Pet Fox Terrier and Chickens

[Tara Singh]

I have had my Mini Fox Terrier for 12 months now. He is 2 years old. I introduced him to my chickens and everything was fine for a few months, until one day he chased two of my chickens and shook them. They both died. I now put him on the leash each time I let my chickens come out of the coup to free roam. He keeps on barking and whimpering at them. The more I keep him away from the chickens the worst he gets. Will he ever become sociable with my chickens? My NZ Huntaway (Dog) and my Tabby Mackerel Cat have no issues with the chickens. Fox Terrier is fine when chickens or geese don't run. He chases them the minute they run and scream. One geese and 2 chickens always stand their ground, so he keeps away from them. Any suggestions to socialise this dog with my feathered family members?

 

[SueT]

Hi welcome to BYC.....terriers have been bred to have a very strong prey drive. I don't know if you can change that. Maybe some terrier owners will have advice for you.
Good luck, let us know how it goes...

 

[Teila]

Hey Tara



I am sorry to hear of your losses

You might find this previous discussion helpful: Topic of the Week - Dogs and chickens

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately most terriers have a very high prey drive. Sometimes you can get better control of it when you raise a puppy. An older dog you are probably going to have troubles. Your dog need to learn how to calm down and sit quietly. Most dogs need more exercise than they get which contributes to excitable behaviors.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I had a Fox Terrier and I hate to say it but it was the only dog that I found basically untrainable when it came to prey. They were bred to do what you witnessed with your chickens. I would never trust a Fox Terrier around chickens or other smaller animals.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm going to be more hopeful for you, however it will take a LOT of work and patience and praise if you are willing.

I won't kid you. Some dogs are easier than others. It depends on how much they want to please you and how quickly you can target their treat/reward center.

You have made some errors which will require retraining.

Your error, I believe, was letting your guard down and unfortunately the inevitable happened. Now a behavior pattern has been set. Dogs are conditioned to repeat those behaviors that bring sensory reward...be it something you want...or not. Your goal is to reward the good behaviors while discouraging the ones you don't want. (They are equal in his eyes...he's just doing what comes natural). Any adrenaline rewarded behavior will set quickly, so you have to work hard to retrain away from that.

First, I believe you need to rebuild connection by stepping back into basic obedience with him, using food treats, in a non-distractable environment, ie AWAY from the chickens or anything he wants to chase. He must not fixate on the chickens, in house or outside. You will need to recondition his general behaviors with both positive and negative reinforcements.

It is possible...with time. I have a rescue Rat Terrier that I got at approximately 1 1/2 to 2 years of age. He had been feral until the rescue shelter got him. After getting so people could get near him, as he was almost wild, they looped him on a belt leash and socialized him to the point that he could at least walk on a leash. He was still human fearful when I got him and has a very high prey drive (he lived by his wits for his first two years, remember).

White I am dealing with a Rat Terrier of unknown origin, he definitely has Fox Terrier in him as is the Rattie type. He is a ratter (18 kills just this summer/fall).

So what does actual retraining look like?

When I got him, I first acclimated him to the house and myself without ever going near chickens or anything that would excite him. I worked quietly in the house with basic recall and leave its...do set ups...put stuff down you don't want him to get that you know your fox terrier will want to get. You then watch him for body language as he goes by. Watch those ears...they point to exactly what they are thinking about. Verbally say firmly (without needing to yell...their hearing is better than yours) "Ack, Leave it." Have him on a leash with a chain training collar set so that it releases as soon as tension is removed (I like the "martingale" type that are 3/4 cloth with 1/4 chain as it is easier on the neck for smaller dogs).

Of course he will go after it. While he is doing that, smartly, quickly snap the leash like a towel snap using a down and up motion. It literally is like the leash monster bit. (The dogs actually think something bit them if you do it right). He will be surprised and almost always will look up at you. You are all smiles, praises, and yes, a food treat. The kind of food treat he would crawl over coals to get. I recommend something that is small, easy to break off into small bites, and melts quickly on the tongue. You don't want to have to wait for him to chew or swallow. (String mozarella cheese is really good as are some liver treats).

