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

[cmom]

Also the shock collar had an adjustment for the amount of the shock.

 

[TOR]

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!

I do not believe because the dog is or part husky it is automatically going to kill your chickens.
I do believe dogs have personalities just like people.
Hope it works out for you
Good Luck

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

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.

Wow! This is very informational! Thanks so much! As far as letting him off the leash, chickens or not, I'm too scared to let him off the leash. The previous owners had lost him for a while because he ran away. So, I'll probably always keep him on the leash. Thanks so much again for the help!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I do not believe because the dog is or part husky it is automatically going to kill your chickens.
I do believe dogs have personalities just like people.
Hope it works out for you
Good Luck

Yeah, I don't think that he'd purposely kill my chickens. I think it'd be a case that he'd play with them like a toy and accidentally hurt or kill them. I need to teach him that they're not toys.
Thanks!

 

[black_cat]

Wow! This is very informational! Thanks so much! As far as letting him off the leash, chickens or not, I'm too scared to let him off the leash. The previous owners had lost him for a while because he ran away. So, I'll probably always keep him on the leash. Thanks so much again for the help!

Is your backyard fenced?
I think that it's important for him to work on it off leash, or at least on a long, loose leash as well....you don't want him to realize that you're not in control if you accidentally drop the leash, and then have him immediately sprint at the chicken run.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

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.

Yeah. I like doing the half hour walk/run more, but sometimes I'm not able to. As far as letting him off the leash, I'm too scared that he'll run away. What I do with him seems to be good with him. His previous owners said that he was hyper, but with the exercise that I do with him, he's pretty layed back. He's 2.5 years old.
As far as the e collar, what you said is very informational. Thank you. Maybe someday I'll use one, but with a new dog and zero experience with one, I probably won't be using one soon.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Is your backyard fenced?
I think that it's important for him to work on it off leash, or at least on a long, loose leash as well....you don't want him to realize that you're not in control if you accidentally drop the leash, and then have him immediately sprint at the chicken run.

No, my backyard isn't fenced. He has one of those retractable leashes, so he does get some space away from me when I'm walking him. Yeah, he pulled the leash out of my hand yesterday when we was out on his run, and ran quite a ways, but he stopped where I usually stop with him, so I was able to get him back. This was at a nearby field, not at my house, so he didn't go near any of my chickens.

 

[black_cat]

No, my backyard isn't fenced. He has one of those retractable leashes, so he does get some space away from me when I'm walking him. Yeah, he pulled the leash out of my hand yesterday when we was out on his run, and ran quite a ways, but he stopped where I usually stop with him, so I was able to get him back. This was at a nearby field, not at my house, so he didn't go near any of my chickens.

Get rid of that retractable leash. They are dangerous (dog sees something and sprints after it, unspooling leash. You click it off, and the sudden jerk takes you off your feet, and you are now being dragged behind dog). Get a regular, 6 foot leash for walking and make sure that he knows how to walk calmly on the leash. I would recommend finding somewhere that you are allowed to use with a large, fenced field to let him off leash, or get one of the 50/100 foot leashes to use in an unfenced field to get him more exercise.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Get rid of that retractable leash. They are dangerous (dog sees something and sprints after it, unspooling leash. You click it off, and the sudden jerk takes you off your feet, and you are now being dragged behind dog). Get a regular, 6 foot leash for walking and make sure that he knows how to walk calmly on the leash. I would recommend finding somewhere that you are allowed to use with a large, fenced field to let him off leash, or get one of the 50/100 foot leashes to use in an unfenced field to get him more exercise.

I can't get him into a fenced in yard... The retractable leash appears to work well for me, and my six foot leash is pink.

 

[black_cat]

I can't get him into a fenced in yard...

Is there any sort of field near you that you could get permission to use? You are able to buy 50 and 100 foot leashes to allow for some exciting games of fetch while remaining on leash.

The retractable leash appears to work well for me,

It does until it doesn't. I can't make you get rid of it, but I will maintain that it's a bad idea.

and my six foot leash is pink.

.....
?
If you don't like the color pink, I suppose that you could get a different leash, but IMO it doesn't matter what color the leash is.