Introducing a Herding Dog to Ducklings

[Aussie dog]

I just ordered 8 ducklings. They'll come in about ten days and in the preparation I realized that I don't know when or how to introduce my dog to them!
So my question is should I introduce him to the duckies when they get here? Should I wait till they grow up? How should I go about the introduction?
My dog is four years old.
Thanks for your help!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Muscovy Wunda I think has an Aussie and has ducks

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I have a half Aussie cattle dog and I had her watch from the moment I put them in the brooder. She got the idea right away that they were part of the pack and to be protected. All dogs are different and this is just mine. She watches over the cats too. The funny part is when ever the ducklings get the zoomies, she runs barking her head off to see what is after them and get it. Also barks whenever they peep alarm. She's very puzzled when she gets there and there is no enemy. This seems to come naturally to her but every dog is different.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I have border collies and had a big Anatolian shepherd. Just introduce them as babies. They should learn to realize the ducks are part of the family. Those were her little ducks and nothing was going to hurt them. I was afraid she would step on them by accident though. She was such a good ole' girl.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I let my border collies in with the ducks too and they wouldn't hurt a feather on them. They've known them from their hatch though and maybe that's a good thing. The only problem is she eats their poo!

 

[RJKnott]

My ducks love to harass my dogs.
My Pitt will go after them so I don’t let him near them. But my shih tzu guarded them from the moment I got them and will play with them in the yard. She will chase them. Then they will chase her. she will help me herd them into their coop in the afternoon

my lab wants to play with them but she walks up to them and my duck Peep will bite my lab on the nose and my lab just skulls off

 

[Knighstar679]

I introduce them early on. I have three dogs all herding breeds. They all meet and encounter the ducklings at just a few days old. Then I keep letting them have supervised time with them as they grow up.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

We have 5 kelpies trained to work stock. They are rarely off when the ducks are out, but when they are they won't do anything without instruction. And they are always supervised. If yours is just a herding breed but not used for herding, I would just go with introductions like others have said. Teaching "gentle""leave it" or anything along those lines is a great start. You may have even used these commands for other things already. Excited for your duck journey!

 

[Miss Lydia]

And I have mini Dachshunds with a high prey drive for anything that peeps. So Never ever leave a dog and ducklings unattended, it only takes a split second.

Everyone gave great advise.