Once a chicken killer, always a chicken killer?

[rizq]

The difference is you cared and you did something about the situation. You replaced the chicken, and when you caught your dog killing another one, you let her know that was not acceptable behavior. It doesn't sound like your dog is constantly loose creating a nuisance in the neighborhood and always killing people's animals. Sometimes things do happen, and I think most people understand that as long as you care and try to fix the situation.

For me, the owner's attitude makes all the difference. If you know your dog is always out and do nothing about it, it is definitely your fault when he kills something or bites someone. If he sneaks out the door, that's different. People's house dogs or well cared for outdoor dogs also don't seem to cause nearly as much trouble as those outside dogs that get almost no attention and are bored to death.

It sounds like you handled the situation very responsibly and honorably. Your dog did something bad, but you handled it right. And the chicken flying over the fence was definitely not your fault, lol.

 

[moenmitz]

Quote:
He is simple beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!how much does he weigh??? We have a malamute next door to us that weighs 175...and is 3 1/2 ft at the shoulders...

Your dog looks bigger...

Tim weighs 110-120- he just has so much hair it gives him a bigger appearance. Not that he is small by any means!

For the person asking HOW to train them...well, our experience was after the fact, unfortunately, due to our own stupidity. We never told him NOT to kill them....

But, part of the "de-killing" training was to take him into the pen with us during chores, on leash, and make him lie down among them, letting them roost on him. We would take them one by one up to his face and rub them on him, telling him how nice he was, what a good dog he was, etc. At first he did NOT enjoy that, but after a few times he relaxed and seemed to even like it. I would imagine using the same method would work pre-emptively even better. We also locked him in the barn with them at night (their pens being dog-proof) and that helped him see them as part of his pack- sharing his sleeping area with them. Now he jumps over the barn door to get in there at night if we forget to put him in with them.


The other part was NOT pleasant, and did involve whacking him with the dead birds. I am NOT in favor of hitting dogs, but in this instance it seemed the most effective way to communicate what the problem with his behavior WAS exactly...he didn't seem to associate it with US hitting him, more like he was being attacked by the chickens. Afterward he clung to us, and ran the other way when a chicken looked at him funny.....

 

[Nostalchic]

Thank you, moenmitz, that is helpful advice.