New Dog

[LittleFalcon]

I think the one dog is enough. I don't see a reason to get another.

Remember that you want a low ratio of predators (dogs) to prey (chickens). The one well-trained dog sounds like that is already a good situation.

Also, keep in mind that the chickens produce (eggs) whereas a new dog won't produce anything, except maybe cuddles. You want to protect the animals that produce for you, even if they're more squawky than cuddly.

If you get too many dogs, the balance will be upset and you could wind up heartbroken.

If you train the dogs well enough then the balance no longer matters. And yes some dogs only produce cuddles and chickens produce eggs and meat, but if you breed dogs then you make lots of money, if you have a mental problem such as depression then a dog can be a great help and even save a life and if you have a physical problem then it could also save a life. Dogs are more helpful than chickens in terms of health.

Also, if their current dog is only bonded to one of them, then maybe the other wants to have that special bond with a dog and that is only possible with getting another dog. I personally only have purebreds, save one dog, and I have noticed that almost every dog only bonds to one person. The only dogs that have not bonded to one person in my house is my male applehead chihuahua and my male rough collie and that is out of nine dogs. including an italian greyhuahua, a pekingese, 2 adult boxers, 2 boxer puppies (that we produced) and a great dane.

 

[50-45-1]

Get the pup as young as possible. Start training the first day out.
Introduce the pup to the chickens along with the senior dog.
The pup will have your firm reinforcement along with the senior dogs example of how to behave. What is acceptable and what actions lead to unhappyness and unpleasantness.
Lots of positive praise and reward when things are done right.
As far as the breed...you will find both positive and negative feedback on every breed imaginable.
Early training and the particular dog personality and disposition play a part.
I have never had a husky (to hot and humid here in Michigan for the heavy coated breeds).
I do have a great guardian dog, Miki who is cattle dog/border collie.
Good luck!

 

[Chapelle]

I mean i dont have a dog but i think all dogs do good with chicken but i would get it as a puppy.

 

[Aquira]

I've got two huskies and a heeler. All three have prey drives. The huskies have very high prey drives.
The heeler I've had interact with my chickens on supervision only.
I personally wouldn't trust high prey dogs around chickens. /Maybe/ if you get them young but still up to the individual dog.

 

[Meredith Brouillette]

The huskies are great team players. If he picks up the behavior pattern from your current dog I think everything is going to be okay.

 

[shawna1234]

Hello, everyone in my family wants to get a new dog. We have a border collie mix who is good with our chickens, as we have trained him, but we wanted to get a heeler/husky mix and I was wondering if it could be trained to not eat chickens.

Maybe if you get it very young and start socializing him with the chickens right away you’ll have a shot as he won’t know anything but to accept the chickens. However, I have a border collie German Shepherd mix and she just turned a year and still wants to chase my cats and chickens. She doesn’t mean any harm but she’s just too rough and VERY high energy. I wish I knew how to make her calmer around them but we’re not there yet

 

[Island of Parker]

We got an LGD Pyr as a pup and he did awesome with the chicks until our old blind/deaf Catahoula (who hasn't ever attacked a chicken) went off one day on a hen and killed her then ATE her. Now Smith, the Pyr...has killed several because Lucie did it first. He is currently on a run in the back yard when chickens are free ranging....and then I saw this today...I really wanna believe he is better but I just

can't risk another hen...