My German Shephard ate 2 chickens!

[nzpouter]

Quote:
It's not about the taste... all my dogs are fed raw diet (includes chickens), and they all live with them 24/7 with/ without supervision.... it's in the chase, a dog that will commence a chase always show some sort of sign, you need to pay close attention and start to pick on it then re-training can start.

 

[Annabella]

I was told by a dog trainer that if a dog has looked it has already thought and acted. The training they put into their dogs to NOT chase cats was full on and finally successful.

I tried it with my cocker spaniel and the chooks. He grew up with the older girls and so for some strange reason is fine with them, but not the new girls - and despite almost 8 weeks of constant training and supervision he killed one of the new girls.

I cried and made the decision to separate the backyard into 2 areas, one for new girls , the other for old girls and dog. (He doesnt try and break through the fence though he easily could) The new fenced off area is a total no go section for him and he is not allowed to come in with me to change feed/water.

Its the closest we could come to a win win situation.

 

[nzpouter]

Quote:
I have to disagree with that... my dogs can and will chase suspected predator, which either they caught glimpse of/ heard of... but as soon as they realise it's one of their charges, they'll stop... so no, they don't act blindly, and a dog with basic training will not rush at anything while their owner/ boss is around, they will show hestitation...

The one about your new chooks... here's where most people forget, there are 2 species involved, you need to get the dog used to the chickens and vice versa... your older chickens are used to your dog's movement and presence hence they are less panicky when approached by him.... your new one.. different story, a running flapping chicken can jump start a dog prey drive...

 

[Annabella]

yeah - that's a good point re: chookies flapping etc and stirring the dog up.

unfortunately the one he killed was the one who was the most placid and didn't fly away from him.

she just used to "hang around" she wasnt a flighty bird.

dogs are dogs and we just need to be vigilant.

 

[Cat's Coop]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement! It sounds like there has been success in re-training a dog even after it kills/eats chicken one time. We understand it is going to be hard work but we have decided to keep our GSD and give her further training. Thanks for all the training tips and especially your success stories!


For now we will have our birds in the run and only be free ranging when supervised.

I have been reading BYC forums for months and have enjoyed all the information. I really hated that my first post was a negative situation! I will take my learning experiences and share with all.

 

[Cat's Coop]

On a further note, our GSD does not show any sense of trying to do harm to our birds when I am present. It's only when I am not there and my wife and kids are outside supervising. They often tell me that Lucy does look at them like she is about to attack. They correct her always but she continues to show unhealthy interest towards them. So I think we will start using the shock collar method next. The wife and my teenage kids will have to show her that they are in control not her. Like I said, when I am present she does not even look at the birds....

 

[hearthnsoul]

My dogs don't bother the chickens. I suppose it is because when I brought the first batch of chicks home I kept the dog always with me when I was with the chicks, scolded him if he got overly curious, but let him close enough when he had the right attitude and by the way first chick came home when the dog was already 7 years old. I did the same thing when I brought home the ducks and then the goats,..dog always around when I was present, paid close attention to his attitude,..now my dog is the one the chicks hop on and the goats butt when the think he is intruding on their petting time and the ducks stick their beaks in his long fur and ruffle it, one never knows he could have snacks hiding in there. He runs well now,..in the other direction when they bother him too much. No if I could just get this dog to be as nice to the neighbors ugh.

 

[truegrit farm]

Quote:
It's not about the taste... all my dogs are fed raw diet (includes chickens), and they all live with them 24/7 with/ without supervision.... it's in the chase, a dog that will commence a chase always show some sort of sign, you need to pay close attention and start to pick on it then re-training can start.

I totally agree with this being also a raw feeder and also my herding dogs GSD & Corgi's are triggered by chase. However, I have watched them close and even when my chickens flap and take off in short flights they ignore them. I often wonder if the fact that I have a Blue and Gold Macaw that they have learned to steer clear of in the house and were all raised with him, has made them immune to caring about feathered things, LOL!

I do know that my JRT will get them as tiny chicks. He actually was able to get up on a table and kill and EAT (he eats mice also) 13 of my first batch of chicks!!!!!!!! All the moving around and peeping triggered his high drive for mouse killing. Talk about wanting to kill a dog!!!!!!! We went back to the hatchery and got more and was verrrrrrrry careful about where we put them and once they got a little bigger he paid them no mind.

 

[kota1369]

Quote:
Same here........ I have had to run the chickens off my dogs food. They crack me up. I have a picture of my shepherd puppy eating a chicken foot in her crate. I am dieing to get a picture of that with the chickens loose around her. Should make a great picture.
My shepherd is not yet allowed off leash with the ladies but that should happen this summer. I am looking forward to it.
Keep training the dog and working with it. I live in the city so my ladies only free range when I am home. Two of my 4 dogs are 110% trustworthy unsupervised with chickens.
I do not agree at all once a dog has killed, that it gets a "taste" for blood. My experiance is that is a very large old wives tail.
Good luck to you on training.

The lady with 4 dogs, 4 city chickens, 2 meat rabbits and a lizard

 

[dntd]

chicken is chicken, not blood,just like an egg eating chicken, if it tastes good they will do it again. Even dogs on kibble know what chicken is, butchered or freshly killed taste the same.