We are used to animals, we have roe deers, elks, foxes and raccoon dogs behind the window. My older son keep polecat as pet several years and this pet always flies with him on a plane in Europe. Either way, we have some experience. But there is no experience with a hunting dog.
I have grown thick skin for years. The dog killed my only black copper marans, but I have a whole herd growing. Life makes its own corrections. I didn't have time to mourn my chicken. The concern about the dog was great and unexpected.
Listen. I have read all the other posts-replies to you so far and as a previous long time Husky owner and dog owner for 40+ years let me clear the air really quick for you. You will never be able to keep this dog and chickens together. He also will never be totally controlled by you when other small dogs, or any small animals are involved. He is a killer by nature from the start. He has it in his breeding and you will never get it out of him. If you have a Husky that kills anything then he will kill everything and have no respect for you. He will usually protect you also in a situation as mine protected me but you will never control him or her. I know.
That doesn’t even make sense. If the dog kills something he won’t have respect for the owner? What?? prey drive is obviously something you’re not going to be easily able to control however you can redirect it. I agree not all dogs can be around chickens freely. Their drive is just far too great. I have a young malinois I’m still working on. With all that being said I’ve had dogs my whole life too. Dobermans, beagles, hound mixes, and now a Dutch Shepherd and a Malinois. If I were allow it the Dutch Shepherd would absolutely kill a chicken however she listens to my commands.
You are exactly right but I didn’t want to come out and blatantly say that. However, now you have said that for us.
I do want to apologize for getting carried away since it wasn't really relevant in providing help to your initial post.
I’m not trying to be mean or anything. It’s just the same thing over and over constantly. Dogs kill chickens and the owner acts like it has absolutely nothing to do with them. I’m not saying that’s the case here but many dogs do end up in shelters because people suck and don’t accept responsibility for their own inability to train and control the dog.
I don’t think you will find any argument with that. However with dogs breeding has lots to do with prey drive and the results of that prey drive in the end in my book. You will never convince me that a Malinois has the same prey drive as a Husky or Malamute. They are not in the same ballpark. The Malinois wants to please the human much more than the husky or malamute ever does then he considers the prey. The husky considers the prey always first and the human is a side benefit at best if ever depending on his breeding first and always first. If the husky has good breeding he will consider man first prey second with respect for his owner and handler always first then his prey drive is controlled and second. He will keep his prey drive under control and listen to his master first always.
I also want to add this remark. When I talk about breeding I am using this term very...VERY loosely. I am talking about the genes bred into the dog from possibly way back a single generation or possibly more that your breeder might well not be aware of in anyway form or fashion so don’t be hard on yourself or the breeder you purchased your dog from too much. The husky breed is a loose interpretation of a breed. If you say true Siberian Husky with one blue eye and one brown eye and the height or the shoulders being so many inches I believe it’s 32-36 on males at the shortest breath but don’t quote me on that for acceptability because my memory is foggy on that due to medication without researching it which I have not. On males I thing the length minimum is also 36 inches from the tip of the neck to the beginning of the anus minimum. Their weight for a working dog should be no less than 45 pounds for a female and 55-65 for a pulling male in AKC sled Measurements. All minimums. My point is the breeding makes a difference no matter what and where for when. To be a true Siberian Husky is far different than being a husky sled dog found in Alaska or any Cold continent sledding dog they are bred to do the same work but their makeup is not necessarily the same nor is their breeding from the same animals therefor their temperament is not the same and their prey drive or human pleasing drive is not the same whatsoever. It really means a great deal in the dog ownership and other animal or poultry ownership satisfaction world. It really does.
I would definitely agree about the prey drive being higher in a husky and malamute. That wasn’t my point. My point was being that possessive and totally ignoring the owner was a training issue. Killing the chicken is prey drive. Not allowing the owner near them and responding to commands is lack of training. After all it’s still a dog and has been domesticated by man. It can be done.
