Over friendly dog

[sourland]

He knows commands, but he doesn't really listen.... ever
If you yell at him to stop though, he will. I just get worried for when I"m not around.

When you are not around, he should not be allowed access to your flock. That plus obedience training would alleviate your problem.

 

[chickenlover007]

When you are not around, he should not be allowed access to your flock. That plus obedience training would alleviate your problem.

I work from home, so I'm around all day but I can't be constantly watching my flock. Obedience training isn't really an option where I live. He's not that bad and has never seriously injured a chicken. I'm just paranoid from all my friends who's dogs have killed their chickens.

 

[My2butterflies]

In all do respect, but I disagree. I would never use a shock collar unless I had to, there are better way to train a dog, of course shocking them is easiest, but I would prefer to pick the harder path for my pup. Have you ever put the collar on yourself and shocked yourself, if I EVER had to use one, I would do that first. Anyway, we can have different opinions that is fine, just thought I would say my piece! @chickenlover007 I can get a video in a second here!

Not a shock collar, but taser. So yes, I’m aware of how being shocked feels. Not a great feeling. But neither is having feathers violently ripped out of your skin as you are chased and pinned down.
I can’t even imagine the trauma my poor birds went through. And knowing it was due to my failure to keep my pup in check pains me to no end.
I do understand it’s not something most owners want to use. And I completely respect that. Having a difference of opinion never bothers me
And no matter the training method used, we all know the very best way to protect our birds from our dogs is to keep them separate or supervised at all times.

 

[shineandrise]

I work from home, so I'm around all day but I can't be constantly watching my flock. Obedience training isn't really an option where I live. He's not that bad and has never seriously injured a chicken. I'm just paranoid from all my friends who's dogs have killed their chickens.

Ok... so I defiantly don't want your chickens to get hurt, and you can never understand circumstances perfectly unless you're really there. (Even then it is hard) So, I can't tell you what to do... however, if it were me, I would just work on his commands so he knows them well and obeys immediately, and then if you do catch him doing it, you can tell him to stop, otherwise, he probably (hopefully) will not hurt them. Are your chickens free-range? Or does he have access to them? Electric collars work well for some people... I don't know if it would work for you though.

 

[Weeg]

Yes, agreed. I think it kinda depends on the the dog too, which collar works best. I can see and bigger, more prey activated dog might need something a little more aggressive. Our dog Comet is a duck dog, who loves to hunt ducks, and he could care less about our birds. If they start running, he might try to play with them, but he just jumps around them and runs into the center of them. We trained him with a check chain, he is a lab though, and they are a pretty docile breed. Anyway, whatever works.

 

[chickenlover007]

My chickens are free- range, but they do have a coop with a fair sized run. The dog has been trained not to go in their coop. That is one thing he listens to. He won't follow them into the coop and they know that. He's very docile, he's a medium sized dog and we don't hunt so he doesn't get the killing bird thingy. If I yell at him to stop chasing them, he will, but you are right, I need to crack down on him a little harder and work on his commands. Thank you all for the great advice!!!!!!!!!

 

[Weeg]

Okay, I couldn't find my dogs chain, so here is a great youtube video explaining how to use it! Hope this helps! I can explain how to use a light line once you figure out how to use th chain, and get a chain of your pup tp throne him. You will have to get him used to the chain first, which I can explain, and use i too touch up his commands. Once you are good at using it to train him in general, then, you can use a light line. Hope this helps! If you aha nay questions feel free to ask me!

 

[Weeg]

Tell me what you think!

 

[chickenlover007]

Tell me what you think!

I love it!!! And I also realized that I already I have a choke chain so it's super convenient!

 

[Weeg]

I love it!!! And I also realized that I already I have a choke chain so it's super convenient!

Awesome! So I didn't watch the whole video, did it tell you how to train the dog with it? I will look back on the video too.

Edit- Looked at the video, it does explain how to train with it. Don't worry to much about it being behind the ears, I didn't use it like that, and it was still affective on my dog. Do you understand how to use it? If you have anymore questions please ask! And work on simple stuff like, sit, heel, and get your feel of the method, and then I can tell you how to use a light line to correct his herding habits! Hope this helps! Avery