I cried for hours

[Henriettta]

Glad I got you to giggle. Laughter is good medicine. Well, now you know your Teddy can't be trusted, so you'll take precautions. Many years ago I had another Sheltie I KNEW could not be trusted around baby ducks. I could see it in his eyes. And sure enough, despite my caution, he sneaked away from me once and murdered 6 hatchlings. Didn't eat them. Totally my fault, of course. I wasn't careful enough for thst split second, I wsn't paying attention. So you just have to know your dog. And always, always, predator-proof the birds.

You are absolutely right. I'm sorry you had a run in with a dog too it's a lesson learned from me. Thank you for being so kind, and understanding . The little voice in my head last night was being rather harsh on me, and while it's not anything to take lightly- it did make me feel better that I wasn't alone.

 

[DukesDucks]

It might be helpful if you got some help from a professional trainer. You should not have to feel like you are below the dog in the pecking order. The fact it pushes pass you shows disrespect. A trainer can assist with changing the relationship.

 

[Henriettta]

I am so sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine how very upsetting it must be to lose your precious chicks, especially ones of a breed you were so excited about.

Even dogs who are typically predictable or trustworthy can and will succumb to their natural instinct at times. His instincts are what got into his head. Though domesticated and trained, he is still a predator who is hardwired to chase down and kill small creatures that move. He may know that his owners generally don't want him going after their other animals, but he is a dog, and in a dog's world chasing and killing is perfectly acceptable, even desirable. Perhaps because the chicks were in a room in your house rather than out in a coop / run as he normally knows chickens to do, he viewed them as "different" and "part of his territory" or "something for him." Or maybe the fact that the brooder had no lid and he had direct access to the little balls of fluff was just too much for him to handle this time.

You will probably feel resentful toward him for a while, but I urge you not to treat him harshly. Unlike humans, dogs are very in-the-moment thinkers, which means if a person acts mad at or punishes a dog for something bad it did earlier, the dog will not connect the punishment to that past action. I know with my own puppy it is extremely hard not to continue being mad at her for some time after she does something I perceive as bad, but I know that being angry doesn't help her or me, and that she doesn't know that the thing she did was unacceptable in human society.

Please understand that I'm not saying I support your dog's actions in any way, or that I don't feel bad about what happened; I just believe it is helpful to analyze the situation from perspectives other than our immediate one as humans. Having empathy for the dog will not change what happened (and again, I am so sorry about what happened!), but it will help us realize and reflect on why he acted as he did.

I know what you are saying, and you are right. This morning I woke up and thought, "how dare you, Teddy." But quickly reminded myself that he spent the night in the barn. As in-- he did his time.
He did the crime, he did the time, and now we all move on. Unfortunately he's a felon, and can't be around baby birds anymore. And that is how I'll view this, for my own sanity lol

 

[Henriettta]

It might be helpful if you got some help from a professional trainer. You should not have to feel like you are below the dog in the pecking order. The fact it pushes pass you shows disrespect. A trainer can assist with changing the relationship.

I agree with this, too. I don't think we can afford a good trainer out here, but I think I'm going to look up ways to become ahead on him in the pecking order.

 

[FeatherTay]

I admit, I cried because I felt sorry for myself, too. Because it's all been so hard, you know? But I feel like throwing up when I realize these poor babes were brought here by me, in my house, under my "wing", and this happens
You're spot on though... I love them so much...

I freaking hate when dogs that are fine with chickens one day go “savage” on chickens. I used to have a little yorkie, and one day she decided live chicken was a great snack. We lost 3 of our prettiest birds and one of them happened to be my favorite hen. My dog killed her in her nest. I had just seen her 3 minutes before and the next minute my hen was dead. That dog isn’t here anymore. I gave her away. I’m not at all saying you should give your dog away though! Just saying what happens to me.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what you had to find. That is horrible!

 

[DukesDucks]

There are lots of dog training videos available on-line. Of course some are better than others but you can get some ideas. I would start with the basics.
I have a German Shepherd I adopted at 18 months. He was very pushy at first. He has learned the basic commands and respect that some things are not allowed until I give him permission. Food bowls and treats not eaten until eye contact made and permission given. No door dashing. Have you dog on a leash. Put in sit position at door. Open door but shut it quickly if dog moves before you say it can. Don't let dog go through door before you, push past you on stairs, walking down halls. etc. Use you body as a block.
Believe me it takes patience and persistence but worth the effort.
Hopefully you husband will support you with this, and enforce the same rules.

 

[Henriettta]

I freaking hate when dogs that are fine with chickens one day go “savage” on chickens. I used to have a little yorkie, and one day she decided live chicken was a great snack. We lost 3 of our prettiest birds and one of them happened to be my favorite hen. My dog killed her in her nest. I had just seen her 3 minutes before and the next minute my hen was dead. That dog isn’t here anymore. I gave her away. I’m not at all saying you should give your dog away though! Just saying what happens to me.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what you had to find. That is horrible!

Honestly I would give away the dog in a heartbeat if he was a good applicant to another household, haha. But my husband would never forgive me, and I don't want him to see me likes Cruella DeVille,
But I know exactly what you mean. They get one funky little thought in their head and justify it as "better to ask forgiveness than to never maul the chickens ".....a**holes.... Lol

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Obedience training and respect only go so far in correcting a problem like predation. The only method I have found that completely breaks a dog of chicken-killing involves an electric fencer. You can find it in a book called The Koehler Method of Dog Training. Some people don't like it because the dog can actually get zapped, but only if he makes a wrong choice. I feel that one zap is better than a dead dog or a bunch of dead chickens. He'll never make that choice again, IME. I've rehabbed many confirmed chicken killers using that method. I used it on my Sheltie that killed the ducklings and he was absolutely reliable for the rest of his life. Poultry were invisible to him.