Introducing And Training Our New Puppy

[Foxyrockie]

My apologies aart. I see you did offer some advice earlier in the thread. But it seems that you agreed with the suggestion about the leash earlier but not now? Maybe you're saying that she shouldn't be just left outside on a lead as a solution? That was never my intention with the lead and I don't think that's what the other poster was saying either. Sorry for biting your head off though.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I have 2 dogs. A 10 year old rottweiler who loves and protects the flock since we started raising chicks on Easter. Also a half idiot half dog thing that is so wound up I think he's insane. The insane dog has a 100 ft run from one side of my yard to the other. To start he wanted to eat the chickens so bad he would choke himself. Now the chickens have trained him so well that they can walk right up to him. I think a lead is a great idea for anyone training dogs to not kill or attack chickens. It is a 100% permanent solution, since the dog will eventually get sick of getting pecked on the nose or getting her ear bit. Trust from you is key 1, if she thinks she's making you happy she will try even harder. Every time she chases pull her back and once she sits give a treat. Every time a chicken walks past and she leaves it alone give her a treat. Eventually she will associate chicken with no treat and no chicken with getting a treat. As she gets older you will be able to make the lead longer then eventually let her off it.

 

[megsmum]

I must clarify. My dog is not restrained she is trained on the lead for 30mins four times a day no dog should be tied up.

 

[aart]

My apologies aart. I see you did offer some advice earlier in the thread. But it seems that you agreed with the suggestion about the leash earlier but not now? Maybe you're saying that she shouldn't be just left outside on a lead as a solution? That was never my intention with the lead and I don't think that's what the other poster was saying either. Sorry for biting your head off though.

Accepted, and reciprocated......I was being a tad snarky.

Leashes are great training tools, tying a dog out is very rarely a good idea.

It's hard work to train a dog, it takes 24/7/365 constant consistent attention, correction, rewarding.
I decided not to adopt a dog I fostered last year because I realized I didn't have the inclination to commit the time, energy to training and didn't want the problems that come from not applying that training.

6 months is a hard age for pups, they need to play hard to burn energy and trained harder to learn to behave and obey.
There's some really good training info here if you browse thru and do a lot of reading, it's mostly about livestock guardian dogs but applies to most dogs and any dog around livestock...and there's a few really good dog trainers there.

 

[Foxyrockie]

Quote:
This is pretty good advice. I only have the 2 chickens though and one is a bantam and still pretty young. If I had a flock, I think they could give her a run for her money. She's not aggressive toward them. She just wants to play the way a puppy does. And my chickens are small. Now, when I looked at my roo, the largest, he had a few feathers missing and a couple bent. That makes me think the puppy tried to get at him, and he probably taught her a lesson. The one the puppy got to was smaller, a hen, and very nosy. Just gonna start fresh with a new flock and shell out the $$ to make sure I get pullets. Is the flock actually safer with a roo? I really dont care for the crowing.

 

[Foxyrockie]

Quote:
I understood what you meant. I'm 2 seconds away from tying my little nightmare up for good! J/K. But I do think I'm going to have to put her on a lead when I let her out in the backyard. She destroys everything. I KNOW that's what puppies do. But I'm not talking about leaving her outside all day with not interaction or stimulation. I'm talking about when I let her out to potty for 10 or 15 minutes. The other day I spread out my chicken poop over the area that my garden will occupy next spring, and put down a layer of mulch. I also picked up all of the toys and broken pieces of plastic from her being outside previous times. The yard looked nice. I let her out a couple days ago for about 20 minutes. By the time I looked again, there were holes all over the garden area and the mulch was everywhere. My charcoal and lighter fluid bottle were strewn across the yard. the large pieces of wood and branches that I had removed from across the yard were back across the yard. Anything she could reach, she did, And all in 20 minutes. Now I know people are going to say she needs stimulation and whatever . But that's not what I'm talking about. Shes not an outside all day dog. But I do need her to be able to be out there for a few minutes without destroying the yard. I can keep some of those things put up, but some of it (like the garden) I cant put up. Has anyone put their dog on a lead just for letting them out. Like, a tie down in the middle of the yard with about 30-40 ft of lead? That way she can be outside and run around, but it'll keep her just short of my garden, compose, chicken coop etc.

 

[crazyfeathers]

Our Shepherd/lab mix was introduced the flock at 6 years of age luckily he is a very submissive dog and we never had or have issues.
A dog should never be tied out? I find that comment absurd, every Monday morning our beloved house dog goes on a chain, Why? Because the garbage man is terrified of large dogs. After 1030 our spoiled sport is off the chain again until monday running and free ranging like a chicken. Lol

Good training takes dedication and there has been some great suggestions posted here. In march we will be getting a great dane puppy and have to start all over again. I think i am a pretty good dog trainer and look forward to our new bundle of joy. Our dog now is 9 and is on medication for various issues as well as arthritis and planning ahead we felt getting a pup was a good idea as well as the vets. We do have predators here but have never lost any to the fox or wolf only to another dog but "Buddy" was napping in the house so no fault of his. Dogs are protection for us and our livestock as well as companions.
Best of luck puppy owners!

