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I disagree to a degree being a dog trainer. I trust my purebred german rotty with my poultry completely. We moved to this property with the rotty before we had poultry. This dog was a wanna be bird dog (as in the hunting sense LOL). Of course he came here with lots of training already. I had to then work with him on the fact that the birds were MINE and to try to eat them was a direct violation of my rights as a pack leader and would be addressed harshly.
He did kill a chicken once early on before he was convinced, he didn't quite believe I meant it when I said leave them alone. I did what you did, smacked his bottom good, shoved the bird in his face, chased him around and basically made his life miserable. He never touched another bird to harm it again after that.
He knows the geese nip and he tries to keep an eye on them and not engage unless neccesary or asked to. There have been times they have snuck up on him and they like to bite his "back equipment". He'll whirl around with a snarl and instantly have them by the neck. Anyone looking on would be sure there is going to be a blood bath, but no, he holds on for a couple moments to let them get good and scared, lets them struggle a bit then releases them a little slobbery but completely unharmed. They run off honking indignantly. He is also the greatest goose control when collecting eggs (and with what I have I usually have to leave my backside exposed without the ability to get out of the way quickly to collect from one of the nests). I'll be collecting eggs and the cranky male will be getting closer and closer from out of nowhere and I get sure I am going to have to defend myself and out of nowhere my rotty will just appear and leap in between me and the gander and start pushing the gander back away from me until I can get done. The kids won't collect goose eggs without him.
The point here is many dogs can be ok around poultry but it isn't going to just happen in many cases without some kind of training. Yes having them together is a carnivore with food, but if the food clearly belongs to the pack leader to do with as they wish then it's neither free nor easy. They may not understand why everyone isn't chowing down right now and keeping the dang things alive but they do understand by genetic programming that they can't have any part of a kill or potential kill unless the pack leader allows it.
It can be done with many if not most dogs with a sound healthy mind and temperament given the right training. Basenji's are really primal little headstrong, independant dogs and even a basenji mix was succesfully trained not to mess with the birds. That's an accomplishment to me.
do not hurt your dogs it int nice just tie up the goose to his neck
