How can I train my dog not to chase my chickens?

[Geena]

*

 

[TOR]

I've actually seen something similar to this before at a poultry butchering farm. It's sad and grouse at the same time. I'm really attached to my chickens, so I probably could never do that, but that might work for someone in industry. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

It may not be practical way to solve the problem. Back in the 80s I had 2 dogs started killing my chickens at my wits end a farmer told me about tying the chickens around their neck.
I did it. It was nasty, it was summer.
I washed the dogs after removing the dead chickens. The dogs never bothered the chickens again.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

With Sterling, it's already decided that he will not be wearing a shock collar. I talked to my Mom about it and she said no, so, no shock collar. Unless he got out accidentally, Sterling will always be on a leash at all times. Me, or one of my siblings, puts a harness on him and walk him when he needs to go out. My Mom don't know about getting him a lead yet, so he might not get one. I like to take him out on walk/run twice a day which can be a 10-30 minutes for exercise. Then me or one of my siblings takes him out occasionally throughout the day so he can do his business. One of the biggest reasons why I'm looking to get him trained, is so if he accidentally got loose. Also, when I get up a non winterized run for my hens, I don't want him always trying to get to them when he goes outside. I'd love to see them all live in harmony with each other like some of the stories I've heard over here on BYC, but with the husky part, it's probably not possible. I'm still open for more suggestions. I've been taking note of all the ones that I think that I can use. One, I would've never thought of not looking at the chickens. That's very helpful to know. Another, if he does go after them, to start freaking out and stuff to draw his attention. Plus, there's many more things. I've been reading so much from you people that's been super helpful! Thanks so much for everyone's help!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

It may not be practical way to solve the problem. Back in the 80s I had 2 dogs started killing my chickens at my wits end a farmer told me about tying the chickens around their neck.
I did it. It was nasty, it was summer.
I washed the dogs after removing the dead chickens. The dogs never bothered the chickens again.

Wow. I'm glad that that worked for you. I hope that I don't have to do that, but I'm glad that it worked for you.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Don't worry cluck, you're only a correction Karen because you happened to disagree with them. Yet when they disagree with someone else they are somehow a justified Jerry.
Funny how that works

Thanks!

 

[black_cat]

I am not an expert in dogs, but I've been doing a lot of research about dog training in preparation to getting our puppy. I lost the post, but @Geena 's idea is what we will be using when training our puppy. You want the dog to have no interest in the chickens, the same way they have no interest in a chair. Starting far away from the coop, with the chickens in the coop/run, with the dog on a leash, work on commands (whatever you're currently working on). Don't pay attention to the chickens, focus on the dog. When the dog stops focusing on you and pays attention to the chickens, give a 'no' or a 'leave it' and tug on the leash a bit to bring their attention back to you. Once there isn't an issue at that distance, slowly repeat this process moving closer and closer to the coop, until you are right next to the run and the dog is completely focused on you. Then continue, at a distance again, but off leash (at this point you're a while in, so your dog will be better trained) and repeat. Throughout the whole process, you can also include the backyard, including near the chicken coop, in your walks, and do the same corrections for paying attention to the chickens.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I know you’ve already decided not to use an e collar and I wouldn’t use it on a new dog anyway as was mentioned, but I just want to say, just for the record, that these collars are NOT cruel if used correctly.

There is a lot of misinformation out there on e-collars (NOT “shock” collars). People aren’t just turning it up to 100 and zapping the heck out of dogs or trying to make them yelp and cower or anything remotely close to that. At least not anymore. Maybe they used to, I don’t know. But nowadays there are a ton of different models and a lot of them don’t even have a shock feature anymore, just beep and/or vibrate because it is supposed to be a communication tool.

And even for the ones that DO have that feature, they are used on the lowest possible setting that gets a reaction from a dog. That reaction could just be the slightest ear twitch but they work to find the lowest possible level that works for the individual dog. They are NOT out to hurt dogs. At least good trainers aren’t.

The collar is also introduced very slowly and the dog is taught that they can turn the stimulation off through their behavior. A lot of trainers actually even use positive reinforcement like food, toys, etc. in addition to the collar. So they are getting rewarded for doing the right thing and have a choice and most of the time, the dogs are VERY happy to work and love their collars. If not, a different tool would likely be used for those dogs if it’s a good trainer. So they’re definitely not cruel.

They CAN be cruel in the wrong hands but that is true of ANY tool. Even a flat collar and a leash. If some jerk wanted to pop the heck out of their dog or string him up on one of those, they could! And a lot of those gentle leader head halters chafe the dog’s noses if used incorrectly or for too long. So ANY tool can be cruel if used by the wrong person in the wrong way. Used properly, an e collar just gets the dog’s attention and/or disrupts the behavior and does NOT hurt them. It is a communication tool not a torture device.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Also, I want to say that a Lab/Husky mix will need A LOT more exercise than two 10 minute leash walks a day. That’s nothing to those breeds. They are high energy working dogs. They usually need at least a solid hour or two of exercise a day preferably a lot of which is off leash running. OR they’ll need a ton of training and mental stimulation to make up for it. You could also do scent walks where you allow the dog to sniff everything he wants and get mental exercise in that way. But will definitely need more of something. Unless maybe he’s older? You didn’t say how old he was or else I missed it.

 

[Reiki Rooster]

Do shock collars really work? Everytime I see one being used, it never seems to work.

I’ve had husky’s for over 20 yrs now, shock collars work on some dogs but in my experience when a husky is running, nothing will stop them. My husky’s aren’t allowed near my pens, but my german shepherd and Great Dane adopt chicks and guard my chickens on their own, I’ve never trained them that way....but I absolutely never leave them unsupervised

 

[cmom]

Do shock collars really work? Everytime I see one being used, it never seems to work.

My brother used a shock collar on his dog. He would say come and if the dog didn't obey he first used the tone feature when that didn't work he used the vibrate feature, finally the dog still didn't obey so he used the shock. He said the dog stopped in its tracks. He used the collar for awhile and as soon as he used the tone function the dog would stop and come to him. He did eventually quit using the collar and the dog would obey. My brother has had a myriad of animals including poultry but the shock collar worked for him.