German Shepherd surprised me

[rockymountain]

My husband was putting a new tarp on the chicken run, and putting shelter for the wind and he left the run door open while he was working with the tarp. Our year old german shepherd entered the run. He panicked thinking the pup would kill the chickens. He then noticed that the chickens didn't even run from him and actually stayed in the run very calm. All the gsd do was smell their buts. We were really surprised by this. I am guessing the dogs had accepted the chickens as family as they always come with me to feed and change water, etc. I was so happy to know the dogs are not enemies to the chickens. Just sharing. Our chickens are confined due to many wild life around and birds of prey.

 

[sourland]

German Shepherds are extremely smart, and once they accept anything as 'belonging' they are great protectors. Had one - will never have another. He took too big a piece of my heart when he died.

 

[CanadaEh]

I am guessing the dogs had accepted the chickens as family as they always come with me to feed and change water, etc. I was so happy to know the dogs are not enemies to the chickens.

don't rely on it. she may quickly find out one day that chickens are really fun to chase

 

[rockymountain]

German Shepherds are extremely smart, and once they accept anything as 'belonging' they are great protectors. Had one - will never have another. He took too big a piece of my heart when he died.

I was really surprised that the chickens didn't freak out and run to the coop. The whole thing was just amazing.

 

[rockymountain]

don't rely on it. she may quickly find out one day that chickens are really fun to chase

I am agreeing with you on this one, as I stated I keep them confined, but when our guard was down, blaming hubby on this one, the outcome was very surprising. Could of been a disaster and I know my hubby would of never for gave himself as I am so protective of the chickens.

 

[NatJ]

when our guard was down, blaming hubby on this one, the outcome was very surprising.

That's the best kind of surprise: the nice kind!
Thanks for sharing this!

 

[CapricornFarm]

My Shepherd trees predators and then comes and gets me to shoot them. Unless she can catch them before they reach the tree! Then she just dispatches them.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Neither of our dogs hurts chickens.

 

[cmom]

I don't know how old your dog is but I think a puppy would look at a bird as a toy and something to chase where an older dog not so much. We were lucky too. A daughter left her hound dog with us when she moved to a place where she couldn't have pets and the dog could have cared less about the birds. Good luck and have fun...