I never thought I'd have to post here. I'm so sad and mad all in one.

[justusnak]

Oh 4H, I am so sorry. I had a similar thing happen with a duckling I saved. Miracle was my baby! My little pommie got her, but she was in a wire cage, and I left her only for a few seconds to get her brooder so I could clean it. Dont feel bad for spanking your dog. We all do it, some admit it, some dont. Im just thankfull it wasn't ChickenDuck. Im sure the dog would not have fared as well. ALL dogs have the predator in them. Some can keep it burried, some cant. I have a little female pommie that goes to the coop with me. She of course is scared enough of the chickens, she stays right by my side. However when I want the chickens out of the coop for a good cleaning....I just tell her... get em out. She barks..they fly out, we are all happy and safe! LOL

 

[feathersnmore]

I am so very sorry to hear that my heart goes out to you!! I always worry about that! all my dogs go in the house except my pry and i put him in the horse trailer when i want to let the chickens out

 

[SpottedCrow]

I'm sorry for your loss...sometimes this is the only way WE learn...

 

[Southern28Chick]

I'm sorry that happened. Thank you for sharing your story, now all the people on this site that swear they have the "power" to train the instinct out of their dog/s can see that you can not. My dog is the nicest dog in the world (I think) but he can be rough at times, rough with me and with my cats. It's not his fault he's just a big dog and very hyper. I would not let him near my chickens for that reason.

Again I'm sorry.

 

[cookinmom]

Thanks for sharing this 4HMom. You've probably saved a lot of chickens with this story.
PS - I am so jealous, but excited! I know your big girls are the same age as mine, and you got your first egg! 2 of mine are EE's too, so they just might lay soon! I'm readying the nest boxes in the morning!

 

[AccidentalFarm]

I'm so sorry this happened.
Unfortunately, too many of us can relate to your story. I absolutely love Labs, but as smart and wonderful as they are, they, like any dog cannot be trusted completely. My best buddy is my dog, Glory (my av pic)- she's as close to perfect i think as a dog could be. I want so badly to have her around the birds, but I know I can't- for the very reason you just experienced.

Thanks for sharing your story. I hope everyone reads it and learns from you, rather than the way you had to.

 

[Birdman]

Labs are kinda predispositioned to do this kind of thing because most have parents that were bred as bird dogs somewhere in their bloodlines. I'm sorry for your loss and I know how it feels, let's just say we have one less cat now.

 

[mudhen]

I feel badly for your loss.
I don't think it is just labs though. All dogs have the instinct to kill. You see it when they play with a toy, shaking it back and forth. It is typical behaviour for for most carnivore hunters, meant to snap the spine or neck of their victim.
Certainly doesn't make them a bad dog. They have simple minds.
I'm so sorry this happened to you. Even though your lab is good with all the indoor pets, his 'outdoor' instinct was to do what he did. Hopefully, with some more training, he'll learn that the flock is off limits and become a good guardian.
My heart goes out to you.
:aww

 

[AccidentalFarm]

I agree, Mudhen. I spoke of Labs specifically, because it is all that I have. I'm sure it is the same with any breed or mixed breed dog.

On a side note: I was recently given a 'wake-up call' while watching my most lovable, docile male Lab do a Jeckyl and Hyde thing when a cat went running past him. He loves the cats, sleeps next to them, lets them crawl all over him, etc. But when this cat was all in a snit and running like mad, the dog changed into a monster- chasing and trying to climb a ladder onto the roof after the cat. DH had to physically haul the dog down and hold him until he (the dog) could get his senses under control. I guess that 'hunting instinct' kicked in that day big time. Needless to say- he is no longer a trusted dog...not that he's a bad dog, but we saw that he can and will give in to the 'dark side' with the right provocation. You just can't ever really give any dog complete and total trust in that area, can you?

 

[wendy]

i am so sorry to hear about your little chick. like someone else said don't beat yourself up about it. i hope your kids don't worry about it either, i know how mine are. they would stress over something like that. i hope you have a much better day tomorrow