Hi there,
I will be getting an "Aussiedoodle" in a few weeks, and plan to train as a therapy dog. he comes from a long line of therapy/service dogs. I also plan to train around my flock, but NOT expose him to them even initially until we have a few commands down:
WATCH/FOCUS (eyes on me)
COME
LAY DOWN/stay
I think with these three, they will serve as a great base for exposure to chickens as well as other obedience things.
I also will NOT be giving him toys that 'squeek', or look like animals that he needs to leave alone...
once he is good w that, I would like to teach other commands, including some shepherding commands, so that I can give the chickens more free-ranging freedom,, and the dog will have the satisfaction of bringing out the 'shepherd' in him, n resting the 'poodle' instinct...
in watching youtube videos on shepherding training, it looks like they take a dog that already knows the basics n then proceed to train around animals. makes sense to me. it's just like the professional trainers who train initially w no distraction,, then add more n more distraction; the chickens can be viewed as a "distraction" for the dog in training. then one can build on that training for whatever purpose; "leave alone", or befriend them or guard/shepherd them.... it boils down to their ability/desire to focus on you, not the distraction, and do the obedience task you give them to do, to please you!!
that being said,, I think for some dogs, it is just not their destiny to be near birds... I had to rehome my dachshund, sadly,, bc her prey drive was EXTREME. much as I tried (she is a grrreat dog in every other way), I could not train her to focus, or any command (she knew many commands very well),, but all of it just 'flew out the window', so to speak,, when it came to other birds--and cats...
this is my plan and I pray that it works! i'd appreciate any suggestions about something I may have missed?