Integrating dogs and pullets

[Eryniel]

I was hoping for some advice. I currently have 4 pullets about 7 weeks old, and in roughly 2 weeks time I am planning on getting a puppy. (She’s still too young to leave her mother, atm).
I was wondering if y’all have any tips or hacks for getting your pullets and puppies to get along well, with minimal (or even preferably no) mishaps.

I was hoping since they both are so young, I can train them to get along, and allow my chicks to “free range” my backyard (I have about an acre) and put them in the coop in the evenings.

Any words of advice or tips?

 

[Brookethechickenwhisperer]

You can get your puppies around the chickens when you are around and if he try’s to hurt them then you can show him they are not chew toys.My grandfather did that with his puppy and now he is best friends with all the animals!Then as time goes by you can slowly start to be less around them at the same time and see what he does until he is trained!

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

What kind of dog? You can probably train them I don't like doing this and I never have but there is a thing where you tie the bird around the dogs neck it's the old fashioned way but if you just raid them together they might be ok

 

[Folly's place]

Puppy on leash around birds, corrected for having bad thoughts, and praised for ignoring them. Lots of practice while on leash! When perfect, move to very long leash, or 'magic' shock collar, or arm extension, so puppy thinks good thoughts when further away from you. It takes time, and you need to watch interactions carefully for a long time.
To generalize too much, working and sporting breeds, and herders, will be easier than terriers! Hounds might also be tricky; it's the difference between dogs bred to be very independent, and dogs meant to work closely with a person. Flock guardians are another story; they need to focus on their animals, and not so much on humans.
Mary

 

[Eryniel]

What kind of dog?

She’s a heeler lab.

 

[sourland]

Obedience train your pup. With heeler blood, she may want to herd your birds. One important command is 'leave it'. Do not allow her off lead around the birds, and do not trust her alone with the birds. One chase and catch experience may be impossible to correct. Do NOT tie a dead chicken around her neck.

 

[JaeG]

Your pup probably won't be reliable (fully mature mentally) until at least 2-3 years old but if you put in the training, and your pup shows a willingness to please you then you should be onto a winner. A leash is your best tool. Don't let her fixate on the birds - distract her with whatever works for her (a toy, or food) but if she ignores those then remove her completely and try next time with more distance between her and the chickens. You want her focus on you and you want her to be successful.

I trust our very exciteable dog (chocolate lab x pointer) with all of our birds from the tiniest hand reared finches up to our chickens. She knows it's more than her life is worth to even look at them (the boss lady is very strict!). Plus the fear of small animals was instilled in her by our very old, cranky cat, and the tradition continues with our very feisty, white, deaf cat. Our dog knows she is not to chase wild ducks or seagulls either. It takes hours (and hours) of training but it's worth it in the end.

 

[Folly's place]

My Chessies and GSHP were very trained; obedience, and field. 'Leave it!' was one of their very first commands! I spent the time and effort, and it paid off. Also my very prey oriented Dalmation learned to leave the chickens alone.
Fast forward to now; I have rescue terriers, and excellent fencing, and much less energy/ ambition. If a critter gets into the fenced yard, it's history, and I haven't spent any effort making them safe around my chickens. It shoulda/ coulda been done, but hasn't happened.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Heeler/ lab mix? So she'll want to herd them, and retrieve them at the same time. While herding the children, and watching every flying object. Smart, and very busy!
It should be fun! MUST be smarter than dog!!!
Mary

 

[momminallday]

I've found with my 2 dogs that obedience training is so very important in bad behaviors and making sure your dog won't hurt a small kid or small animal. We have an 8 month old australian shepherd/standard poodle mix who thought for about a week that chickens might make a good chew toy. We took it slow, distracted her, kept her on a leash for a while, and worked a lot on overall trick training and just making sure she understood her place in our family and that she is not to run, jump, be wild around small kids and animals.