Just Got an Aussie pup with hope of it gaurding the poultry!

[txchickie]

I don't understand why you'd get a herding dog if you wanted a livestock guard/protection dog? It just makes no sense to me.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I think at most she can expect a good solid watch dog that is somewhat reliable with her flock with a lot of training. Training the dog to actually guard the flock will take probably two years of training if the dogs temperament isn't naturally inclined towards the guarding behavior. It can be done but how much effort does the owner have to expend?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote:
More like an appetizer

 

[Red Maple Farms]

Quote:
More like an appetizer

I grew up next to a large sheep farm, and they had two aussies for herding. When the sheep got attacked by a feral dog pack, the aussies were worthless. Even the 600 head sheep farm down the road from us now has three great pyrenees for protection, and the little aussies for herding.

The objective is to "know your enemy" and deal accordingly.

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

if you want a herding dog that can handle itself in a fight get a rotty or a black mouth cur

 

[Red Maple Farms]

Our opinion is that first impressions count for a lot. When a coyote or another dog sees this 110 pound fluffy girl, we tend to believe they decide it just isn't worth the effort.

 

[Neilette]

I'm going to put my 2 cents in as a dog trainer. Aussies are herding dogs, which means they have HIGH prey drive, which means they're going to want to CHASE chickens. They've been bred for this desirable trait for millions of generations. Trying to fight it is going to just be frustrating and unenjoyable. Some Aussies are higher drive dogs than others. When raised around chickens, you have a chance of training the dog to ignore them. Maybe. Aussies are also not guardian dogs. They won't protect your flock from coyotes or wolves, ...but they may be able to alert you to them. If you're home. Don't expect an Aussie to survive a coyote attack on its own, if the coyote decides to go through your Aussie.

If you're looking for a guardian dog, they have whole families of breeds devoted to that!

Great Pyrs are probably the most common in the U.S., and are an excellent match for livestock. Left do their own devices, they'll mark the boundaries of your fenced property to alert wild canids, "Beware: Great Pyrenees On Duty". Great Pyrenees are usually kept in pairs or groups in wolf territory.

I don't want to discourage you, however! Aussies are FANTASTIC dogs, home grown as the U.S.'s own superdog: Give this dog a job, and they'll do it! Herding, Frisbee, Agility, Obedience, even tracking when need be. I want to put an emphasis on Obedience -- high drive + high energy = Get your pup into a class! Aussies don't do well with punishment -- Find a P+ (clicker training) trainer, or grab a clicker yourself and get to it! It's never too early to train an Aussie to impress your friends and family.

Whew, this turned into a long post.

 

[BellLisamo]

Ok, my turn to chime in! Bare with me, I have a bad cold and my medicine makes me lose train of thought very quickly. So here goes...
I bought a puppy back in November, we got him when he was about 8 weeks old. He is now 8 months old. We did have problems when he was younger with him chasing my chickens, guineas, ducks.... and so on. He killed 2 chickens, and 1 guinea. But I didnt give up on him. He was a herding dog from the time he was born. When we would walk, he would always cut me off. Making me stop. HAHA. With my kids, he would nip their heels (not hard) but to make them STOP running in the house (which they knew they shouldnt be doing anyways). Aussies are born herders. If you train them and correct them when they are wrong, you can make them "flock protectors". It's all in the training. I took him with me to the pens everyday and let him know it's not ok to even THINK about chasing them. He would lunge, and on his leash he would get a firm, fast tug, and a loud firm tone NO! Aussies are EXTREMEMLY smart. He knew how to shake @ 10 weeks old. He has then learned to fetch, sit, shake (i say high 5 sometimes and put my hand up high, and he does it), he knows COME, stay, lay down, and GIT (we use git to tell him to get away from something, or when we are busy and he is in our face.) They do demand alot of attention. But he is a protector. He is VERY protective of his human family, as well as his poultry family. Right now he is learning that my bunnys are pets and we dont stare at them and get excited.
Back to the protectiveness... since he is protective, anything, or anyone that comes in the yard that he doesnt know, he barks his fool head off. (I like it, he warns us). We had gone on an overnight trip to my moms to celebrate mothers day... when we came home, there was blood all over the steps, the porch, and we had no idea what had happened. Then I called Spike. He was covered from the tip of his head to his chest to his front legs. I immediately rushed him in the house and looked him over. He had a quarter sized gash in his left leg. He must have fought HEAD ON with a Javelina. I think the tuft on the pig sliced him clean. He fought for something, I dont know what. But he won. There were no other animals harmed and everyone was in their place.
Another time, Spike saved our life, was when a rattlesnake was under our front porch. We have a fenced in play area especially for the kids and they were on top of the porch playing. I thought everything was fine. Then Spike started barking and growling, and "talking". I went flying out onto the porch and looked around. I expected a skunk. He wouldnt leave a certain part of the porch. So i kneeled down, and looked under the spot where he was most concerned. There it was. A rattlesnake. Where the kids could have been playing. My goodness. He saved the kids life. The hospitals around here are 30 minutes away.
And The other day, my husbands friends was playfully telling our daughter to get in the house and get shoes on, and he smacked her on the butt a few times. Spike immediately ran towards them, and got between them and barked. I had to tell him "come" and that is was ok. He wouldnt bite any stranger but he does protect. Cars, he will herd them, and try to nip the tires. (Since we learned that, he knows not to nip the tires, as he could get pulled under and killed). He does chase the kids in the power wheels, but isnt aggressive about it. He is a very very fun dog, he plays in the snow with us, loves to play fetch, and loves to dig! He did come to us with food aggression, which was corrected right away. Now we are struggling with a little aggression when the kids tug on him. He bit my daughter on top of her head (when i wasnt around). So.... now he is learning that he cannot bit for any reason, whether i am there or NOT!

