How do I get my dog to stop attacking?

[Longhaven Hen]

Quote:
My dogs are never on a leash, but they have never given me a reason to put them on a leash. I suppose it could work as long as you are EXTREMELY VIGILANT, and if a chicken were to wander too close, well, that might be its bad. I wouldn't use that as my long term solution, but it may get you by until you can come up with something more secure. You'll have to experiment and come up with a system that works for you. Just don't EVER, EVER let down your guard and trust the dogs. Accidents may happen, but I think you will be able to come up with a plan that minimizes their frequency.

My yard is divided into three sections: the chicken run proper (where the coop is located), the chicken free-range zone (Dalmatian crossing, but NO DINGOS ALLOWED!), and the dog yard (chickens prohibited, but occasionally sighted). Humans have free access to all areas, and enjoy all areas thoroughly. Because your dogs are small, digging will be a greater concern than jumping. Don't know how much property or yard space you have, but you might want to consider a sub-division scheme, with an uber secure area for the flock when you cannot be on duty.

Oops!

Sorry, Tala, I lost track of the original poster. I thought you were the person with the naughty little dogs, but the post may still be relevant to their situation.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I keep meaning to try this but just haven't yet, Shock Collar. I've heard alot of people use this to train the dogs away from the birds.
For now, I just keep my dog kenneled when the chickens are out and then when they are in he can be out. I'd love to be able to mix them but we're not close to that being an option yet!

 

[possumqueen]

Shock collar won't work on high prey drive unless you use it to totally break down your dog. PLUS, it's expensive. Neutering might or might not work, and it's expensive, too. Mostly neutering just makes the dog less aggressive to other dogs.

If you and the schnauzer have a bond then you just need to build the chickens a separate place. Socially speaking the chickens don't need you as much as the schnauzer does; they have each other, and he was there first. It sounds like you and the dog are really close friends, and you can accept him for what he is. A dog with high prey drive.

But that makes him useful, too. Rodents getting into your chicken pen? Whoa! Clear out the chickens and send in the schnauzer! He'll be really proud of himself, and you'll have a job well done!

 

[Bizzybirdy]

I read somewhere that if he kills again to tie the dead bird around his neck until it rots off, but it seemed inhumane, but if it works I may try it. Anyone ever heard of that?

Didn't work for me! My Great Pyr. just ate the chicken tied around her neck.

She has moved on to a different home with NO chickens.

Either get rid of your dog(s) or get rid of your chickens. Not fair to have the birds brutally killed and no matter what you do the dogs will get loose and kill again. Neutering does not lower their prey drive one bit.​

 

[The Chicken People]

Go with the fort knox coop and run and keep your dogs! It can be done! I am lucky to have two wonderful dogs that have grown to love my chickens or walk wide circles around them! The ladies rule my acres!

 

[krawphish]

Yeah me and Parker (The schnauzer) are great friends, and the trauma was more for the female and child than me, and the chickens of course. When it happened I just sang "The Circle of Life" song from the lion king. I think the segregation will work better. I have a shock collar with a remote that I may try, but gently. I don't want to break his spirit, just his predatory instincts.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
This is one of the many misconceptions spread here. A cock bird will defend his flock against incursion by another male, he will not fight off a predator.
The equation is simple: dogs are preditors, chickens are prey. Some dogs will coexist with chickens until the day they don't. Sounds like your dogs are pretty clear on the nature of their relationship with chickens.
The only absolute way to ensure chicken safety from dogs is with a good fence.

 

[jjthink]

Assuming the dog stays, please don't have birds unless you can ensure there will not be another killing. Fort Knox or no birds.
This sad tale repeats over and over and over again on BYC and each time it is heartbreaking.
JJ

 

[krawphish]

It seems more a curiosity that a predatory deal. They are safe in their coop, and for the most part he runs around the coop watching them. Considering he didn't eat them, but simply bit them and left them. He doesn't jump on the sides of the coop, or paw at it or even dig around it. He's not much of a digger. It's almost as if he was playing and got too rough. He doesn't even bring them to me to show off. Once they stop moving his interest dies. I'm going to make sure they are seperated, or that the dogs are leashed. I didn't mean to sound insensitive with the lion king comment, just that I accepted the event for what it was. Schnauzers are ratters. I know that, and I know that his genitics will out weigh any punishment I can give him. He knew we were upset when he killed them, and he knows when I correct him he's doing wrong, but he almost has an "I can't help it" look in his eyes. We will keep working on it. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Okay....I'm going to risk embarrassing myself here. I once had a mutt/rescue job and I tried to have him be a house dog, but really I would have lost it on him, so I decided I had to have him outside on a run. He began killing whatever birds came too close to him. I was about to do something desparate and was considering all my alternatives and then right before my eyes, he did it again and I did lose it on him. Well I have read a good bit about training dogs and punishing them after the fact won't work because they won't remember the bad behavior, but in this case, even though I may not have been the best pet owner at that very moment, the punishment he received did get through to him. He was somehow with the understanding that I didn't want him killing my birds. I did hit him with a dead duck and screamed at him very loudly and pointed my finger at him and such. I think a shock collar might have been able to be used in a similar way, but you would have had to be there supervising when the bad behavior occurred. Well I was lucky with Mutt. He figured it out.
He developed a relationship with a buff cochin bantam hen. It looked real funny. She was blind in one eye and it made her easy prey for the roosters. They could sneak up on her real good if they caught her on her blind side, but she learned to hang out with Mutt and he would chase her aggressors away.....without killing them and she even slept in the doghouse with him. She was probably the safest bird I had at that time. No raccoon was coming get her at night.
So you see....its possible, but very difficult and you will need a lot of luck, really. I mean that was all I had going for me was luck. If I had not been there at that very moment, to be able to witness that last killing, Mutt was probably not going to be around for long. If I had it to do again, I would probably try the shock collar......and I have a feeling it might be in my future. A little dog showed up and if no ones comes around calling for it and it stays I will have to train it.......kids like him