German Shepherd owners...*update*more pics

[sunket77]

OK so as soon as we are ready we have discussed and agreed getting a dog. My husband and I both love German Shepherds. I owned one growing up and am very familiar with the breed and training. A great pyr. is really not an option, we live in central Texas and it gets in the 100's. I have read on here that several of you have one and I am wondering how they do with the chickens?

 

[Sillystunt]

I think it depends on the dog and what it views as family. Mine is a shepard /rotti mix and he loves my chickens! He knows they are family and can be found snoozing with them and the duck. Now my neighbor has a hotdog and he want's to eat my chickens....lol

Just train him to be gentle and he will be OK! but then there is sometimes accidents

 

[WalkingWolf]

GS are good loyal dogs but they are working dogs and you will have to train them for chickens. Otherwise they will treat them as prey. Start with obedience training and work from there with the shepherd on a leash around the chickens. Let them see you pick up and hold the chickens so they will know they are a part of the family and not a threat to you. The first thing with any dog is that dog respecting you the owner and to respect you and your property as his job.

I have wolves and in many respects their behavior is similar, I have older female that walks among the chickens with out giving a second thought to hurting them. The only problem with chickens and dogs is, it removes the fear of dogs from the chickens. Once they get used to your dog they will approach any dog.

 

[speckledhen]

You need to read posts by our member "ruth". She has two Shepherds and you'll learn alot by how she was training the younger one, Scarlett.

As far as Great Pyrs go, many folks in hot climates clip them short in summer.

 

[francisfarms]

I have a gsd that comes from working stock. She is good with the chicks most of the time but had a snack with some three day olds grrr. As far as my older chickens she is good but they are too fast for her and they usually fly into their pen or go into deep grass cover. Start with day one on OB, it makes a big difference!!!

 

[sunket77]

thanks! "speckledhen" how do I find her posts?

 

[kipepeo]

I have a King Sheperd that is a year old I love her. Can't give you an input on her with chickens I tore my ACL when my chicks were less than 2 weeks old and have not been able to work with her or do much of anyting i have wanted to do. You may also look at Shiloh sheperds

Cierra one year old just groomed needs to gain about 30 more pounds

 

[SarahFair]

I got my GSD when she was a year old. Very well trained. Came from a retired Police that specialized in the K9 unit.
I got my chickens 5 months later and Ive never had a problem with her. Shell herd whatever chicken I point out to her towards me, into the coop, or will run my rooster till hes tired so I can mess with him. But also Id say it has to do with the individual dog. GSD is a very good choice. I plan on getting 2 more in the next 4 years.
First time she saw chickens:

Keeping them together cause shes a nut

:

And one of her just cause:

 

[SpringChickens]

I have a lab X GSD who is GREAT with the chickens. She is very well trained though, and I credit that with her ability with them.

I also live in central TX (College Station), and she does fine with the heat. We have neighbors who have 3 Great Pyranees who seem to do fine.

To find posts by a member, you can go to User list and type in their name. From there, select show all topics, and you can see all the threads they have started. OR, you can select show all posts and you can read everything they have ever posted on here.

Good luck!

 

[sandyj]

I have 2 German Shepards. Wonderful animals. They are 7 and 10 years old. We just got our chicks this spring. The 7 year old is great with the chickens. He watches them walk around. One day he fell asleep and a chicken jumped on him. All he did was put his head up and look around. When he saw it was one of "his" chickens he layed his head down and went back to sleep. The 10 year old female, on the other hand, killed one of our chicks by licking her to death. My husband watched how she did with the chickens and thought she'd be OK. Well, when he went inside for a few minutes.... No bite marks or bleeding. Just soaking wet. Poor baby!

I think if they have grown up with chickens it may work better. It just goes to show that some dogs can be OK and some can't be trusted.

sandyj