Wow! Interesting and scary thread.
I own a Dane and have no problems with chickens or our cats. Our dogs are not leashed nor controlled by electric fence or collars. They were / constantly trained with positive reinforcement. They respond to verbal and non-verbal commands. As mentioned before - they know we are the alpha.
We have 2 dogs (1 dane; 1 shepherd / hound mix) and 2 cats indoors. Both are fine with the cats and we leave them alone all of the time and don't separate the four. When the dogs go outside - they leave the chickens alone. When they were first introduced to the chickens they were guided through the process. Told to sit, and they watched the chickens. We would walk toward the chickens and they were given constant voice / non-verbal commands. Never once, have we had a problem with them going after the chickens. We even post them to help us get them in the coop! Don't get me wrong - when the dogs are running and having fun they love to run up to the chickens and give a good pounce a few feet before them. We allow this, too. It's clearly understood it's play and it's not an aggressive act. Even the chickens know it and give a good run /chase.
I believe so much is in the training, the relationship with the animal, and who is the pack leader. It has to be the human. Now, if you're thinking my dogs are wimps - no way! They are also trained so that I can give a whispered command and they go circling the house (inside or out) barking and protecting. They understand that command to be an 'on alert' command.
Now, every new animal we get we have to train them to interact with and around. We just allowed a barn cat to take residence in the barn. The first time they saw her - they wanted to rip her head off because they knew she didn't belong there. They are currently being trained to interact with her.
I have to say I am shocked to hear some of the comments made in this thread. I also have to question the health of the dane if it's really 235#s - that's probably a very overweight dog. Our dane is 37" at the shoulder - he's very tall. He weighs in about 147#. He's ideal weight, lean and trim.
Anyway - it can be done. Maybe not always with dogs that are still being breed for their instinctual qualities.
I own a Dane and have no problems with chickens or our cats. Our dogs are not leashed nor controlled by electric fence or collars. They were / constantly trained with positive reinforcement. They respond to verbal and non-verbal commands. As mentioned before - they know we are the alpha.
We have 2 dogs (1 dane; 1 shepherd / hound mix) and 2 cats indoors. Both are fine with the cats and we leave them alone all of the time and don't separate the four. When the dogs go outside - they leave the chickens alone. When they were first introduced to the chickens they were guided through the process. Told to sit, and they watched the chickens. We would walk toward the chickens and they were given constant voice / non-verbal commands. Never once, have we had a problem with them going after the chickens. We even post them to help us get them in the coop! Don't get me wrong - when the dogs are running and having fun they love to run up to the chickens and give a good pounce a few feet before them. We allow this, too. It's clearly understood it's play and it's not an aggressive act. Even the chickens know it and give a good run /chase.
I believe so much is in the training, the relationship with the animal, and who is the pack leader. It has to be the human. Now, if you're thinking my dogs are wimps - no way! They are also trained so that I can give a whispered command and they go circling the house (inside or out) barking and protecting. They understand that command to be an 'on alert' command.
Now, every new animal we get we have to train them to interact with and around. We just allowed a barn cat to take residence in the barn. The first time they saw her - they wanted to rip her head off because they knew she didn't belong there. They are currently being trained to interact with her.
I have to say I am shocked to hear some of the comments made in this thread. I also have to question the health of the dane if it's really 235#s - that's probably a very overweight dog. Our dane is 37" at the shoulder - he's very tall. He weighs in about 147#. He's ideal weight, lean and trim.
Anyway - it can be done. Maybe not always with dogs that are still being breed for their instinctual qualities.
Last edited:
