introducing our pet dogs to the flock

[family4]

does anyone have any tips on the best way to introduce our own dogs into our flock of chickens. We only have 4 chickens right now but do intend on some more.
We have a shepard/husky, an australian shepard/mini eskimo , and a little papillon. We also have 5 cats. When we first got our shepard (she was a rescue from and apartment that someone had just up and left her tied in the apartment) she did attack one of our cats right in front of me. I subdued her and made her submit to the cat. I had to watch her frequently and correct her any time she focused on the cats. She is now very good with our cats.
I want to allow the chickens free range of our place. (we only have 4 acres) and hate to tie the dogs up but if that's what I have to do I will. The cats can just stay inside when the chickens are out.

 

[rungirl]

Never trust any dog unsupervised around your chickens. Cats aren't a threat unless you have young chicks.

 

[family4]

We wouldn't leave the dogs unsupervised. We want to be able to allow everyone to cohabitate together without anything disastrous happening. I've seen and hear of people who allow their dogs and chickens to run around together so am just wondering how they got them use to each other and how long it took thats all.

 

[WLFMom]

I'm interested in suggestions here as well. I would like to be able to let my dog out in our yard supervised but off leash to at least do her business or play a game of fetch. We adopted the shepherd mix when she was two months old. She's 5 months now, and the last three weeks since we've gotten our chickens have been just a huge hassle always having to use the leash.

 

[dainerra]

1) work with the dogs 1 at a time.
2) make sure that the dogs do not have any access to the birds without your direct supervision.

Find the closest distance that the dog first notices the birds in the brooder. This might be in another room if he is one to constantly glance at the door. Put your dog on leash and get some extra special treats that he only gets for this work - bacon, grilled chicken (no spices!), hot dog chunks, etc. When the dog glances toward the birds, say his name and "leave it" If he looks at you, give him a treat - if he doesn't, give a light pop on the leash (think tap on the shoulder). When he looks at you reward him.
You can also teach him "watch me" the same way. You can practice this at random times though out the day. If you have a couple extra minutes while you're watching TV or whatever, just say his name, pause, "watch me" When he makes eye contact, then reward him. You can also (if you get in the habit of keeping a small treat in your pockets) catch him looking towards you say "watch me" and then reward. Or just praise him verbally.

Once the dog is reliably paying attention to you and the birds at a distance, move a little bit closer. If he absolutely blows you off, you're too close. Just back up a bit and begin again. Eventually you will be right amongst the birds. You can then start at a distance or with a long line (20' leash or so) and work from there. I never ever leave my dogs/chickens loose unattended together.
I don't even trust Rayden
I don't mean I constantly hover over the dogs when they are out with the birds, but I am in the area and aware of what they are doing. Think of it as a small child. Even though you've taught them not to play with matches, would you leave them alone in the house with matches scattered all over the floor?

The most important part of the training is to set the dog up to succeed. Don't give him a chance to chase the birds. Don't give him a chance to disobey.

ETA: The best thing about teaching "leave it" is that it works for everything. Drop something on the floor and don't want the dogs to touch it? "leave it" See dog running toward a snake? "leave it" Lots of training and work, but it pays off!
Of course, some dogs just can't be trusted off-leash. Period. They are just too focused on the birds. In that case, just confine the dog when the birds are out.

 

[family4]

Thanks so much for your input. I will definately give that a try. I was intending to introduce on the leash but I love the verbal command you suggest.

Love your shepard in your photo!

 

[dainerra]

That's my Rayden. I have to watch him at nesting season - he'll try to bring me the fledglings that he finds. The barn swallows really don't like that!

ETA: I still don't trust him unattended. Just because things happen and he could accidentally hurt the chickens. Plus, I don't take chances that my dogs could wander, even though they are perimeter trained to the property. Here, a wandering dog is a dead dog so it's just easier to keep the dogs supervised and fenced.

 

[RhodeRed596]

My corgi has no problem with my chickens, she used to eat their eggs and she herds them back into their coop, but she has never attacked one.

 

[MarieNC]

If your dog has a strong prey drive, I wouldn't recommend allowing it to interact with the chickens, even if you're sitting right there. It only takes a second and you (nor anybody else) are not fast enough to stop a dog attack. Since your shepard has attacked before, I would not let her around the chickens at all. But that's just me. Your other dogs may be fine. Our Lab has been exposed to our chicks and ducklings since they were babies, and she is wonderful around them. She sits with them in their fenced area and they walk and peck all around her. I took some time each day to let our dog sniff the babies, and in turn let the babies sit on my lap and watch the dog walk around us. At one point I had to have one of my chickens live in my kitchen in a crate (she had major surgery and it was too cold outside for her recovery) and when she was loose she and our dog got along great. Our cat gave her a very wide berth, though!

Edited to add that even with all of that, I would never leave her alone with the chickens or ducks.

 

[tankerman]

I've got three dogs, two of which have adopted our chickens and protect them.

The third dog is a large hound, that in the beginning was hell-bent on killing himself some chickens.
An e-collar cured him of that problem. However if we leave our chickens penned for the day, he'll still lunge at the fence...something about dogs and stuff on the other side of the fence.

Our chickens have been roaming our yard for over a year now, without any chickens becoming victims of the dogs.


Now if I could only figure out how to get my dogs to stop eating chicken poop......Dog breath is bad enough.