Is my dog going to give these chickens a heart attack?

[Wizbop]

The girls have just started spending days in their coop and our pooch is an Australian Shepherd/Husky Mix and is very interested in these birds. He watches them near the coop for awhile and then gets really excited and will POUNCE toward them. There's not really much I can do about it aside from keeping him in, but is it going to give these birds heart failure? They just seem to run to the other side. Is this just part of learning to coexist?

 

[Imp]

My neighbors Golden Retreiver loves to lunge at the fence and watch the chickens scatter. They have learned to coexist. Now he has to sneak up to fence, and usually they just ignore him. Not heart attacks I think.

Imp- I think they're taunting him

 

[chookchick]

Imp--now you're a Flock Master?!

They'll probably get used to his behavior pretty quick, but make sure your coop and run is COMPLETELY dog proof. Take a look at the "my dog ate my chickens" posts on the predators and pests forum, so you'll know what you need to do.

 

[sourland]

Chookchick is right on the money. I'd be more worried about the prey drive escalating to the point that your dog digs in or rips into the pen. Electric fence is a very effective deterrent. Training of the dog can help with the problem, but your dog is a combination of two breeds that have VERY high prey drive. I would never let the dog be unsupervised when near the chickens.