How do I train my dogs to be chicken friendly?

[Here chicky chicky]

Any advice on training my dogs to be nice to chickens? We have a 10 year old lab, a 7 year old mini schnauzer and a 5 month old lab pup. The chickens are new this year and we are just starting to let them roam free...of course we sit out there and babysit them LOL! I fear all three dogs will go after the chickens... and we also have three cats who seem to want to hunt them as well. I am screaming, throwing stuff, throwing water... but the buggers do it again the next time. Any advice? I'd like to let the chickens out and NOT have to chicky-sit them.

 

[al6517]

A shock collar is a great tool to help make all of your lives easier.

AL

 

[Mahonri]

When I was a kid we had a German Shepherd. Once in a while he would get the idea he wanted to chase a chicken. Well one day he did chase one and killed it with one bite.

I took the dead chicken and beat the tarnation out of him with it. He never touched another chicken.... in fact he was afraid of them after that.

 

[hen-thusiast]

We're new to chickens too. We have a ten year old Aussie Shepherd mix (who loves to kill) and a 8 year old Chocolate Lab. About three years ago we put out dogs through "rattlesnake aversion" training in which they used a shock collar. It was extremely effective with both of them. After tons of consideration, we purchased a shock collar. While we will never fully trust the dogs with the chickens, we felt a shock collar was the most humane route for both the dogs and chickens.

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

Monitor them closely and punish them every time they get too close if they seem to be aggressive. Spank them or if you don't want to do that, spray them with a water bottle. If they mind you well, maybe all you will have to do is tell them to stop when they get too close. Until you see that they are safe around the chickens, stay close so they can't get to them before you do.

My dog used to sneak up close to the chicks and smell them, but he will back up when I tell him to "be sweet."

 

[Here chicky chicky]

I think the shock collar will be best. I'll try that. THANKS!!!

 

[highcountrychickens]

You're going to need to spend a lot of time with each dog alone each day, in pairs, and in a trio on check cords (long leash... not the retractable kind necessarily) or collars as others have mentioned... Consider putting your chickens in some sort of secure cage or tractor in the middle of your yard to keep them safe while you're training. The INSTANT the dog looks at the chicken for ANY reason, correct hard with a "LEAVE IT" before any look has a chance to flip into anything else (heartbeat)- be consistent, extremely firm, and unequivocally THE BOSS... You may not have to do as much of this with the older dog - but NEVER forget that they are at their core, bird hunting dogs, which may override all of this in a snap if there is a lapse in your training diligence. Terriers have strong tendency to obsess, so nip it sharply before it has a chance to move into that... The next step is to make the dog lay completely on it's side or roll it to it's back (belly up) wait until the dog is completely submissive and with protections in place allow the (a) chickens to come to the dog - do NOT let the dog even look at the chicken, or allow it to change the submissive behavior even in distant mojo...

Eventually the chickens will become a 'non event', although with three dogs you certainly have the danger of the pack thing, so there may never be a time when you will be able to leave them alone. Of course each dog is different, so it's really up to you to read them and work properly with each dog's temperament.

That said, this is certainly not the time for touchy feelee clicker training... it's time to lay down the law.

This worked like a champ for my two JRTs. One of them acts as if the chickens don't remotely exist, the other knows the law and has made it her job to be the chief chicken-keeper. She and our Roo had a venomous mutual dislike - I let them sort it out, and they found it best to call it a draw.

Good Luck!

 

[silkeysandra]

What has worked for us is to put a chicken on your lap while sitting on the grass or ground. When doggie comes up, curious, you make doggie sit (they should be well-trained enough to sit on command) then you pet the dog and pet the chicken. Let them touch beak/nose, no licking or pecking. Reassure each animal with, Good Chicken, Good Dog until they are sick of the chicken introductions and indicate they want to go away.
I did this each day until the dogs could care less if they saw a chicken.
I did have to watch them closely to make sure they did not chase them, but my alpha chicken flew at our biggest dog and backed him off, so that's over too, seems.
Once they both get used to each other, it will take less observation.
It's a little time consuming, but then so it the shock collar, and I think the way we did it is nicer.

If they revert and forget to play nice, they are back to square one and redo the chicken introductions until you are purple. After a while, they see it as 'punishment' and work hard at being nice to the chickens! ha!

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
Sound advice! I too, use "leave it" with my lab, pitbull and lhasa apso. They now know the chickies are off limits. They all go over and sniff and lay down next to them, but none act overly interested in them. Actually the lhasa apso has a tendency to guard them. He won't let the other 2 dogs near them!
I've always trained them to "leave it" with anything I don't want them touching. Works like a charm when they learn it. Consistency is the key!!!!! Cannot stress that enough-good luck.

 

[Old McDonald 27]

I have a giant red rooster that took care of training my dogs.

My springer spaniel (who weighs about 50lbs) decided one day that he wanted to sniff one of my hens. He didn't even get close before Red was on his head. The other dogs witnessed this and now they all give the chickens plenty of room! That being said... I am a dog groomer and one of my elderly customers told me that when he was a boy his terrier killed a chicken. They tied the chicken around the dogs neck and left it all day. After that he never bothered the chickens again. Since then I have heard several people say that. Of course to try it you would need a dead chicken.