Non aggressive dogs, turn aggressive.

[punk-a-doodle]

Aggression and prey drive are very different behaviors with different motivating factors and responses. Catahoulas have strong prey drive and they also tend to be both intelligent and stubborn as well as interested in pleasing themselves. I've met plenty that aren't like that, but young males especially seem to lean that way in the breed. Training a dog like that takes times, consistency, clarity, and a lot of control over the process (ie. a *properly* used electronic collar, long leash and tethering methods, etc). Dogs need to be trained individually and then as a group. Dogs who might otherwise not go after a chicken might when in a group.

Likely triggers such as fighting or running chickens should be purposefully introduced to the dog often with a correction given until no interest is shown by the dog. If consistent and constant training is not an option, then separation of some kind should be implemented. We have some neighbors with several dogs, each on its own very long zip line and each with a dog house. They are close enough together that they can play with eachother but far enough away so as not to get tangled. Chickens and ducks roam freely around them and they have poultry breeds alert enough to know how to avoid the dogs if need be. The dogs still manage to keep the predators out and appear happy and relaxed as their needs for play, food, shelter, etc are being met. Other options include chickens out by day, dogs out by night and penned chickens or penned dogs, etc.

Best of luck with your dogs and birds!

 

[SharkmanDan]

Yes, that last line seems to be the best solution. After letting the dogs in, in the morning, then the birds can be let out to roam and forage., after putting the birds away at night, the dogs can be let out. If they need to go out, in the daytime, for a potty break, they will have to be chained up, or monitored, VERY CLOSELY. I just don't see much other solution.
All of the dogs, with the exception of the boxer, we rescued, are 7, or more years old. And, the boxer is the one dog, completely disinterested in the birds. She's a bit timid around them. The 9 year old beagle, is a typical lazy hound, unless he finds a trail, to follow. But, the Catahoula, while not an "Alpha", is the protector. I describe him, as the Sgt. At Arms, of our K-9 pack. The Mini-Schnauzer, is the alpha dog, and listens fairly well to my wife and I. The Poodle just reacts, however the nearest dog to her reacts, to something. A true follower.

 

[littlelizzy123]

Unfortunately, I just can't find my way to letting my two dogs and the chickens out at the same time. The chickens haven't arrived yet, and this will be my first batch. Maybe when we are sitting on the lawn and chicken watching and they are leashed or in the side yard, but I don't think they can go out together unsupervised. I know I can't trust them. Maybe if we had had puppies that grew up around them and knew they were off limits, I could. My 12 year old dog Baxter ADORES Jack the cat (it's a really embarrassing relationship; it involves lots of humping and yowling...I should take a video because I'm pretty sure no one will ever believe how funny it is) but the cat has claws and is an absolute beast that can hold his own. The chickens, not so much. Maybe others can trust their dogs, but I certainly know I can't trust mine. For me, letting them out together is just too much risk.

 

[gjensen]

I have two German Shepherds that I can trust wit my chickens 24/7. One of them has proved it for almost 7 years. He wants to help herd them up when we are feeding etc., but he knows not to. touch.

Both of my dogs came after the birds, but one before these two was the same. I could trust him with the birds also.

I do not get fancy with the training. They know to sit, stay, come, and lay down. Most of all they know the word no. Both have learned that when I say no, I mean no. It is pretty simple.

Both tried to push the issue early on. They are wrestling with every fiber of their being not to mess with the birds early on. They just have to know it is not acceptable behavior. They want to fit in, and they want to please. Just someone has to be in charge.

I have two siblings that leave their dogs here on occasion. I can trust them, but I have kept their dogs quite a few times, and they know how it goes around here. They fit right in.

Breaking older dogs would be more difficult, if this type of control is not already established. Everything about them says to chase those birds. The fundamentals are they same. Control, respect for the alpha, and to take the time to teach them. They have to really know that it is not ok. That means getting them around the birds. Then testing them, by letting tem think you are not present. You have to catch the behavior in the process, and before it goes bad. Let tem mess up, so to speak.

Now that it is started, it would take me a long time to trust them alone with the birds again. All it takes is for one mistake to have a big mess. They do not mean harm, they are just doing what dogs do.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I kinda trusted my dog around the chickens but one night I left for the evening with the dog off her run and the layer pen door open and something chewed on a couple of my hens. Pretty sure it was the dog. Dog is gone now.

