Sponsored Post Keeping Dogs and Chickens - Tips for a Harmonious Introduction.

[Chicky Woos123]

I would not beep it for merely looking, I would if she made a move towards them. You want the dogs and birds, or at least I do, to interact with each other so the dogs protect the birds. Make the dogs think the birds are just another member of their pack. Like they think of humans, only lower on the pecking order.

OK I'll try it out. I want her to protect them too. Not only from other animals, but from people as well, because they are meat birds that I keep for eggs and as pets. People might try to steal them because it has happened to my neighbor before. Do I use a shock collar?

 

[duluthralphie]

OK I'll try it out. I want her to protect them too. Not only from other animals, but from people as well, because they are meat birds that I keep for eggs and as pets. People might try to steal them because it has happened to my neighbor before. Do I use a shock collar?

The wireless wired fence is a shock collar that works automatically, you do not have to do anything, It beeps first and if the continue it shocks them. Only once though, they learn fast what the beep means.

The other collar is controlled by you. These are not cheap, they are an investment. Whatever you do, do not go wild and shock like crazy or beep them willy nilly, it can destroy a dog.

 

[Chicky Woos123]

The wireless wired fence is a shock collar that works automatically, you do not have to do anything, It beeps first and if the continue it shocks them. Only once though, they learn fast what the beep means.

The other collar is controlled by you.  These are not cheap, they are an investment.  Whatever you do, do not go wild and shock like crazy or beep them willy nilly, it can destroy a dog.

Ok got it. I'm not sure if it's necessary to use a shock collar on her though. But if all else fails, I'll have to use one because I'd like to have at least 1 of my dogs protecting the chickens.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ok got it. I'm not sure if it's necessary to use a shock collar on her though. But if all else fails, I'll have to use one because I'd like to have at least 1 of my dogs protecting the chickens.

Just becareful how you use it, if you use it wrong your dog could run and hide every time it sees a chicken.

 

[Chicky Woos123]

Just becareful how you use it, if you use it wrong your dog could run and hide every time it sees a chicken.

OK thanks for the heads up. I'll definitely work with her!

 

[ShrekDawg]

I would combine positive reinforcement with the collar if you do use it. We havent used our collar in forever and lost it, just found it again, but i taught him a game called "look at that" starting inside with a toy or piece of paper, pull it from behimd your back and when they look at it and then back at you you click and treat or praise. The key is looking back at you. Then add the words. Then move to distractions, you can use it for them reacting to dogs, the chickens, etc. I was planning to use it from really far away where he can see them and slowly, very slowly, move closer and did try it twice. But then recently he magically started being fine with them. They don't free range but he'll flop next to the pen or somewhere further away where he can see them and us. He ztill had his moments where he does a half jump to the pen or slams his paws down and he likes to circle the pen sniffing and any time they freak he gets very excited. Sometimes he lays down and fixates on them. But we are working on it. I have been using hot dog or something delicious when he listens and a firm NO or a yuck on his leash and chocke collar when he makes a move towards them. Or a simple gentle reminder of "be nice". I would not listen to Ceasar. And if you use the collar, like was mentioned be careful using it. Though I would try the above first, you may not even need the collar. For some dogs verbal correction or a leash pull, even with no choker is enough. I would start on a leash. And another thing is licking her lips isn't necessarily that she thinks they're food, its a stress behavior. Of course not every dog that does it is stressed but they could scare or overwhelm her or often dogs will use it to,calm them down if they get over excited. Maybe she is trying really really hard not to,eat them lol i think macho can learn too. Just be gentle yet firm and patient, it won't happen overnight. And you can even get the collar and train in conjunction with the positive reinforcement. But like Ralphie said they are expensive so i wouldnt necessarily rush to buy one.

 

[ShrekDawg]

The wireless wired fence is a shock collar that works automatically, you do not have to do anything, It beeps first and if the continue it shocks them. Only once though, they learn fast what the beep means.

The other collar is controlled by you.  These are not cheap, they are an investment.  Whatever you do, do not go wild and shock like crazy or beep them willy nilly, it can destroy a dog.

When we first got ours we had no idea what we were doing, my dad was sick of him running away, and i think we ruined him or almost did. My dad was always gentle and never turned it up high but a couple times my brother did. He had it on 100 once at the beach..... :/ and i admit sometimes i had it high whem he was off property and had no clue where he was because i guess i was stupid and thought having it higher would make it work better from far away or that he would be like OH **** and wheel home faster. I always felt bad when i oquld hit it and then he'd come barrelling home the next second, panting and foaming. That only happened once or twice though, usually we had to get him. My family sometimes used it to get him to drop stuff too. He still knows what the beep means and, imo, is scared of it. He thinks he's in trouble. I was glad when we lost it because I could use more positive reinforcement or simple verbal or leash corrections because he's a very sensitive dog and doesn't even really need most corrections but can get stubborn. Unfortunately we found the collar the other day. My dad wants to use it to get him to stop barking but I'm not sure it's even possible once you ruin the meaning. In fact he actually stopped responding twice which is another reason we turned it up higher and higher, i forgot about that. Assuming if you do it right they don't stop responding? He also wouldnt listen with it off. Assuming you're supposed to use it to help train so they listen whether or not it's on? My dads kinda bad with dogs

 

[duluthralphie]

KDO.... is right about positive reinforcement too.

If you cannot see the dog, or do not know for sure he is not doing what you want, never push either button, buzzer or shock.

I am not a fan of Ceasar either, while some of his stuff is ok, some I disagree with. BUT he is working with non-animal people that do not understand you have to treat an animal like the animal it is to get results.

Animals do not respond to reason, they have leaders/alphas/ some one above them on the pecking order, You always want to be the alpha of your dog, that is why little things count, making sure they sit before they eat and do not eat until you tell them too. Not going through a door before you.

And I know some will not agree with this but it has served me well, when playing with your dog, at some point you need to grab his neck or head and pin him to the ground and "growl" in his ear until he goes limp. Going limp is a sign of submission. Play and fights are how they determine pecking order.

When you are the alpha things will go better. My black dog was the alpha pup of her litter. She is naturally inclined to be the alpha. I have to hold her down and growl fairly often with her, as she is always challenging me. She can never win. Fairness is not a word dogs comprehend in terms of pecking order.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thanks and yeah, I think we messed up with the collar. And yeah, I guess that's true. I just generally don't really like/agree with Ceasar and some of the stuff mentioned though some of it does sound good and mine has to sit before he eats or goes out or anything too but a lot of methods suggest that, not only Alpha ones. I say even is somebody doesn't wanna use the word it's still about having control and them listening to you and/or not being aggressive, no matter what method. Though some of the stuffs good, i like things from everything. Although I do admit, the grabbing the neck and throwing or pinning them down thing sounds like an excellent way to get bit...

 

[duluthralphie]

Thanks and yeah, I think we messed up with the collar. And yeah, I guess that's true. I just generally don't really like/agree with Ceasar and some of the stuff mentioned though some of it does sound good and mine has to sit before he eats or goes out or anything too but a lot of methods suggest that, not only Alpha ones. I say even is somebody doesn't wanna use the word it's still about having control and them listening to you and/or not being aggressive, no matter what method. Though some of the stuffs good, i like things from everything. Although I do admit, the grabbing the neck and throwing or pinning them down thing sounds like an excellent way to get bit...

Nah your dog will not bite you... or shouldn't. I train mine to not bite as a pup. Everytime the pup nips like they do yell "yipe" like another pup will if it gets bit. It teaches them to not bite....

And if my own dog ever bit me.........Well we would be at the 3 S's as far as the kids are concerned...