My German Shepherd wont stop chasing and eating Chickens!!!

[Bawkbok]

Same here. Eight years I've kept my dog apart from my chickens. Eternal vigilance. I love her but my mental workload will go down significantly when she eventually passes away.

Same here. I understand what you're going through, animal management - dog out, chickens in, chickens out, dog in. Simple as that, or not so simple some days. I have to think twice before letting dog out or double check to ensure I put the chickens back in. I love my dog but he cannot be trusted. Animals are animals.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Animals are animals and you can control them or let them control you. I can train any dog to stop killing chickens with an e collar.

 

[ChikaInu]

Animals are animals and you can control them or let them control you. I can train any dog to stop killing chickens with an e collar.

Over here that is illegal and goes under cruelty. Easier and more pleasant for everyone to keep the animals separated.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Over here that is illegal and goes under cruelty. Easier and more pleasant for everyone to keep the animals separated.

I don't want to start an argument, but just for the purposes of information, the lowest levels of stimulation on this collar are less than what you would feel if you touched a metal doorknob after walking across a carpet in your socks. It is not intended to hurt or harm the dog, but merely to distract, to get his attention. The collar also has a vibrate and beep option, so you can beep him first to get his attention as a warning. After one or two experiences where he first hears the beep then feels the vibration, then the mild shock, there is a very good chance that he will turn away from the chickens when he hears the beep, in order to avoid the other stimulants. After a few more experiences he can learn to ignore the chickens entirely without ever experiencing the shock again. This is how my dog learned to stop chasing cars which was a very big deal for him. I was amazed at how quickly he learned. This process should take place on a long line, of course. The dog learns that HE controls what happens to him, and that if he makes the correct choices nothing unpleasant happens to him at all. It is no more abusive, IMO, than walking your dog on a collar and leash and expecting him to walk in Heel position. But it must be used with intelligence and discretion. It is not a cattle prod.

 

[ChikaInu]

I don't want to start an argument, but just for the purposes of information, the lowest levels of stimulation on this collar are less than what you would feel if you touched a metal doorknob after walking across a carpet in your socks. It is not intended to hurt or harm the dog, but merely to distract, to get his attention. The collar also has a vibrate and beep option, so you can beep him first to get his attention as a warning. After one or two experiences where he first hears the beep then feels the vibration, then the mild shock, there is a very good chance that he will turn away from the chickens when he hears the beep, in order to avoid the other stimulants. After a few more experiences he can learn to ignore the chickens entirely without ever experiencing the shock again. This is how my dog learned to stop chasing cars which was a very big deal for him. I was amazed at how quickly he learned. This process should take place on a long line, of course. The dog learns that HE controls what happens to him, and that if he makes the correct choices nothing unpleasant happens to him at all. It is no more abusive, IMO, than walking your dog on a collar and leash and expecting him to walk in Heel position. But it must be used with intelligence and discretion. It is not a cattle prod.

Me neither, and I am aware of the different levels but it is still illegal here and in many places for a reason.
I know of at least one individual that ruined his own hunting dog by using an e-collar at the wrong moment. His wiemaraner flushed too close to the birds and he zapped the dog at the exact moment it jumped a small stream. Dog never wanted to cross running water again.
There are other methods available.

Also claiming that one can train ANY dog to stay clear of prey with e-collars means you are ready to take it pretty far. Some dogs go trough wolf-fences and barbed wire for the chase.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Understood, thank you.

 

[Chicken Heel]

Glad my momma didn't put a shock collar on me after I got that extra piece of iron skillet cornbread. I would have missed out on a lot of good eating in my lifetime.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Over here that is illegal and goes under cruelty. Easier and more pleasant for everyone to keep the animals separated.

Luckily, I'm over here!

 

[cassie]

Hi! I was wondering if y'all had any insight on this. My german shepherd loves to chase my chickens.. and she has also killed a few. We have wanted to tie one around her neck, but she eats them totally besides a few feathers before we can get to them. Well, she attacked our last rooster and we tried to save him but he sadly passed away this morning. We are wanting to tie it around her neck, but does that work??

We really like my GS but she just can not stop chasing them if they get out of their area we have blocked off for them. We also just got a puppy recently that will help her tremendously once he gets big enough. Also I work with my GS alot and play with her, just she can't seem to kick the chicken chasing.

Also we are going to secure the area more for them, so they can't get out. They have a secure coop and outside run that is enclosed but during the day they get access to a garden area the dog cannot get into, but sometimes the chickens are foraging and go through the gate (which we will be adding chicken wire to soon!)

Sorry for the word vomit. Just trying to give as much info as I can that I think might be asked!
Basically does tying the chicken around her neck actually help her stop chasing and attacking them?

Chickens and rabbits really bring out the prey drive in dogs. You are just going to have to keep your dog separate from the chickens. I think the chances of you getting that dog to be safe around chickens are slim and none. Sorry.

 

[Bawkbok]

Animals are animals and you can control them or let them control you. I can train any dog to stop killing chickens with an e collar.

ANY dog? sounds like you should be a professional trainer then - or are you?
Incidentally, I've watched numerous professional dog trainers train retrievers for field trails for many years - they also could get ANY dog to retrieve ANY duck by instilling enough fear and inflicting enough pain. I watched too many dogs yell and yipe when being zapped. No thanks. One size does not fit all. It depends on what the individual is comfortable with and how much time they have to invest in training given the responsibilities of their life.