Repeat that exercise until he is good at leaving the object on the verbal "Ack, leave it" command. Keep working until he can walk by it (usually greedily looking at you as he is anticipating his treat, give it to him.) That will take time. How long depends on the dog. Plan on at least a week.

Now, while on leash, move to outdoors in an area near the chickens but not so he has access. When he starts to bark or zero in on the chickens, leash correct. When he finally calms and focuses on you, praise and treat. Repeat. Keep these sessions very short at first. For the rest of the session, go to an area totally free of distractions and practice leash handling, heeling, take a walk, play tug, then go into the house.

Once he is more faithful with the "leave it" outside by the birds, you can then begin to walk more outside with the birds. In time, you can keep him on a leash looped through your belt loop. I did not allow my Rattie off leash with my chickens for WEEKS.

In time, they condition to being tuned into you as you are happiness and reward. This is hard with a terrier as they are so nose and movement distracted. It will take time, but be consistent. Practice daily basic obedience. Walk by the birds regularly. Keep sessions short. Increase time as he becomes desensitized.

Every time he looks away from the chickens and to you, give a food reward. If he zeroes in on the chickens, give the quick leash snap.

My food obsessed guy was pretty quick to zero in on food treats. It took several weeks of conditioning before I could walk with him by my side and give a verbal "Leave It" command with him immediately bringing his attention back to me.

When he became faithful with that, and after much practice in the house to drop everything and come see me for a treat (Come, or Leave It), I graduated with him off the leash in the main yard but not the chicken yard. I kept him on drag line while I watched his behaviors. Any zeroing on anything was met with with "Agggg, Leave It." As soon as he looked back at me...ah ha...praise and food treats.

I kept this up for days. Then we walked through the chickens on leash, then allowed him on drag line. I did have a couple excitable set backs and had to go back to drag line, but consistency is the key.

Never, ever leave him alone with the birds as he has had a kill.

My little guy will now run faithfully through the chickens to kill rats and bring the rats to me (good boy). It took weeks (months) of effort, consistent training, and absolutely NO opportunity to chase and kill on his own.

I can now let him out to do his business, after 2 years, and yes, watching at the door if he gets distracted occasionally with a bird, "Ack...Leave It," and yes, as he runs to me, here's your treat.

It means you carry treats 24/7 for awhile, and are monitoring his behaviors unless he is in the crate or asleep. It is like having an infant again, or a toddler, who kills rats, and squirrels, and birds if you aren't watching.

But being consistent will pay off in the end. Most people give up thinking it can't be done, and almost always it is because they have been inconsistent.

But the rewards are immense when you get your fellow trained.

Good Luck.
LofMc (and Dobby, the ratter)
(As learned from 7 Guide Dog for the Blind puppy raising projects, Dog 4H, Dog Agility, and yes, a now working Rattie)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Rat terriers are a lot more mild than Fox terriers. My rats have never bothered my chickens. They have the ability to turn off the prey drive where Fox terriers are much more feisty.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Rat terriers are a lot more mild than Fox terriers. My rats have never bothered my chickens. They have the ability to turn off the prey drive where Fox terriers are much more feisty.

Agreed, which is why it will take a lot of time and conditioning for the OP's dog, which I took into account....longer than my Rattie.

But I think it is worth the effort.

LofMc

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Agreed, which is why it will take a lot of time and conditioning for the OP's dog, which I took into account....longer than my Rattie.

But I think it is worth the effort.

LofMc

Dogs are always worth the effort.

 

[Tara Singh]

Hi welcome to BYC.....terriers have been bred to have a very strong prey drive. I don't know if you can change that. Maybe some terrier owners will have advice for you.
Good luck, let us know how it goes...

I am trying my best to train him. He was a rescue Dog as well so was not taught any commands.