My dog chasing chickens. --solved!

[RoseMarie1]

Someone told me they used one of those shocking collars to train theirs with and said anytime he even went in the direction of one of the chickens he got shocked. Said it did the trick.

 

[MountainDirt]

So glad I saw this post. I'm new to chickens and new to the forum. My malamute mix is my best friend but I've had to keep him in the fence with my mom's black lab after my acquiring this chicken addiction. He has a really strong prey drive but it would be so helpful to have him around my chickens to keep all the other predators away who have already put a hurting on my flock. I have a coop right now but no run for the chickens to protect them. Whenever he has been out of the fence he races over to the chickens and runs like a crazy guy to get at them in the coop. Eventually, I can distract him away from the coop but he's a smart guy and comes back to scare the chickens all over again.
I have a hen and a roo Amerucana full grown, 7 bantam Cochin's all hens, and 2 RIR x Orp crosses (one pullet and one cockerel) in the barn where my coop is. In the brooder in the house I have 8 one week old Orpingtons. The full grown rooster isn't very dominate or unable to scare my dogs. They've already gotten a hold of him once and took all of his tail feathers before I could get to him.
I'm just wondering if I should start out with the shock collar first because I haven't found a good deterent for him yet.

 

[GuppyTJ]

I will give my views, opinions and experiences and perhaps others will agree with parts, disagree with other parts. Shock collars tend to be controversial so please know that what I share, I do so in the spirit of helping others find their own answers and approaches that work for them.

To your question, "Should I start with a shock collar first" I would say "it depends" as like most things, it depends on many factors, such as but not limited to: how well your dog is already trained, what you already tried to train him without a collar, how much time you already invested in trying to train him, how much experience you have training dogs, how much you've already established yourself as the leader of the dog, how strong the dog's prey instinct is, how much time you have, how much patience you have, etc. etc.

Per my above post, I worked and worked with my blind dog Shadow and finally resorted to the shock collar. But, I have a lot of experience training dogs, he's blind so that makes him immediately a different challenge to train, he needs more sensitivity in general (it's scary enough just being blind, even for a dog). I also have loads of time as I'm semi-retired and I LIKE training dogs. I really enjoy it.

Some will say shock collars or any negative re-enforcement just scares the dog/makes it aggressive or the like. My experience is that this not the case. The way we think and the way dogs think is not the same. (Just like the way we think and the way chickens think is different). Dogs are pack animals and the alpha dog in the pack disciplines the lower dogs in the pack order with a certain level of force and dominance. This isn't necessarily painful but it can be.

So, you have to consider what you're willing to put into the dog to train him. You CAN very likely train him without a shock collar by following the many good training tips shared in this thread. You'll want to be consistent and persistent and yet flexible until you find what works for your dog. Then, keep working at it, because as he learns, he'll adapt so you must adapt to how he changes/responds to what you're teaching him.

On the other hand, you can invest in a shock collar (they're not cheap) and yet even then, you have to be consistent and gentle. Such as starting with the very lowest possible setting that gets your dogs attention. If you've already established yourself as the alpha pack leader, when you shock him, he should come to you for safety. You're his safe place, even if you're with the chickens. Our dogs never know we're the ones causing the shock because we hide the shock unit from them. In fact, they don't even understand that the collar is what causes the pain. They get excited as heck when we put the collar on them because it just means they're going outside. They don't connect the collar or us to the pain. They just connect the pain with the undesirable action. In our dog's minds, the reaction to being shocked is almost identical to when they get stung by a bee. When a bee stings them, they immediately leave the area where they got stung and run to us. They react the same exact way with the shock collar. They know whatever they are doing they should stop doing because doing so causes a momentary bit of pain. And they come to us for comfort and safety. I have, of course, shocked myself using the setting I use for the dog. I jump because it hurts or is unpleasant or whatever term you might use. This is what the dog feels, when it's done properly. A dog chasing a chicken will stop if shocked, when it's done correctly.

So, the point is, using a shock collar isn't just about pushing a button. You need to be considerate and thoughtful about what you're doing and pay VERY CLOSE attention to what the dog thinks is happening. You have to train the dog to understand this new situation with the collar. It's not just put the collar on the dog and push the button. Even training him with a shock collar takes time and patience. Maybe this is why shock collars get such a bad reputation because not only do they cause pain, but people mis-use them.

So, in the end, is using a shock collar a faster way to train the dog to not kill your chickens vs. standard training methods? In my experience, in most cases, yes, it's probably going to be faster. But there is more risk that you rush it and just confuse the dog or scare him or whatever. And it's more expensive too. And again, it still takes time to do well and right.

