My Dog has a taste for blood!

[Zabrina111]

We are just starting out our little back yard chicken venture. We had the chickens inside and my husband accidnetally let my dog in. He ate one! Very sad. Then a week later my 3 year old son let him in again. He ate another!! Now my chicks are in a coop/run outside and my dog really really really wants them. Even though he is 14 years old and has never dug before, he is trying to dig into their coop. How can I stop him from eating my chickens? I can't watch him every second I havce five kids, too. We are filling the holes and putting bricks in the way. Ideas???

 

[Kudzu]

Good luck, you gonna need it.

 

[ams4776]

Bury wire around the outside. If he can dig in so can other predators. I did mine 2 feet out and 5-6 inches down attaching it do the run and coop so they couldnt rip it out. Good luck with everything

 

[DvanderSlik]

Hey! I'm not an animal behaviorist, but I do work for an animal shelter, and am around dogs about 24/7. Just because your dog ate two chicks, doesn't mean he's blood thirsty. It may take some time, but go outside with your dog on a leash, or harness with really YUMMY TREATS that your dog can't resist. Don't go near the coop, but just far enough so its within ear/eyeshot for your dog.

Each time you dog ignores the coop and looks at you or anything else... give him a treat. Do this over and over. Just keep "paying" him each time he ignores the coop. When you get comfortable, move a few steps closer. Repeat.

This may take time, and A LOT of patients. Keep your dog on a leash, and keep his attention on you (or his favorite toy) within ear/eye shot of the coop. Keep "paying" him with tasty treats each time he ignores the chickens.

If he goes crazy and bazurk, calmly walk away out of ear/eyeshot of the coop (no treats, no hitting, no choking, no ALPHA dog crap... just walk away until he calms down). Then camly walk back to where he can see the coop. When he chooses to ignore the coop, he gets rewarded.

Keep moving up, a few days at a time and practicing this. Like I said, it may take time and a lot of patients. I wouldn't let him out without a leash. Good Luck!

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I'd do what I'd do if it was one of the kids doing something that was not allowed. Repeat as needed , consistently.
This will be as successful as it is with one of the children.
Your mileage may vary but in my house, Moms Always Win.
Good luck.

 

[rivers2011]

definitely add a wire skirt to the coop to prevent him and other predators from getting in. Just make sure that it's anchored down securely.

 

[bobbi-j]

You could also run a string of electric fencing around your coop. It will definitely get your dog's attention.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Wire skirt buried around the coop, add a strand of hot wire about 6 inches off the ground. Easy and cheap enough to do. Dog comes over to sniff around and find a place to dig, gets a very lovely reinforcement that he needs to stay FAR away from the chicken coop! Has worked for me for years.

 

[tinydancer87]

they'reHISchickens :

I'd do what I'd do if it was one of the kids doing something that was not allowed. Repeat as needed , consistently.
This will be as successful as it is with one of the children.
Your mileage may vary but in my house, Moms Always Win.
Good luck.

Love it!​

 

[Chickenberry]

Our Jack Russell, Bella, would like to get a hold of one of our chickens too.. but she knows if she does, she will get a spanking. We even let them free range while we are in the back yard... we let her sit next to us and walk around the yard but if she gets too close, she is called back. She has been doing very well.