My bantam cochin roo challenged my dog!

[heybarb]

My dog dashed out the back door and grabbed one of his bones. Well, he ran past the rooster (who free ranges) and the rooster chased after him! Then he started squaring off and flapping his wings and fluffing up his feathers. At first my dog thought he wanted to play and playfully replied, but it became clear pretty quickly that Scooter the rooster wasn't playing! My dog tucked his tail between his legs and hid behind me! He didn't hurt him - not pecking or scratching with is claws, but he was very aggressive!

Is there anything that I should have done to stop this? Or what should I do next time I see it happen? Clearly the dog is not TOP dog anymore...

 

[coolcanoechic]

I'm not sure, but it was a funny story

I think the roo was just doing his job to protect his flock from anything that might be a threat. The dog came running out of the house which may have caused the roo to react automatically from being startled.
I wish I could have seen it.....lol

 

[MelanieR]

I posted a similar thread a few days ago because my little tiny 5 week old red star roos are running at my yorkie/Pomeranian and pecking him. He can't feel it because of all the fur but I wondered if the roosters were showing aggressiveness already. The answer was that they were just doing their job. Leading and protecting.

Sounds like the dog startled him by running by and he reacted.

 

[heybarb]

I thought I'd post an update...the past 2 months have gone pretty smoothly until yesterday. I had put some extra food out for the chickens while I was cleaning the coop and they were gobbling it up while my dog watched from a distance. When all the chickens except one, had wondered away from the food, my dog started inching towards the food. He started eating a little bit and when the hen that was closest started heading towards the food again, my dog kind of scared her away. She strolled off - not bothered at all, but the rooster sure saw everything and he came hurrying over and waited until my dog was done eating, then as he started to walk away, the rooster flew at him. My dog lunged at the rooster, and then my littlest roo and top hen joined in the attack on my dog. There were wings and feathers flying around and lots of noise. When I called my dog, he ran to me and hid behind me. No one was hurt but now I am seriously worried about leaving my chickens and the dog outside together when I am not home...

I could tell that my dog (he's a 20 lb pug/boston terrier mix) was just trying to defend himself, but I'm afraid what might happen if they attack him again. He truly ignores the chickens all day long...but if the rooster is out to get him, then it could be bad...

Any suggestions now?

 

[amsunshine]

Your dog could turn around and get some nerve suddenly one day. I interrupted our dog in the middle of a murderous rampage on one of our Spitzhauben roosters. Thank God I was able to save the rooster in time, but there were feathers everywhere. Now we've reached a compromise. At night and in the morning, while the chickens are asleep and then laying eggs, and the morning sun hits the barnyard, the dog runs loose (we live on a farm). In the afternoon and evening, when the barnyard is shaded, the chickens get to free range and the dog gets tied up under the shade of two 60' elm trees with a massive rubber bucket of water. So far it's been working out well.