Good Dog With Birds

[Beekissed]

Have 2 Lab mixes...one GP mix and one BC mix. Great with chickens, great guarding against predators, wonderful with kids and other animals....well, they do seem to not like the obviously evil cows in the pasture next door! I think they are intimidated by these large creatures that merely stare at them while they are challenged in the very best guard dog way! Comical to watch the cattle chew their cuds slowly while a dog barks 6 in. from their face!

 

[SportTees]

I got the standard poodle-- he seems to be good with the quail and ducks. He's not that great with the chickens! He runs around in circles around there tractor. I thinks its because the chickens make noises and run from him-- the quail and ducks don't.

 

[spydertoys]

I am currently in process of locating 2 Pyrenees for flock guardians. I have been told they work better as a pair. I have owned these beautiful dogs before as pets so this is my first attempt at using them as guardians..but I hear they are the best.
So if anyone in the Kentucky area has pups..I would appreciate a heads up.
Thanks

 

[ams3651]

there are several rescues in Ky for that breed if you do a search, if your interested.

 

[henrysue]

I have a boxer/pit bull mix and now have a pit bull/mystery mix puppy that I just brought home on Tuesday. I introduced the first dog to my chicks right after I got them. I held them, pet them, and made my dog smell them. He could care less about them now except he follows them around to clean up after them.

The second dog I did the same with holding them and introducing them, then I put him on a leash and disciplined him when he started to chase them. Then I let him off leash and followed him around and kept an eye on him. Four days later he's doing great. He spent most of today out in the back yard with the chickens, and once in a while he'd chase them but never tried to bite or do anything to harm them.

 

[Beekissed]

HenrySue said:...and once in a while he'd chase them but never tried to bite or do anything to harm them.

This behavior should be sharply discouraged. No exceptions. Ever. This is an act of aggression towards the birds and can eventually lead to chase, increased excitement by both animals, catch and hold, or carry in the mouth, or even kill. It may seem like a harmless game but it is the prelude to something more aggressive if left unchecked. Never okay to chase the chickens, even with you in attendance to "keep them from harm". The chickens are running from fear and this is a stimulant for a predator(dog).​

 

[henrysue]

Quote:
This behavior should be sharply discouraged. No exceptions. Ever. This is an act of aggression towards the birds and can eventually lead to chase, increased excitement by both animals, catch and hold, or carry in the mouth, or even kill. It may seem like a harmless game but it is the prelude to something more aggressive if left unchecked. Never okay to chase the chickens, even with you in attendance to "keep them from harm". The chickens are running from fear and this is a stimulant for a predator(dog).

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. Of course that is not okay. He was disciplined when he chased them.

I feel it has been good progress to take a puppy who has an unknown past and go from him wanting to chase them and grab them non-stop on Tuesday to today spending an entire day with them and only chasing them a couple times while never even coming close to touching them. By chase I mean running ten feet and then losing interest, not circles around the yard. The last part of the day he didn't even pay attention to them. I imagine tomorrow will be better.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

We have a blue heeler, a blue heeler mixed pup, and a yorkie.

Our male Blue heeler, Earnhardt, is 7 years old and never bothers any of our other animals. Except when the cat sneaks up to steal his food, he barks at her.

Maggie is about 6 months old and we are still working with her. She will chase my chickens, but we reprimand and put a stop to it immediately.

My yorkie chases them if she thinks we aren't looking, but a sharp "NO! Sit!" from me and she stops. She knows better, just wants to see if she can get away with it. My yorkie is the most aggressive dog we own, and she is only 5 pounds!

Does anyone have any idea on how a blood hound is with chickens?

 

[Rosalind]

We have a Pyr who needed training to be good with the birds. Lots of training. About eight months of it. He's good now and even tries to herd wild turkeys into the barn for me, as he knows that birdies belong in the barn.

We just got a Newfoundland puppy, and after visiting the breeder's yard with a few off-leash puppies and adults, birdfeeders with songbirds everywhere, I will vouch for Newfies being a good dog around birds and other meek critters. I don't think those Newfies could have caught a dead squirrel. They certainly didn't keep the live ones out of the breeder's orchard. The most laid-back dogs I have ever seen.

Edited to add: OK, now I really really really recommend Newfoundlands. I just brought my playful, nippy puppy out to meet the chickens while they ranged. One Welsummer pullet walked up to her to investigate. I sprinkled a little scratch on the ground around the puppy. Welsummer eyes up the puppy, then judiciously begins eating her scratch, about 10-12 inches from the puppy. The Newfie freaked and ran away from the chicken and hid behind my legs. This is the same puppy who gives the 100 lb. Pyr rough play, and she's scared of chickens. Go figure.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I have a beagle mix - the roos are his "buddies". He loves the other chickens, too - but with the roos, he gets to eat the treats they miss.

Peace -
Meriah