My dog met my chicks for the first time...by accident...

[ChickieNikki]

I got a 1.5 year old Pyr yesterday. He's 110 lbs of fur, and sweet as can be! He's very gentle, and has been great with my kids, ages 8 down to 2 (he hasn't met the baby yet). So he's on a chain until our BACKORDERED fence comes in (GRRR), and he noticed the chick brooders (finally, it took him a day). He peeked into the brooder and accidentally moved the lid. Well, silly me, I lifted the lid, and 5 chicks flew right out! He didn't move, didn't jump, just observed. I quickly got the nearest chick back in, and though, well, no better time for a formal introduction...cautiously, I repo'd each escapee, one at a time, and held them to his face. The first one pecked him (not hard) on the nose, and he flinched slightly, but didn't take a step. The second one peeped like crazy, and the next one flailed and peeped.The last one sat still and quiet, so what do you know, that silly dog licked her! I kept her there for another moment, and he sat down, just like that. I think we have a great livestock guardian on our hands, and I'm SO glad it didn't go as badly as it could have!

We are going to pen the birds in a big baby gate and see how he reacts to them being in the grass. He hasn't been with us long enough to have his own territory, so we are going to continue to put the chicks in their playpen in his space, because ideally they will share the space.

Wish me luck--I'm feeling good about our doggie getting to know his flock!!

 

[gritsar]

Glad it turned out okay. I'm searching for a great pyr puppy to be with my chooks. No luck so far.

 

[The Chicken People]

Glad to hear he doesnt want them for dinner! My chicks were brooded in the house so my german shephard and my maltese poodle/pom mix got to know there smell and noises now they dont bother them as we let them free range daily! Also when my first grandson was born last year we brought home his first receiving blanket he was wrapped in before being bathed so it had his smell on it ...this was introduced to my pets before he was! Now at one year old my animals love my grandchild!!

 

[cmjust0]

We've got a Sarplaninac LGD, and he got to see our chickens for the first time Saturday afternoon when we moved them out to the coop. He was at the gate when we walked into the barnyard with the dog crate full of birds, and we set them down and invited him over for a look.. He looked at the birds, took a half-hearted sniff from about a foot away, and was just kinda like....yeah, and?

He walked with us all the way to the barn, and when we got them in the coop, I actually stood there with the man-door of the coop open and pointed them out to him. He could have gone right in if he wanted, and they were darting all around in their new space, peeping like crazy -- enough to drive most canines hog wild. He just kinda cocked his head to the side and furled his eyebrows in the most expressive way, like....um, are ya sure they're ok in there? He was pretty clearly concerned that they were acting so upset, like he thought maybe something was wrong..

We're sure he remembers chickens from when he was young... We got him at six months of age, so he was practically raised around chickens.

Oddly enough, later that day a couple of turkey buzzards came unusually close to the house and barnyard...he stood and barked until they circled their way off somewhere. His breeders said all their Sarplaninacs barked at hawks and buzzards, and that Ivan probably would too, but it was the first time we'd ever actually seen him do it. Can't help but wonder if he added that to his to-do list when we showed him the chickens.

Pretty reassuring, though..

 

[RAWR]

aw! thats cute :] so glad things turned out okay lol i have two westies that are fasinated(sp?) with the chicks haha! and my grandma has a shorkie that loves the chicks! hes our little chicken wrangler xD

 

[Puck-Puck]

A neighbour (the lady who inspired me to try raising chickens) has kids, chickens, and a Great Pyrennese. The dog used to herd the kids when they were smaller. Now he limits himself to herding the chickens.

As an aside, supposedly Pyrennese will stay within the property if taken on a walk around the boundary; but if taken "walkies" off the property, will consider it their territory and defend it...even if it's the public road. Not good if you are trying to use the road yourself, particularly if you have a dog with you. Is it true they'll stick to the property if not taken for walks off of it?

 

[Cetawin]

Yup sounds like my pup...he has been pecked on the nose, one the head and had a hen fly onto his back and hang on giving him the whatfor....he still wants them to be his buddies. He whines for me to let them out in the yard. He did the same thing with my ducklings as yours did with the chicks....he "cleaned" every one of them. hahahaha