Even though he is 8 months old, that dog has been through alot. And I have yet to give up on him. It takes hard work and consistency. But overall , you can make your aussie do whatever you would like him/her to.....

edited to add some pictures of my hero dog....
Spike and my daughter

Spike herding me with the dead snake (head cut off)

and heres an older picture of him (hes a great listener)

I have tons of more pictures of him, if you want to see him. LOL. He has one blue eye and one brown eye.

 

[kimb]

Quote:
First: there is a "quote" button at the bottom right hand corner of whatever post it is you want to quote.

Second: you're *sure* thinking ... is incorrect, so for someone who "breeds" these dogs, you should probably do some more research!

United States Australian Shepherd Association: http://www.australianshepherds.org/about.html
" While there are many theories as to the origin of the Australian Shepherd, the breed as we know it today developed exclusively in the United States. The Australian Shepherd was given its name because of their association with the Basque sheepherders who came to the United States from Australia in the 1800's."

American Kennel Club: http://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_shepherd/history.cfm
" Although there are many theories about the origin of the Australian Shepherd, the breed as we know it today developed exclusively in the United States. "

Australian Shepherd club of American: http://www.asca.org/aboutaussies
" Would it surprise you to learn that the Australian Shepherd is the only livestock working breed developed in America? Contrary to his name, the Australian Shepherd is not an Australian breed at all. We can trace his early ancestors to sheep herds, many of which were brought from Australia. Basque shepherds on the west coast were known to have "little blue dogs with bob tails" in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Sheep were imported from France, Spain, England, New Zealand, and Australia along with shepherds with dogs. In the western United States the Basque shepherd and his little blue dogs came to represent shepherding as much as the Scotsman and his Collie in Britain. In Australia there are dogs similar to Aussies called German Coolies. Other breeds have been observed in the above countries exhibiting some of our Aussie's characteristics. Although their exact origin is unknown, there is no doubt that the breed was developed in the western United States by livestock producers who used the dogs for working. "

You may be correct to say "The Aussie has Spanish ancestors ..."



......

And all of the breed standards say Aussies are Herders AND guarders

... so hopefully the new puppy enjoys protecting her flock

...

Good luck - and DO consider reading ALL the material you can to help train your dog... ... If I were you I would be REWARDING! heavily with treats/clicker all the good things she does around your birds as a puppy ... Aussies are HIGHLY sensitive to places of reinforcement and if she is always getting treats around the chickens she is going to associate being calm and happy with the chickens and treats

!

Enjoy!

 

[Nanabond]

Hi!

I haven't read this whole thread, but we all know how these usually go ... some folks use dogs to protect the chickens, others think you can never trust a dog with the birds (theyre evil or something).

I'm in the first camp. We have 5 dogs that are left every morning with the birds in a 1 acre fencesd yard. One of these dogs is an Aussie rescue. Actually, all of the dogs are rescues except for our Pyr, Fluffy.

So, yes I know for a fact you can train an Aussie to watch your chickens. Nature has nothing on my skills to train a good dog. By the way, Aussies are awesome dogs with a great disposition and willingness to please their pack leader.

If you would like to hear about how I trained our dogs, you should be able to do a search for my screen name. If the info isnt on the board anymore, I can repost it.

Jim

Yes I would to know how you trained your dog. We just got an Aussiepoodle. She about 12 wks old. He seems to get herding down , hasn’t shown any interest in nipping.
But will take any tips you have to offer.
Please repost your information