Just got chicks, now I'm worried about the dog.

[nuttyredhead]

noodleroo -- your dog is amazing!

Im not much help, our coop is out of the dogs area so we dont have to worry much. I think if he got to them he would try to play with them!! Good Luck with your dog! Very Handsome!!!

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Here's our Elvis with our chicks.. We were worried at first, since he IS a terrier, but since he loves our cats so much, we thought wed introduce him to them.

I think for these dogs its more of a fascination with something theyve never seen before, heck i did the same thing when they were chicks too!
he loves his girlies and now as an adult makes a big fuss if a cat comes into the yard to bug the chicks, lol, against odds for a terrier, eh? Maybe he thinks theyre HIS babies!

 

[animalsroc4evr]

My guy was the same way when I got my chicks and ducklings last year, even when they moved out he would stay out for hours just staring at them, but eventually "out grew" it lol

 

[aubreynoramarie]

okay, now elvis is WAY to scared of the tiny monsters to let them sit on him!

 

[BeautifulPacificNorthwest]

I'm working on the same thing with my dogs. Interesting to see how others handle it.

Blue Heeler (Wren) is eager to please and would drop her tongue out of her mouth if I asked her to. Old Rescue Hound (Hoss) LOVES me and dies a little bit if I am disappointed in him. Little mop dog's (Peach) desire to please me waxes and wanes based on her mood, how full her belly is, how far away from me she is (i.e can I stop her before she completes her mission) and who knows what else.

That being said, I don't fully trust any of my dogs alone with my chickens. I'm working on desensitizing them. I don't allow any of them to focus, follow, or stare at the chickens. Ever. I do bring blue heeler into the chicken yard with me to watch my back with the rooster. I feel better with her in there even if she is only interested in gobbling up as many dookey piles as she can before I call her out.

 

[animalsroc4evr]

Quote:
LOL Roscoe was so patient with the chicks and acted like he had grown up living with chickens, even though I've had him his whole life and this was the first time we had ever had chicks or chickens. The chick's would use Roscoe as a slide, it was hilarious

Was hoping to convince my parents to let me get a few chicks this spring (yes I'm 19, 20 this year, but I live with my parents and they are heads of the house so I still have to ask) but we are moving to Tennessee this Sunday (from Florida) and they said not this year. I'm hoping once we are settled in I can convince them otherwise, especially since 2 of my beloved chickens died these past 2 weeks

one to a hawk and one to our new pups that my dad let out without watching them.... I'm still trying to teach our new pups that it's okay to watch chickens but NOT chase. Thankfully when we move the chickens will share a pen with the goats and ducks and the dogs will be on the other side of the fence were they can admire but not touch.

 

[chkinut]

we have a 6 year old Boxer and he looks very interested when one of the 5 week old chicks perches on the edge of the brooder. but he knows the command "Leave it" and i always say that around the chicks. but even though he's interested, he can be trusted with them. he can stay out in the back yard with the 4 grown girls and he does fine too. he sleeps in the same room that the brooder is in, without our supervision and he is just fine. i totally trust him. we have had dogs in the past though, that can NOT be trusted.

 

[Chuck R]

We just got a 7 week old lab pup about a month and a half ago, and when I mentioned it while I was in the now defunct chat room , I was told to watch out. After all a lab is a bird dog. Knock on wood she seems to be adapting well so far. When I ask if she wants to go feed the chickens with me, shes ready in a heartbeat and so far no aggression.
If she gets too friendly with the birds, the feathers come up and they shoo her away. They were here first and they are in charge.....so go for it. Good luck to you. Patience well win out.

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Oh I have had such heartache with my dog...our collie is Great and our newfie/pyrenes is a nightmare with chickens.....tried training and Nothing helped. He wont even Attempt to get one if they are behind a fence, but heaven help the ones that get out and as careful as I am, some get out.

 

[noodleroo]

animalsroc4evr; love your pics. Your dog is so beautiful. You can see a very sweet soul there...