Introducing a new dog to 4 month old chickens

[ColoradoChicken89]

I see that you have trained her as a service dog. Will heelers also attach to two people? (a couple.)

We are retired and looking for a new complication in our lives a dog that isn’t completely nutso for the first two years, etc.

Beautiful dog!

They do have people they like, like they tend to absolutely adore anyone they consider their families. Like my girl absolutely is in love with her "grandma" (my mom) or the kids. Though she would live in my skin if she could, and would be in rocks throw from me at all times if possible.

They do listen to others ok, but they will look to their person a lot like "what do I do?" LOL! Eventually, my girl has kinda learned she has to listen to the kids and my mom decently well, but like, she's never going to actually come for them if I'm anywhere nearby without me giving a "go" command. She'll sit or something next to me or lay down though, if they are willing to just make her do tricks around me. That helped a lot with her Service Dog training though...

And as for activity level, they are really mild for a "working" dog breed. I've had collies, shelties, huskies, lol you name it... and my heelers have always the easiest. They do need decent amount of excersie, but it's like... if they can get a good pace going for 30 minutes they will sleep for 8, get yard zoomies for 30 minutes, sleep for the next 12. Have some kids chasing her in a grassy field for 30 minutes, she's wore out for the rest of the day/night. Where the others would just... keep going and going and going?! The husky was the worst... He didn't slow down until he was 10 and passed at 11.

I think it's just what they are trained for. Many hearding dogs, like Collies and stuff are more used for transporting their heards/flocks/whatever really far distances, like gathering them in pasture and taking htem into the barn, or traking the heard to town for sale. Where heelers were bred to actually stay at the "heel" of the farmer/rancher, and only do like short bursts of the same job, but then trot back to the owners heel waiting for the next command. I think the big difference is just their independant drives... heelers have zero desire to make many decisions lol.

Like if you end up meeting an actual working heeler, they are going to just be glued to the passanger seat of whatever car they work in, and likely know how to jump in/out of the open window on whatever command.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

They do have people they like, like they tend to absolutely adore anyone they consider their families. Like my girl absolutely is in love with her "grandma" (my mom) or the kids. Though she would live in my skin if she could, and would be in rocks throw from me at all times if possible.

They do listen to others ok, but they will look to their person a lot like "what do I do?" LOL! Eventually, my girl has kinda learned she has to listen to the kids and my mom decently well, but like, she's never going to actually come for them if I'm anywhere nearby without me giving a "go" command. She'll sit or something next to me or lay down though, if they are willing to just make her do tricks around me. That helped a lot with her Service Dog training though...

And as for activity level, they are really mild for a "working" dog breed. I've had collies, shelties, huskies, lol you name it... and my heelers have always the easiest. They do need decent amount of excersie, but it's like... if they can get a good pace going for 30 minutes they will sleep for 8, get yard zoomies for 30 minutes, sleep for the next 12. Have some kids chasing her in a grassy field for 30 minutes, she's wore out for the rest of the day/night. Where the others would just... keep going and going and going?! The husky was the worst... He didn't slow down until he was 10 and passed at 11.

I think it's just what they are trained for. Many hearding dogs, like Collies and stuff are more used for transporting their heards/flocks/whatever really far distances, like gathering them in pasture and taking htem into the barn, or traking the heard to town for sale. Where heelers were bred to actually stay at the "heel" of the farmer/rancher, and only do like short bursts of the same job, but then trot back to the owners heel waiting for the next command. I think the big difference is just their independant drives... heelers have zero desire to make many decisions lol.

Like if you end up meeting an actual working heeler, they are going to just be glued to the passanger seat of whatever car they work in, and likely know how to jump in/out of the open window on whatever command.

Thank you, this is great information! And I’m so happy to know that you’ve got this partner for your life.

 

[angc11]

Thank you @ColoradoChicken89 for sharing your experience with your heeler and training tips, this helps a lot!!!

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

I don't have a heeler, but I do have a german shepherd/ large poodle mix. She does pretty well with the chickens. I wouldn't leave her alone with access to their run. She probably took about a week or so to train not to chase the chickens. She never really wanted to hurt them she just got a thrill out of the chase. Now that she has been trained she just herds them around their run on the outside and if they get near the gate she makes sure they go back in. They don't act terrified of her, but they do listen to her to go back where they belong.

On a serious note if you are not wanting to put time into training a dog I wouldn't get a dog someone has already owned, and gotten bonded with. It will be confused, and may have a time of sorrow for a bit. I recommend a visit to see how it does with you walking around your property and around your family and animals.

LORD JESUS is KING of kings and LORD of lords!