My dogs are demons.

[Ruler of the Roost]

They’re not demons. They’re extremely high prey driven breeds doing what comes naturally to them. They should have been separated and/or supervised from the beginning or at least after the first incident once you found out they would kill. But I’m very sorry you lost your birds and that you had to find out the hard way. and I get it, it’s hard seeing these cute, furry creatures you love kill something else you love. But you have to remember, to them, the chickens are just prey or possibly a toy. They don’t view them as beloved pets like you do. But I’m very sorry. sectioning off the yard and separating them is a good move.

They were fine with the pullets and chicks we raised inside. This is what really confuses me. When the husky killed Joy I had left the run open cause they were free ranging. I found her inside the run. She’d never shown any interest in actually going in or messing with the birds. Second one, I have no idea how the husky got Peekaboo. But I got Peekaboo away from her still alive and the malamute got her away from me and ate her before I could get her back. I hate them. I really do.

 

[ShrekDawg]

They were fine with the pullets and chicks we raised inside. This is what really confuses me. When the husky killed Joy I had left the run open cause they were free ranging. I found her inside the run. She’d never shown any interest in actually going in or messing with the birds. Second one, I have no idea how the husky got Peekaboo. But I got Peekaboo away from her still alive and the malamute got her away from me and ate her before I could get her back. I hate them. I really do.

I’m sorry

 

[my spoiled chickens]

Nah. These things are freaking evil.

They are sled dogs not LGDs they arent good with animals

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

They are sled dogs not LGDs they arent good with animals

I don’t know what an LDG even is. All I know is that every time I look at them, hear them, feed them, take them out… what have you, I’m haunted by what’s happened. Those gruesome images play in my head like videos on repeat and it seems as if there’s no end. I’m at the point where I won’t even eat store bought chicken cause it’s all I freaking see and I’m constantly reminded.

 

[my spoiled chickens]

I don’t know what an LDG even is. All I know is that every time I look at them, hear them, feed them, take them out… what have you, I’m haunted by what’s happened. Those gruesome images play in my head like videos on repeat and it seems as if there’s no end. I’m at the point where I won’t even eat store bought chicken cause it’s all I freaking see and I’m constantly reminded.

LGD stands for Livestock Guardian Dog. You should go to therapy

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I am sorry for your loses but this is not the dogs fault, you have 2 high prey drive dogs that were not trained to be around poultry, leaving them with the poultry was a recipe for disaster. You should have been keeping them separate.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I don’t know what an LDG even is. All I know is that every time I look at them, hear them, feed them, take them out… what have you, I’m haunted by what’s happened. Those gruesome images play in my head like videos on repeat and it seems as if there’s no end. I’m at the point where I won’t even eat store bought chicken cause it’s all I freaking see and I’m constantly reminded.

It sucks.
Not a pet so obviously different, but it broke my heart when my malamute caught a pigeon. I couldn't get the bird off her and it was gruesome. Got it from her long after it was dead.
It was slightly traumatic I guess, I was pretty cross with her.
And then I realised how I felt was unreasonable, she wasn't a monster, she was just doing what her instincts told her. She couldn't understand.
It was the last animal she's caught, thank god. She doesn't go after the pigeons anymore.
But it's still in my head sometimes.

Your dogs aren't monsters, they're not evil. They unintentionally caused you pain, that doesn't make them evil. You've learned the hard way that dogs and poultry don't mix, and it can be difficult to keep them separate without a good and secure set up. It is never the dogs fault in this situation. We take and breed and buy these predators as pets, it's our responsibility to train them, and even then, there's always some risk they'll do what is in their nature. We don't have the right to be angry with them if that happens.

I'm sorry for your losses, but you have to face this. The dogs did what almost any dog would. I hope you forgive them for the hurt you feel.
I'd encourage two things.
Firstly, impulse control. Train the dogs to leave temptations and obey a "leave it" command. I recommend lots of positive reinforcement, helps the training to stick.
Secondly, a better set up for future birds. Keep them completely separate. For my malamute I have two barriers, a fence separating half the garden and then a pen within that half containing my birds.

Both of your dogs have killed now, don't give second chances. Keep them separate and incase the worst happens, work on their impulse control.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I am sorry it has affected you so much. This is the reality of raising and especially free-ranging prey animals like poultry. You have to be prepared for it to happen again because your dogs aren't the only creatures out there who will prey on your chickens.

 

[AGeese]

It's bad when you get attached to them as pets and anything happens. It's normal to feel this way. You live and learn from these things and try to do better next time. The dogs should probably have some kind of training or conditioning around birds if you're going to keep them or you might end up in another situation down the road.

Not that it's any consolation, but a stray Huskey attacked one of my hens last month. She survived thankfully, but this is largely dogs being dogs. LSG dogs even need to be trained despite being bred to be protective of flocks.

This forum probably wouldn't be around if everyone was hard on their selves for things like this so don't let it get you down, just learn from it.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

These are 2 of the top breeds that people get not knowing enough about the breeds. High energy working dogs have to have a job. There are so many couch potato breeds but these are the opposite of that. I've seen people give up on these 2 more than any other. Most people that encounter issues with them actually love the dogs. For you to not even like them, you're probably not willing to do the work. What they need is obedience training (go to a class,) and a job (pulling, carting, running, swimming, hiking with packs.) The 2 breeds are not even identical, they have different DNA. Behavior like this is not about them, it's about what's missing. They will always turn to bad behavior when not given the right amount of exercise and training. I'm going to assume from pics that you're not in Alaska. If you really don't like them and don't think that dogs are for life but chickens are, then maybe you can give them a better home elsewhere. Put ads for them on breed specific groups in the PNW and Alaska. If you got them from a good breeder that person would help you too.