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

[AngBantamLuv]

Don't have the chickens and dog out at the same time. A husky is a breed that has retained a lot of wild dog instincts. It is unrealistic and unfair to expect his nature to be trained out of him. Also, ensure your chicken enclosure is something he can't break down in a minute. In my opinion, they can live next to each other, but not with each other.

I have maltipoos.. little fur nuggets.. but they are part poodle.. and that is a bird hunting dog (not actually a circus dog ) and I don't trust them. They sit, watch, and never move. I still don't trust them. I certainly wouldn't trust a husky.

 

[MountainWoman73]

I've talked with my Mom about the shock collar. She doesn't approve of it at all. Is there anything that I can do to train him without a shock collar? Thanks!

Yes, of course! Same principle, but you have to use something else to scare the dog when it's done something wrong. I call it the jekyll and hyde routine. When the dog goes after the chickens you act like you've LOST YOUR MIND, yelling no, waving your arms, throwing something... Anything to interrupt the behavior. Then you call them. Make sure you have good treats, use a VERY HAPPY voice to praise the dog for coming back and leaving the chicken alone. Like you're a completely different person and did not just yell at them.

This has worked well for me, but you have to be consistent. And it depends on you having a good trust relationship with your dog, too.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Don't have the chickens and dog out at the same time. A husky is a breed that has retained a lot of wild dog instincts. It is unrealistic and unfair to expect his nature to be trained out of him. Also, ensure your chicken enclosure is something he can't break down in a minute. In my opinion, they can live next to each other, but not with each other.

I have maltipoos.. little fur nuggets.. but they are part poodle.. and that is a bird hunting dog (not actually a circus dog ) and I don't trust them. They sit, watch, and never move. I still don't trust them. I certainly wouldn't trust a husky.

Ok. I think that my main concern is training him to ease the worry. I most likely would never leave him alone with my flock. The worry is more of say, he accidentally got out and my hens just so happened to get out. Or, if one of them escaped for whatever reason and I didn't know about until he was out there. I'm glad that you see that they can live next to each other. I still would like to know if there is any training that I could do to ease any worry, but I do like what you said about it being unfair to train it out of him. I don't think that (unless he got a taste) that's a hunting problem. I think that he wants to play with them. He's a very playful dog. Thanks so much for your response!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Yes, of course! Same principle, but you have to use something else to scare the dog when it's done something wrong. I call it the jekyll and hyde routine. When the dog goes after the chickens you act like you've LOST YOUR MIND, yelling no, waving your arms, throwing something... Anything to interrupt the behavior. Then you call them. Make sure you have good treats, use a VERY HAPPY voice to praise the dog for coming back and leaving the chicken alone. Like you're a completely different person and did not just yell at them.

This has worked well for me, but you have to be consistent. And it depends on you having a good trust relationship with your dog, too.

Ok. Thank you. He is new, but if when walking him (I was taking care of him earlier this year), I got hurt like fell or something, he'd come right over to me to make certain that I was ok.

 

[cmobley]

Congratulations on your new dog, Destiny! First of all, you should never ever trust him alone with the chickens - even when he is trained. It's not worth it. He could kill all of them in a matter of seconds.

I suggest putting him on a lead when he is outside. This is what my neighbor does with her dog and it works great! 1) Sterling can't run off 2) He can't get to the chickens.

Something like this would work great. Just attach it to a cement block or a post (it depends on how strong the dog is)


@Lacy Duckwing - I really wouldn't use a shock collar. I'll tell you about it later.

Aww, Sterling wants to be with you. Be careful - glad Rocky's okay!

Not really. They are kind of cruel.

That would be hard for her - and if it doesn't work, her flock is in huge trouble. What if he just ignores the shock? Or she doesn't see him in time? A dog-chicken attack happens so fast, it's not worth the chance IMO.

That is not a good plan, IMHO, Destiny. Sterling will have to get to know the chickens because now he lives with them pretty much!

thumbs up**

True.

so true

I hope she doesn't. It's pretty cruel. It could also make in aggressive towards you.

Instead of bashing our suggestions why don't you just give your response on what might work and move along. So sick of these correction Karen's all over this site.

 

[centrarchid]

I started out using German Pointers (reputed bird dogs in the US) as poultry guardians. learned a lot during first iterations. They have a very high prey drive, but learn quickly. Dogs in general need mental stimulation. Bored dogs more likely to see chickens as play toys. At some point you need to work dogs around birds while former are hungry.

Hotwire around coop and run. Exercise dog before each session and promote interest in things not chicken. Then using leash, spend time with dog around chickens while they are confined providing gentle corrections when dog looks at chickens. Do not look at chickens yourself as dog keys in on what you are looking at. Repeat many times. Hotwire hopefully will serve as backup if training backslides.

I am one that has dogs and chickens free-ranging together. It is doable, but does take effort and involves some risk.

 

[Geena]

Do not use a shock collar on an adult dog you just got yesterday. It takes some time, but do as Centra advises above.

 

[Geena]

Instead of bashing our suggestions why don't you just give your response on what might work and move along. So sick of these correction Karen's all over this site.

Sorry, but telling someone who has never used one to put a shock collar on a large dog of unknown temperament, that they just got, and start "zapping" it is a very bad, and possibly dangerous, idea.

 

[cmobley]

Sorry, but telling someone who has never used one to put a shock collar on a large dog of unknown temperament, that they just got, and start "zapping" it is a very bad, and possibly dangerous, idea.

Yeah I forgot common sense isn't so common anymore. But thanks for implying the op doesn't have enough learn to use one.

 

[Joannaz]

Shock collars are banned in our country but we’ve managed to get our Jack Russell to ignore our chickens.

Our chicken run is surrounded by an electric fence to deter foxes. When we first got our dog he was super curious about the chickens and got shocked himself instead. We heard a great yelp and he was terrified but seemed okay. After that he kept his distance but does get a bit close to them occasionally when we let the chickens out.

He hasn’t attacked them, but when he goes near them to sniff, we yell at him pretty loudly and get him to come over. And then give him attention and treats for being a well behaved boy