Help with my dog who wants to eat my chickens!

[LilyD]

I have 6 total currently all herding breed mixes and 3 of the 6 are great and I would trust off leash. They actually help me herd the chickens, ducks and turkeys and will watch the babies as they grow up no issues. The other three are all rescues and have at one time or another had to catch their own food to survive. They look at the chickens as a food source and if the gate were every left open I have no doubt that they would help themselves to the buffet. My avatar picture is my 4 year old aussie girl. She will watch the chicks hatch in the incubator and come out with me to watch as I work in the brooders with the chicks. They will even come up and peck at the hair and whiskers on her face. She's a born momma even though she's never had puppies and taking care of littles seems to be in her DNA. Wish I have a ton more like her.

 

[danceswithronin]

When you figure out how to train this out of a terrier let me know, because I have a Yorkshire who is an unrepentant chicken killer. Both losses in my flock are due to him.

I don't bother trying to train him, I just keep them completely separated. I've tried exposure training but even as an old man he's so quick and can grab a bird SO fast, I can't risk my birds getting hurt or killed in the process.

 

[Sueby]

I have 6 total currently all herding breed mixes and 3 of the 6 are great and I would trust off leash. They actually help me herd the chickens, ducks and turkeys and will watch the babies as they grow up no issues. The other three are all rescues and have at one time or another had to catch their own food to survive. They look at the chickens as a food source and if the gate were every left open I have no doubt that they would help themselves to the buffet. My avatar picture is my 4 year old aussie girl. She will watch the chicks hatch in the incubator and come out with me to watch as I work in the brooders with the chicks. They will even come up and peck at the hair and whiskers on her face. She's a born momma even though she's never had puppies and taking care of littles seems to be in her DNA. Wish I have a ton more like her.

I know I had mentioned it earlier in this thread, but I hadn't thought of the fact that he does probably think of them as food too - he was most definitely starving when the rescue found him. He was 12 lbs & is now 29! I can't trust him around any food, he'll steal it if you look away for half a second, even knowing he'll get in trouble! I've also caught him eating chicken feathers. I would imagine that could be part of it too!

This was him after gaining the first 12lbs.

 

[Sueby]

When you figure out how to train this out of a terrier let me know, because I have a Yorkshire who is an unrepentant chicken killer. Both losses in my flock are due to him.

I don't bother trying to train him, I just keep them completely separated. I've tried exposure training but even as an old man he's so quick and can grab a bird SO fast, I can't risk my birds getting hurt or killed in the process.

View attachment 1801020

Awww, but he's soooo cute! Can't be! Yea, Patrick will NEVER be trusted, I hear ya there.

 

[micstrachan]

Just now when I got on BYC from my phone, a photo of my dog as a puppy along with my (late) hen Rusty appeared and when I clicked it, it brought me to this thread. However, I don’t see the photo in the thread itself. Anyway, my dog was raised with the chickens, and that’s how I’d do it again. Sorry I can’t read this through right now. Does your dog know “leave it!”?

 

[Celticdragonfly]

What are "chippies"?

 

[Stiletto]

What are "chippies"?

Chipmunks

 

[cndlou]

Having dogs compatible with chicks is like finding a good rooster. Some are good and some are bad. You can always find a way to make things work though. My beagle is an amazing mouse hunter, I've seen what she does to those mice so keeping my chicks from her is best

My Cooper, Beagle mix, has no issue w my hens or tortoises.
My daughters Jack Russell, her Lab/Gordon Settrr mix & her Shep/Pit mix all want to eat em! As well as my sis-in-laws lil Toby, Chihuahua/Doxie mix!

Soooo, needless to say.... THEY are NOT invited over!
I lost a Flemish Giant to the lil 14# Toby!

 

[cndlou]

It's funny, I have a neighbor that wanted me to bring him to a hunt. They put chippies in like a hamster ball & put them in a hole & let the dogs 'hunt' them I guess. She's like he'd be so good at it! I was like you are OUT OF YOUR MIND, he is already sooo obsessed with chippies I can't even imagine making a game of it for him. The poor dog almost has a stroke every time the thing is under his deck as it is.

I guess I have to deal with the fact he is a terrorist, er I mean terrier, & will probably always be. He's a good boy though & he sure loves his mom.

Um! Cruel & horrible to terrorize the chilies! omgsh! Really???
That’s terrible!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I don't know if this will help, but it might be worth a try, so I'll share, along with a little background.

My Sheltie was badly hurt a few years ago when the front screen door slammed hard on her tail. Since then she has freaked out any time anyone uses that door. I mean she barks, yells, screams at anyone going in or out or even approaching that door. I didn't make the connection until recently. She is otherwise pretty obedient, but this just sends her into an almost uncontrollable frenzy and I decided to try to get a handle on it.

I put a training collar on her. I prefer a properly fitted prong but a standard choke will do or really anything the dog can't slip out of. When she went nuts, I took hold of the collar and calmly led her away from the door to where I normally sit. Then I asked her to sit, which she did, shaking like a leaf. That's when I realized she had no control of her emotions! She was in terror. But the treatment is the same.

I praised her for the sit (I don't train with treats) and just stroked her calmly and spoke quietly to her a moment then gave her the release command (Okay, Good girl). By then she was a lot calmer. I repeated this every time I needed to for a couple of days, and on about the third day I saw marked improvement.

She ran to the door barking then checked herself and looked at me. I smiled and said, "Gracie Come," and she trotted over to me and sat. She got her praise and pats and then she was fine.

You say your dog already has basic training. I suggest you use it to your advantage. Take the dog out ON LEASH. When you see agitation/ excitement, don't jerk or say anything, just turn and walk away quickly. When you get far enough away or out of sight of the birds, maybe around a corner, sit the dog and praise for the sit. Repeat as needed and quit on a high note - when the dog is sitting. Praise verbally and pat or stroke briefly, calmly! Try again. As SOON as you see frenzy, walk away, Heel! Don't let the dog look at the birds unless he is sitting, then praise and quit. Reward the behavior you want, then quit, even if it only happens once to start with. Treats are a distraction IMO. Your face, voice and hands are the best reward. Good luck!