My savage dog.

[debs_flock]

I agree with some of the posters above, you can't "beat" your dog after the fact. They will have no idea why you are attacking them. Your dog didn't murder your chickens, she just did what came naturally.

If you resort to beating your dog or any other animal, you aren't teaching them anything except to fear you. You have to be smarter than the dog and think through your solution. Beating them only makes you feel better in your moment of anger.

Your dog could bite you through to the bone any time it wants, it chooses not to. How could you look into a loving dogs eyes and strike them while they cower trying to figure out why they are being attacked by their pack leader.

And to think people get upset when their chickens try to establish the pecking order. Just hope your dog never challenges you for leadership.

And most of this is not directed at the original poster, you never stated you beat your dog.

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
That's a little harsh. I think OP will be able to figure out how to either confine or train the dog.


And about this: Seriously the darn dog is a LAB!!!!!!! Its a fricking bird dog. Used to retrieve ducks and wild game.

So is my dog, and so are alot of other BYCers' dogs. My dog has NEVER been a problem with my chickens. And yes, he does hunt, point and retrieve. He was also trained at 8 weeks old not to hurt the chickens. I realize I had it easy with this one. But you stand a better chance with training than just *hoping* the dogs and chickens can get along.

OP, I hope you can find a solution to your problem.

 

[fenceman48]

I have just the opposite problem. This week, my chickens have been attacked by 2 neighborhood stray dogs. 5 of them killed. The surviving chickens flew into my lab's pen for protection. He seems to pay them no mind. Of course, he's the worst hunting dog I've ever seen. He retrieves his toys great, but will walk by a pheasant & swim by a duck.

As for your problem, watch him & catch him at it. A thorough beating is probably what is needed. Remember, Dogs always act like the punishment is worse than it is.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
That's a little harsh. I think OP will be able to figure out how to either confine or train the dog.

Maybe a little, but if they can't co-exist and the dog is able to get into the chicken pen... one has to go.

 

[allieloveschickens]

It sounds like your dog is well trained, except in regard to your chickens. You said you would never tie her up... so I would go back to my other suggestions of keeping her in a kennel. Or indoors. I would start some intensive training with her in regards to the chickens if you aren't willing to keep her confined away from them. Or just don't get any more birds, it isn't fair to consign them to a terrifying death by labrador. I hope you find a solution!

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
That's a little harsh. I think OP will be able to figure out how to either confine or train the dog.

Maybe a little, but if they can't co-exist and the dog is able to get into the chicken pen... one has to go.

Or OP needs to rethink coop security, confinement and training of the dog, or a better way to separate dog and chickens.

 

[laseterlass]

I love reading all of the opinions. Like it or not it is about DOMINANCE. In my house I am the boss and if an animal, (even my cats) have a problem with that I show them why I make the rules. I brought 16 chicks into a house with a lab/mastiff/rott mix a JRT and 3 queen cats., none of which had ever seen a chicken and 3 of which prey on wild birds. I told them MINE and no problem has ever been had. I even have a siamese who told me I could not keep the kitten I found. She tried not using the shared cat box. She got a nose full of vinegar and locked in the laundry room for a week. I have 3 Queens. Two of which HATE the kitten, that use the same box cause I said so. Everyone that comes into my home praise my pets behavior. My dogs free roam with the chickens and pay them no mind. The birds are as much a part of the pack as the dogs and cats are and since I am the leader we live in harmony. We even had a baby sparrow in our yard this spring. I pointed it out to the siamese and told her NO. I know that she snacks on other wild babies but this one grew up in safety because I saw him first. I understand that the hens will make short work of baby birds next Spring. I have yet to figure out how to curb a Velociraptors kill instinct. But I am working on it. Maybe little shock collars?

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Okay, first that is not true. I have seen it done will no ill affects to the dog except the dog was scared to death of chickens afterwards and would not even look at one! And that was in Florida during July/August heat. We are talking a couple of days not a month. They cannot hang themselves with a chicken toes closely enough to them that they cannot get it off not to mention the bird would pull apart with the dog's weight long before the dog hung themselves. The idea is NOT about weight hanging on them, the idea is to associate that horrid smell, the inability to get away from the bird around their neck and for them to associate the punishment with their crime. It has nothing to do with weight.

Why consider that option? Oh I don't know how about the chicken killer part? Not once but repeat offender. Does not sound like the dog owner is letting the dog in with the chickens the dog is very determined obviously from reading the setup with concrete footers, buried wireless fences hot wire and so forth.

The only other options are to not have chickens, chain or confine the dog or get rid of the dog at this point....None of those options is fair to the dog or the owner nor are they appealing. Anything else is worth a try.


You cuold use an electronic collar for correction training. I have one on my Pyr/Lab to stop him from leaving the property boundaries....it is a great method with many levels of correct if you are willing to spend the $250.00 for a really good one. It was worth it to me to keep mine at home with all other training methods failed.

 

[drumstick diva]

People always say "bird dogs," like it's a bad thing. I don't know any breed of bird dog that is supposed to kill birds instead of pointing or retrieving dead ones. A bird dog is supposed to have a soft mouth and not leave a mark on any bird - nothing but spit on them. A hunter sending a dog out to retrieve does not expect a bird to be torn to pieces. Sounds like too many dogs are called "bird dogs," when their breeding or upbringing does not suggest any such thing.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
Maybe a little, but if they can't co-exist and the dog is able to get into the chicken pen... one has to go.

Or OP needs to rethink coop security, confinement and training of the dog, or a better way to separate dog and chickens.

Obviously that hasn't been working...