 

[ZoeS95423]

I trust my lab 100% with my chickens and ducks He just ignores them, unless all the ducks are around the pond not in it, he will run a lap around the pond to get them back in there...not sure why, he must think that is where they belong.also at night he is very good at helping me "herd" them inside.

He has been raised with then since he was 7 weeks old though, and any "puppy play" he would try to do with them was quickly corrected. At the age of 8 months he even alerted us of 2 dogs in the yard.He started barking and ran inside then ran back out. To let us know something was up.
He is now almost 2.

With an adult dog I would be weary and it would probably take Me at least 6 months if not a year to decide if they were trustworthy or not. But I have had my birds longer, and I wouldn't own a dog that couldn't coexist with them. Simply because I enjoy a dog that doesn't have to be tied up, and I wouldn't ever pen my birds up, that'd have to be a very large pen and my ducks wouldn't beable to get to their pond.

I would try and retrain your dogs, one at a time. With a leash on the dog when you're around the birds.

Also, my dad who is in his mid 60's used to always tell me of a beagle he had that would try and get his chickens, one day he decided he would tie the beagle up so it was close enough to see the birds, but couldn't get to them. Eventually it lost interest. I have also heard of the tying a dead bird to a dog. They aare very old training ideas, and I'm sure for some people it has worked.
With the time and proportion resources I'm sure you can retrain your dog.

 

[aart]

I have two German Shepherds that I can trust wit my chickens 24/7. One of them has proved it for almost 7 years. He wants to help herd them up when we are feeding etc., but he knows not to. touch.

Both of my dogs came after the birds, but one before these two was the same. I could trust him with the birds also.

I do not get fancy with the training. They know to sit, stay, come, and lay down. Most of all they know the word no. Both have learned that when I say no, I mean no. It is pretty simple.

Both tried to push the issue early on. They are wrestling with every fiber of their being not to mess with the birds early on. They just have to know it is not acceptable behavior. They want to fit in, and they want to please. Just someone has to be in charge.

I have two siblings that leave their dogs here on occasion. I can trust them, but I have kept their dogs quite a few times, and they know how it goes around here. They fit right in.

Breaking older dogs would be more difficult, if this type of control is not already established. Everything about them says to chase those birds. The fundamentals are they same. Control, respect for the alpha, and to take the time to teach them. They have to really know that it is not ok. That means getting them around the birds. Then testing them, by letting tem think you are not present. You have to catch the behavior in the process, and before it goes bad. Let tem mess up, so to speak.

Now that it is started, it would take me a long time to trust them alone with the birds again. All it takes is for one mistake to have a big mess. They do not mean harm, they are just doing what dogs do.

Absolutely!! It's really about the owner, not the dog.

 

[SharkmanDan]

I tend to think y'all are right. I just didn't keep tight enough control, for long enough. The dogs impressed me, so well, and quickly, that I let my guard down, and, unfortunately, I am out a bunch of birds I had gotten attached to.
I was so mad at my Catahoula, that I was nearly ready to shoot him. He's always been a very good, and obedient dog. Then, about February of this year, he started a defiant streak, and simply refuses to listen.
I don't know if he sees my personal disabilities as weakness, and thinks he can press his luck, or what. He's not the Alpha of the dogs, the Schnauzer definitely is that. And she minds me, pretty well. She is stubborn, but knows who the boss is. Our Boxer, is as sweet as can be. She tries to dominate some, but, she's just a bit more than a year old. She's as sweet and gentle as the Beagle. But, as I have described our dogs, if the Catahoula is not the president of the club, he IS the sergeant at arms. He's the enforcer, the tough guy, the leader, when it comes to getting things done. He's just not dominating to the other dogs. Fortunately, the Boxer has ZERO inclination to chase the birds. And, she wants to dominate. So, As she gets older, and the others pass, I hope she will help teach newer dogs, how to act around the birds. And, any future dogs, need to be chosen carefully, for their ability to be LGD's.
In the mean time, all I can do is sequester them (the three who have shown aggression towards our flock), and keep them away from any chance of going after the birds.