Proud of my Dog

[Danrocks]

Meet Rio, my 6 year old rescue border collie mix. I recently started my first flock of Chickens and I was sure that I have would to keep Rio separated from my flock at all times. Rio is a hunter and he has killed mice, snakes, squirrels, and moles on our 5 acres here in SW Washington State. He has tried to catch rabbits, but as far as I know he has not been successful. The first thing he does when we let him out is he chases all the birds out of the yard.

But he has no interested in chasing or killing our chickens. I think it is because the chicks grew up in the brooder in our living room. Rio would watch them intensively at first and especially if they ran, squawked or flap their wings, he would go on alert, but he slowly lost interest in them. He saw us hand feeding them and holding them all the time After I moved them to the new coop, he really did have any interest in them at all.

Now I can let them out of the coop and Rio just scans the rest of the property for other small animals. Nothing would get close to the flock if Rio was around. I still don't let the chicks out of the coop unsupervised as a hawk could swoop in if I turned my back for a second. But I am sure happy that I don't have to worry about my dog.

 

[little buddy]

Sounds like a great dog you have there. He is lucky to have gone home with you!

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Great to hear! I also kept my first set of chicks in the living room for the dogs to see. We've never had an issue although once in a while the German Shepherd likes to chase my rooster for fun...keeps him in line you know haha

 

[Danrocks]

Got to keep those Roosters in line

I really think that Rio believes the chickens are part of his pack now. I just hope that my chickens don't think all dogs are not a threat now.

 

[mmorgan79936]

Yay for Rio!!! That is awesome he is your flock protector! I know how nervous you can get having a dog around your flock until you realize they are going to protect them and not eat them

We trained our Weimaraner to protect and not eat! She gobbled up our Turkey on Thanksgiving Day in 2009 and then a couple chickens after that. We were told once they get the taste they will always go after them but we worked with her for a year or more and we finally have a flock protector! We got a Great Pyrenees that we were told protected their chickens yea no that wasn't the case at all!! I went to a soccer game one Saturday and he got into the breeder coop/run and killed them all!

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Mine are ok around my dogs, but as soon as they see another they are out of sight. Smart little chickies.

 

[Danrocks]

Yay for Rio!!! That is awesome he is your flock protector! I know how nervous you can get having a dog around your flock until you realize they are going to protect them and not eat them

We trained our Weimaraner to protect and not eat! She gobbled up our Turkey on Thanksgiving Day in 2009 and then a couple chickens after that. We were told once they get the taste they will always go after them but we worked with her for a year or more and we finally have a flock protector! We got a Great Pyrenees that we were told protected their chickens yea no that wasn't the case at all!! I went to a soccer game one Saturday and he got into the breeder coop/run and killed them all!

Great job training your Weimaraner, dogs can learn to change behavior. Sorry to hear about the Great Pyrenees chomp fest, hopefully you got him/her turned around too.

 

[6of6chicks]

Got to keep those Roosters in line

I really think that Rio believes the chickens are part of his pack now. I just hope that my chickens don't think all dogs are not a threat now.

That's an awesome story!

I worried the same thing you did - that my chickens wouldn't be scared of any dogs because they were so used to mine. My silly chickens seem to think my dogs are just more people - whenever they're together they actually harass my dogs for treats. My poor dogs can't figure out why the chickens keep running up to them and yelling at them!

But it turns out they can tell the difference between dogs - kind of surprised me, actually. A friend of mine brought her dogs over to play and my chickens went on full alert as soon as they saw the new dogs. It took them all of 10 seconds to decide those new dogs were a threat and they high tailed it to the coop! It was pretty funny - every once in a while I'd see a little yellow head peek out the chicken door, but it didn't last long. As long as those dogs were there my chickens stayed put where they felt safe, lol!

 

[Dizzywitch]

I have a rescue as well. Zach, a black lab, spent 7 years as a yard ornament. People would divorce, die, move and he would stay in the same kennel in the same yard... Went through four families that way. By the time he was rescued he had a case of heart worms and was starved for love. I hope he's found his heaven here on my two acres! He runs, guards, plays, and doesn't leave the property even though its not fenced.

The end of May we got seven chickens ranging from four weeks to over a year. Zach showed a little bit of interest and curiosity. After a couple of weeks he did his only transgression: retrieving a chick that ran from him. The poor bird was wet with slobber but not a mark on her. Nowadays, he helps me let them out in the morning, tuck them in at night, and lays in the shade with them, hoping to score whatever treat I'm feeding the girls, but never a sign of aggression. I really lucked out with him!

 

[Danrocks]

I have a rescue as well. Zach, a black lab, spent 7 years as a yard ornament. People would divorce, die, move and he would stay in the same kennel in the same yard... Went through four families that way. By the time he was rescued he had a case of heart worms and was starved for love. I hope he's found his heaven here on my two acres! He runs, guards, plays, and doesn't leave the property even though its not fenced.

The end of May we got seven chickens ranging from four weeks to over a year. Zach showed a little bit of interest and curiosity. After a couple of weeks he did his only transgression: retrieving a chick that ran from him. The poor bird was wet with slobber but not a mark on her. Nowadays, he helps me let them out in the morning, tuck them in at night, and lays in the shade with them, hoping to score whatever treat I'm feeding the girls, but never a sign of aggression. I really lucked out with him!

Thanks for saving Zach, we foster a lot of dogs to get them ready for adoption. There are so many awesome dogs out their that need good homes, I am so glad to hear Zach found a great home with you!