Mareema puppies

[La finca Booyong]

Hi, we live in Byron Bay Australia. I have 2 Mareema puppies that are 5 months old. They live down in the 1 hectare paddock with my 500 hens. They have their own kennel and run that he chickens can’t get into and they can’t get out of. They get let out when I am down there collecting the eggs or working in the field with them. They are sisters. I am not sure what to do with them because one of them has been cought chasing the chickens several time and she has actually killed about 4-5 that I am aware of. How do I stop this. They were bought to protect my chickens not eat them?? Please help

 

[DuckMochi]

Might want to give a location in case people are interested!

 

[DrFrank]

Maremma is a breed with low prey drive. Good news is that you can successfully wean the bad habit. You have to train them. You have to first teach them that its not an acceptable behavior. You can train them by enforcing that you would not accept aggressiveness towards chicken. Be very strict, don't hesitate to use a stick to threaten them. It's a negative enforcement, but sadly I can't see how you would be able to convince them to never mess with a chicken again otherwise.

Next time, when you are introducing a flock guardian puppy have a Mediterranean type rooster, the type that gets people aggressive. Usually they would teach the puppies to keep a respectful distance. But, in your case, you have elapsed the window of opportunity.

Dogs are pack animals, you have to assert yourself as the pack leader. I emphasis on being very, very strict. Dogs are wonderful companions and Maremma usually have good lifespan. If you teach them what is acceptable, you'd have a wonderful guardian dog, otherwise you'd raise a predator.

I don't beat my dogs, but I did teach them what is acceptable. My female lab killed a pigeon when we got her. We got her as 1 year old. I kept the carcass next to her and made her understand that I really don't accept that behavior. Now 2 years have gone and she doesn't even pay them any attention. I don't condone physical abuse on dogs, but for your dog's own good, it needs a lesson.

 

[Diannastarr]

Hi, we live in Byron Bay Australia. I have 2 Mareema puppies that are 5 months old. They live down in the 1 hectare paddock with my 500 hens. They have their own kennel and run that he chickens can’t get into and they can’t get out of. They get let out when I am down there collecting the eggs or working in the field with them. They are sisters. I am not sure what to do with them because one of them has been cought chasing the chickens several time and she has actually killed about 4-5 that I am aware of. How do I stop this. They were bought to protect my chickens not eat them?? Please help

welcome to the BYC so glad you joined, i love your pic , you have a very nice set up for your chickens..!!so nice to have you here, i raise australorps an Australian bred chicken they are the best in all the world..!! but gosh thats a tough problem indeed your having with your pup , i raised English mastiffs and they strictly guard by nature, but never have to be trained to do it, but this is a young pup you have at 5 months old & its still a puppy & puppies like to play and chase things ,see if you cant find those who raise this breed of dog,so they can give you some advice, i wish you all the best of luck. and very glad you joined BYC

 

[centrarchid]

They are pups until pushing 2 years old. Make so they have total access to chickens only when supervised until they approach 2 years. I pen young dogs during day releasing them at night after chickens up / in where pup can not reach them. Pup can then provide some limited protection at night that progressively improves.

 

[chickens really]

Were the parents active Working Dogs?
All puppies need Training...My Maremma is from working parents..He was raised in a pen of Miniture Horses..Then I trained him to protect my Chickens and Ducks..
Running, flapping Chickens are too exciting for young Dogs so the pups should be trained with positive reinforcement..They need to learn basic commands and a key word like Off or Leave it...
How Old are these two Pups?...They need to learn that they are to protect the Birds..
Best wishes

 

[centrarchid]

I am not keen on the concept of the dogs being of current working stock as being all that important. My dogs are either hunting (bird dogs) or English Shepherd. Getting them into working order is essentially the same as even the best bred LGD dog. The concept is pushed hard and consistently by parties trying to fetch top price for pups they sell.

 

[chickens really]

I only paid $150 for my Maremma..He is now almost 4 years Old...
Yes, good point though..Its buyer beware..

 

[Sparrowsong98]

My big fat roo has tamed many chicken eating dogs, both dogs of visiting friends and my own two. Every dog is guaranteed never to show interest in another bird again.
Bottom line, introduce the puppies to a couple big spurred roos. Fixes any whippersnappers.

 

[JaeG]

Unless your dog's have enough predators to protect against, i.e. enough work to do, they will look to amuse themselves and that could include using your chickens as amusement. And 5 months old is far too young to be mature enough to act in a sensible manner around 500 chickens. Perhaps in 18 months time with a lot of training.

They are working dogs who need a large area to patrol and they need to know what they should be doing because you have taught them. BackYardHerds.com (BYC's sister site) has a very good section on livestock guardian dogs with some very knowledgeable people who can help you out and give you the steps necessary to train them into good guardians.