All this said... it comes back to each individual owner and your dog and what you think is best. In the final analysis, not too many approaches are worse than having a dog that kills your chickens so then you have to choose between having the dog or having chickens. Or, keeping your dog chained up or in the house away from the chickens and always worrying that one day, he'll get loose. Do what you have to do to get everyone to live in peace together. Invest in whatever method you think you can manage so that for years and years to come, you can all relax, you, the dogs and the chickens. And the dogs just by their mere presence, can help you keep your chickens safe from predators. So much irony and satisfaction in being able to turn a dog who threatens your chicken's lives into a creature that helps keep your chickens safe from other predators. So, you get peace (vs. constant worry and drama) and you get protection from predators. What could be more ideal?

Here are my 2 dogs hanging out with 2 of my 9 chickens. The black dog is the one who's blind. Today, the blind dog was standing near the coop and the rooster (the chicken in the lower left of this pic) flew up and landed on his back. The dog didn't react, just moved and the rooster fell off. I couldn't have been more pleased.

 

[Beekissed]

Excellent post! Very informative and I agree with the reactions of the dogs to negative reinforcement of all kinds. They come to me, even if I am the one that gave the correction. There is an innate willingness to please the leader if that pack is well established.

This post should be stuck somewhere it won't get lost...

 

[MountainDirt]

Wow! Very well said and it really helped clarify the next steps I want to take with my very stubborn dog.

I did an experiment with my mom's black lab (Luke) yesterday on the leash at the coop and it gave me a lot of hope. I let the full grown chickens free range and walked Luke past them several times. The chickens freaked out because he has gotten a hold of them before. Luke went to lunge after them the second he saw them and I pulled on the slip collar when I saw him start to bolt. He's a very sensitive dog, unlike my dog, and when I scolded him he hung his head. I continued it until he could completely walk past the chickens with no reaction. The chickens started calming down in his presense too! I think a few more days of this and he'll be good on a leash around them. I'm not sure what the next steps are afterwards...but I know this is a good start.

I plan to try this with my dog, Shredder (yeah, I got him before I'd thought about having chickens and I hope the name only applies to the ice cream cartons he steals from the trash can). I worked with him yesterday and this morning before work on the "leave it" command and most of the time he listens. He's a very sneaky and smart fellow. He knows how to look and see if anyone is paying attention and exactly how much time it takes for me to get to him. I'll have to remember it takes a lot of patience and preseverance.

I love my dog like a child but realize he's a dog and he has a different set of instincts than I do. If I go to the shock collar, I want it to be the last resort.

Thank you so much for this advice and it's an inspiration to have harmony on my soon-to-be minifarm.

 

[write2caroline]

The dog whisperer does not just make the noise - he gently kicks the dog so that the dog is temporarily distracted and looks back at him until the dog is submissive and calm. You must make your dog look to you and ignore the chickens.

My dog took out some of my chickens before they were clucking. They sounded like squeaky toys.

It is hard but I would keep a leash on your dog and take it outside and work with him a little each day until it learns to mind you and not take off after the chickens. I would also work on the dog not running out the door.

Your dog will want to please you and so it is to its advantage to do what you want. It takes a lot of consistent training but you can teach a dog not to run after the chickens, or other dogs....etc. And seriously, if chickens can be trained to peck at stars on paper to get meal worms your dog can be taught not to chase chickens. Dogs are way smarter than chickens.

Good luck
Caroline

 

[pedorth]

I have a dog (bichon-frise mutt) that we got from a rescue. When we got the dog, it was already 18 months old and had certain behavior problems. While our dog was super cute and affectionate with us, it was also super willful and highly aggressive especially with birds. It caught and killed wild birds in our backyard. We moved to a new place and our dog had free reign in our backyard, he patroled and protected his territory. Nearly a year later we built a chicken coop, a run and brought 6 chickens into the backyard. You cannot imagine the drama we had with our dog...constant barking, rushing aggressively at the coop and the run. We were very careful to keep him on a leash and yank him back and away but it was impossible to teach him to leave the chickens alone. Once in a while he would escape into the backyard without a leash and he wouldn't listen to us when we called him back. We would have to run after him into the yard and the chase was on! We had to limit his time in the backyard. This in turn led to him peeing and pooping in the home. My husband was seriously wondering if we going to have to part with either the dog or the chickens. My husband preferred the chickens because we want their eggs but my kids preferred the dog and were in tears thinking we might have to choose between them. Of course my kids were lobbying to get rid of the chickens. Our of sheer desperation, I purchased a dog training collar from Groovy Pets that vibrates or delivers shock on command. The nice thing about that collar is that it works even for very small dogs. Our dog weighs only 11 pounds. We put the collar on our dog and seriously, in 1 day, he learned he ought to leave the chickens, their coop and their run alone. When he rushed at the chickens inside the chicken run, I told him "No!" and I used vibration. When he ignored the vibration, I used the shock. That got his attention! I had to use shock only twice on that first day. Poor dog, the shock was painful and very upsetting to him BUT he learned he ought to listen to me. We've been using the collar for about 3 weeks now and I have NEVER had to use shock again. During the first 2 weeks I would have to use vibrate and that was enough to repel him from whatever he was doing that was inappropriate. Now our dog listens to my verbal commands. Yesterday I was knitting in my backyard under some shade, watching my kids play in the pool, and watching our chickens AND our dog free range. I have to watch our dog constantly and verbally tell him to leave our chickens alone when he gets to close to them with that certain look. But gone are the days when he was yapping, chasing and threatening to kill the chickens! The collar was well worth the $60 that I paid for it. The kids and I are SO glad that we did not need to choose between our dog and the chickens. I am sure my dog does not realize it but his quality of life is also much better because of the collar. No longer is he banished inside the house. When the chickens are safe in their run, he gets free reign of the backyard and we do not have to monitor him at all. Now, when our chickens are free-ranging, instead of being kept inside or constantly on a leash, he can also free range, explore and play. It is very cool to be able to be in the backyard together as a family complete with our dog and 12 chickens!

