How to TRAIN A DOG to NOT chase chickens? HELP! asap

[chickenbarn-gal]

to cut to the chase, I'm getting baby chicks soon. Well, about 10 months ago I got a Labrador puppy. She has now grown and is quite behaved. But just yesterday we went to our friends house (who has baby chicks) and LUCY (dog) got ahold of a baby chick and almost ate it! It started running around and she chased it. We finally cought her, put her on the floor and she dropped the baby chick (about 2 months old) (The chick is fine now) she didn't eat the chick, t=she just thought it was fun and chased it around like it was a game. but now I'm scared, what if she chases and anciently kills my chicks that i will buy?

Is anybody here a dog trainer? How can I train my dog to NOT

CHASE CHICKENS?

:

please help asap!

 

[HarlansHollowFarms]

I would suggest kenneling your dog while the chicks are out. and leaving the chicks put up while the dog is out. Very rarely can you train a dog not to play with your chicks. It will be safer for all just to keep them apart.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

I just recently got my dog (border collie) to be chicken friendly. What I did was, while the chickens were free-ranging in the yard I put my dog on a leash. I kept her close to me and made her lay down. Whenever a chick would come over I would tell her good girl. And pat her. And after doing this for a few days I finally trusted her enough to let her off the leash. One of my brahmas actually runs up to her and pecks her right on the nose! It is the funniest thing! My dog went from trying to bite the chickens to being the chickens best friend! Also, in my opinion no dog should be trusted alone with the chickens, you should always be cautious. Good luck!

 

[justuschickens59]

I did the same thing as Sunny - I put my 3 dogs on a leash and made them sit beside me while the chickens were out. I would give them a small treat (which I kept in my pocket) every time a chicken came near and they just stayed by me and ignored the chicken. I did this for 2 weeks. My dogs are all rescue dogs, so I am unsure of their breed. I have one part beagle/part terrier of some type, another part terrier/part something else, and my other dog I have absolutely no clue what she is.

Fast forward to four years or so later, my dogs have never even attempted to bother one of the chickens or chicks. They are all three extremely protective of the chickens and especially protective of chicks. One day I had 5 chicks still in the house in the brooder; the chicks were about 5 weeks old. I went to the store and was gone a couple of hours. When I came home, I opened the front door and the sight that greeted me was 3 dogs and 3 chicks running around the living room.. The other 2 chicks were still in the brooder. Apparently, the 3 chicks managed to fly out of the brooder and were running around the house with the dogs.

I trust my dogs 100% alone with my chickens. It can be done with a little time and patience.

 

[chickenbarn-gal]

Thanks everybody. I was so nervous that she'd never learn how to behave with chicks. These are all great ideas on how to train the dog. (lucy) Thanks so much!

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

My dog almost killed a neighbor's chicken when she was one. So when I got my own chickens I worked with her every day until she learned to view the chickens as something other than prey. I raised the babies in the house and I taught my dog:

1. Look away if I hold a chicken up to her face.
2. Never stare at the chickens.
3. Never, ever try to play with or lick the chickens.
4. Never play rough with her sister around the chickens. (It scares them...they run...bad idea!)

In the begining she was only allowed the lie down around the chickens...never stand up and tower over them. She is a hunting dog...she just had to learn not to hunt chicken!

And it seems to have worked....not only is she submissive around the chickens, but at times they are border line dominant over her! Even the baby chickens view her as no threat. This year's brood:

 

[justuschickens59]

I love this picture ! Thank you so much for posting it.

That is good advice you gave. When we were training our dogs, we also would not allow the dogs to stare or fixate on the chickens.

 

[sj3364]

I am going to try this. I have been taking my dogs outside and standing between them and the chickens when they do their thing.

The other day I let them out the door and realized I still had my slippers on. I quickly switched out my "chicken shoes" but not quickly enough. The dogs were already chasing the chickens.

Fortunately they are both small dogs and one is fat and one is old. I was able to yell at the fat one to get her to stop bu the old one is deaf and still in pretty good shape for being almost 16. I was able to get in her line of sight and get her to stop before she caught one. Phew!

Why didn't I think of leashing? So obvious.

 

[09northernchick]

How did you teach her to

1. Look away if I hold a chicken up to her face.
2. Never stare at the chickens.


My dog knows the LOOK command - in the house. He will look immediately to me. Outside - forget about it! He is all chicken. I could be holding a steak and he'd be looking at the girls!

 

[chickenbarn-gal]

should I use some sort of zapping collar? (On a very loooow voltage)