminds the cat of her place in the line and all is good in the world again.

Warning! DO NOT attempt to socialize the dog, as is often done with chickens, by leaving him chained where he can see the chickens, but is just out of reach of them. Though the birds may become acquainted that way, it has more of a tendency to drive the dog over mental cliff. The only thing that will be on the dog's mind after that will be KFC and mashed potatoes.

Good luck and have patience. Do not bend your rules you set out for the dog and praise him for colouring inside your lines. You are Alpha; he only gets chicken for dinner when you give it to him and his job is to ignore those girls.

This is EXCELLENT advice. I've had border collies and/or BC mixes for years - all rescues - and they can definitely be a challenge. The two that were found as strays had SERIOUS separation anxiety. The other was so stinkin' smart that training him was a breeze ... lucked out there!
Our current rescue, nicknamed "Crazy Dog" for just such behavior, is still a work in progress!
I can't stress giving your new pup lessons outside, within sight (but not reach) of the chickens. Don't start out too close - the idea is to teach him that YOU are important, not the birds, and he needs to follow your lead. This will not only help you manage him with the chickens, but will help him understand his role (subservient, but mindful and alert) to you ...and keep the lessons frequent, short and FUN for him!

For times when he's left alone, make sure he has some time-consuming boredom busters. Give him peanut butter frozen inside a Kong, a Wobble Ball so he has to work for the treats inside. A puzzle ball is a lot of fun, too. You put a treat in the middle and the dog has to roll the ball around to get the goodie to fall out of the hole in the ball. Some of those can be a bit pricey, but they're worth the money - and eBay is your friend!

For the record, every single BC/Pitty mix I've ever met (and I've known a half-dozen or so) has been well worth the effort it takes to train them. They're smart! Once they figure out what you want of them (which can take some doing, at times) they'll turn themselves inside out to please you. Don't give up on him - take the time to work him through this. You'll be happier - and he'll much better partner and family member for it.

 

[Marc D]

For times when he's left alone, make sure he has some time-consuming boredom busters. Give him peanut butter frozen inside a Kong, a Wobble Ball so he has to work for the treats inside. A puzzle ball is a lot of fun, too. You put a treat in the middle and the dog has to roll the ball around to get the goodie to fall out of the hole in the ball. Some of those can be a bit pricey, but they're worth the money - and eBay is your friend!

Yes! I bought a Buster Cube many years ago for them. I absolutely choked on the cost. However, I still have and use the original one -- many dogs later. They have all loved it.

 

[Marc D]

For times when he's left alone, make sure he has some time-consuming boredom busters. Give him peanut butter frozen inside a Kong, a Wobble Ball so he has to work for the treats inside. A puzzle ball is a lot of fun, too. You put a treat in the middle and the dog has to roll the ball around to get the goodie to fall out of the hole in the ball. Some of those can be a bit pricey, but they're worth the money - and eBay is your friend!

Yes! I bought a Buster Cube many years ago for them. I absolutely choked on the cost. However, I still have and use the original one -- many dogs later. They have all loved it.