 

[Beekissed]

Good story! So glad it worked out well.

I'm sure you'll hear a lot of negative feedback on using a shock collar and blah, blah, blah..but if it works, it works and it definitely seems to have worked! I like decisive action and final solutions in regards to livestock and pets.

 

[GuppyTJ]

I have a dog (bichon-frise mutt) that we got from a rescue. When we got the dog, it was already 18 months old and had certain behavior problems. While our dog was super cute and affectionate with us, it was also super willful and highly aggressive especially with birds. It caught and killed wild birds in our backyard. We moved to a new place and our dog had free reign in our backyard, he patroled and protected his territory. Nearly a year later we built a chicken coop, a run and brought 6 chickens into the backyard. You cannot imagine the drama we had with our dog...constant barking, rushing aggressively at the coop and the run. We were very careful to keep him on a leash and yank him back and away but it was impossible to teach him to leave the chickens alone. Once in a while he would escape into the backyard without a leash and he wouldn't listen to us when we called him back. We would have to run after him into the yard and the chase was on! We had to limit his time in the backyard. This in turn led to him peeing and pooping in the home. My husband was seriously wondering if we going to have to part with either the dog or the chickens. My husband preferred the chickens because we want their eggs but my kids preferred the dog and were in tears thinking we might have to choose between them. Of course my kids were lobbying to get rid of the chickens. Our of sheer desperation, I purchased a dog training collar from Groovy Pets that vibrates or delivers shock on command. The nice thing about that collar is that it works even for very small dogs. Our dog weighs only 11 pounds. We put the collar on our dog and seriously, in 1 day, he learned he ought to leave the chickens, their coop and their run alone. When he rushed at the chickens inside the chicken run, I told him "No!" and I used vibration. When he ignored the vibration, I used the shock. That got his attention! I had to use shock only twice on that first day. Poor dog, the shock was painful and very upsetting to him BUT he learned he ought to listen to me. We've been using the collar for about 3 weeks now and I have NEVER had to use shock again. During the first 2 weeks I would have to use vibrate and that was enough to repel him from whatever he was doing that was inappropriate. Now our dog listens to my verbal commands. Yesterday I was knitting in my backyard under some shade, watching my kids play in the pool, and watching our chickens AND our dog free range. I have to watch our dog constantly and verbally tell him to leave our chickens alone when he gets to close to them with that certain look. But gone are the days when he was yapping, chasing and threatening to kill the chickens! The collar was well worth the $60 that I paid for it. The kids and I are SO glad that we did not need to choose between our dog and the chickens. I am sure my dog does not realize it but his quality of life is also much better because of the collar. No longer is he banished inside the house. When the chickens are safe in their run, he gets free reign of the backyard and we do not have to monitor him at all. Now, when our chickens are free-ranging, instead of being kept inside or constantly on a leash, he can also free range, explore and play. It is very cool to be able to be in the backyard together as a family complete with our dog and 12 chickens!

So glad this worked out for you! I can tell from your post that you are so relieved and pleased with the outcome that benefits all. I think you said it well when you reminded us that the DOG benefits from the shock collar because he learns quickly and gets to be "free" to roam around again. And, you get to keep both the dog and the chickens so good for you!

Guppy

 

[MountainDirt]

Very glad to hear shock collars work so quickly! I'm still teaching my dog a firm "Leave it" command and if it doesn't work after a few weeks, I'll definitely get one because I'd like for him to have freedom to run on the rest of my property.