 

[Foxyrockie]

Well what you're talking about is different. Dogs do need to be tied out sometimes.I think the issue is when people tie them out and it's hot, theres no shade or water. The dog cant get itself to a safe place in the yard as the sun moves throughout the day. Thats why I said maybe a longer lead.

Im so hesitant, not bc of myself, but bc of busy body nosy uber animal lovers that see a dog tied out in a yard and call animal control without knowing the circumstances. I've even had to check the laws here to see what it says bc we had a problem with our previous dog. He had so many issues, and eventually we had him put down bc he bit me. We have small children in the house too. But one issue we had with him was that any time he was let outside, he would escape. We have a 4 ft metal fence that sits on the ground not in it. It's old so there are gaps underneath in some places. By the time I filled/blocked the 4th hole I realized he was digging under the fence. So if I didnt stand there and watch him, he would poop and be gone in 3 minutes. So, I put a long lead outside and he was tied up. My problem was that he was outside as much as in (he preferred out). And I REALLY HATED him living on that lead. He had a lot of room to move around, but I still didn't like it. But I also didnt want to come home and find him hit by a car. Like I said, we eventually had him put down bc of the many many issues we were having with him. But it stressed me out so bad having him tied up in the yard.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

M

Quote:
I understood what you meant. I'm 2 seconds away from tying my little nightmare up for good! J/K. But I do think I'm going to have to put her on a lead when I let her out in the backyard. She destroys everything. I KNOW that's what puppies do. But I'm not talking about leaving her outside all day with not interaction or stimulation. I'm talking about when I let her out to potty for 10 or 15 minutes. The other day I spread out my chicken poop over the area that my garden will occupy next spring, and put down a layer of mulch. I also picked up all of the toys and broken pieces of plastic from her being outside previous times. The yard looked nice. I let her out a couple days ago for about 20 minutes. By the time I looked again, there were holes all over the garden area and the mulch was everywhere. My charcoal and lighter fluid bottle were strewn across the yard. the large pieces of wood and branches that I had removed from across the yard were back across the yard. Anything she could reach, she did, And all in 20 minutes. Now I know people are going to say she needs stimulation and whatever . But that's not what I'm talking about. Shes not an outside all day dog. But I do need her to be able to be out there for a few minutes without destroying the yard. I can keep some of those things put up, but some of it (like the garden) I cant put up. Has anyone put their dog on a lead just for letting them out. Like, a tie down in the middle of the yard with about 30-40 ft of lead? That way she can be outside and run around, but it'll keep her just short of my garden, compose, chicken coop etc.

My dog is on his run when nesacery. For example if he has to go out and I'm cooking or its late at night. I live in the middle of nowhere so him running at night is not an option due to large predators. He is an inside family dog who is just to adventurous for his own safety. The lead allows him to interact with us when we ate outside without the fear of predators. His run covers the entire front yard area where the kids play and the chickens roam. 150ft run with 40 ft lead so he has freedom.

 

[centrarchid]

Well what you're talking about is different. Dogs do need to be tied out sometimes.I think the issue is when people tie them out and it's hot, theres no shade or water. The dog cant get itself to a safe place in the yard as the sun moves throughout the day. Thats why I said maybe a longer lead.

Im so hesitant, not bc of myself, but bc of busy body nosy uber animal lovers that see a dog tied out in a yard and call animal control without knowing the circumstances. I've even had to check the laws here to see what it says bc we had a problem with our previous dog. He had so many issues, and eventually we had him put down bc he bit me. We have small children in the house too. But one issue we had with him was that any time he was let outside, he would escape. We have a 4 ft metal fence that sits on the ground not in it. It's old so there are gaps underneath in some places. By the time I filled/blocked the 4th hole I realized he was digging under the fence. So if I didnt stand there and watch him, he would poop and be gone in 3 minutes. So, I put a long lead outside and he was tied up. My problem was that he was outside as much as in (he preferred out). And I REALLY HATED him living on that lead. He had a lot of room to move around, but I still didn't like it. But I also didnt want to come home and find him hit by a car. Like I said, we eventually had him put down bc of the many many issues we were having with him. But it stressed me out so bad having him tied up in the yard.

It is time to start working that pup around chickens. Ideally you are to point where pup stops doing something when you direct to do so. The lead may still be a tool for that but do not rely upon it as a form of containment.