Puppy/Chicken integration ideas?

[Peter.J]

Happy new year everyone!
We just recently got a puppy and I was curious if anyone has any tips for how to train them to not be aggressive towards chickens?
So far he has been great, he loves their poop and has been trained to stay out of the coop/run when the door is open. He initially chased a couple of them but seems to be good for now. I just don’t 100% trust him to leave them alone while we’re gone.
We have 2 other dogs that are good with chickens, although one of them did get a few birds a couple years ago (he got in a LOT of trouble and has been good since then...)
Just curious if anybody has any tips or luck with any techniques...
This is our largest flock yet so i just don’t want to come home to a massacre some day.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Consistency is the key. I don't trust my dogs until they are 1-3 years of age. Don't let your guard down and continue to reinforce the leave it command.

Most dogs go through a teenager stage at 6-9 months where they suddenly forget all you have taught and they can act up. Keep at it.

Raising a good dog takes years not weeks or months, just like raising good kids.

 

[Duck Lover88]

Happy new year everyone!
We just recently got a puppy and I was curious if anyone has any tips for how to train them to not be aggressive towards chickens?
So far he has been great, he loves their poop and has been trained to stay out of the coop/run when the door is open. He initially chased a couple of them but seems to be good for now. I just don’t 100% trust him to leave them alone while we’re gone.
We have 2 other dogs that are good with chickens, although one of them did get a few birds a couple years ago (he got in a LOT of trouble and has been good since then...)
Just curious if anybody has any tips or luck with any techniques...
This is our largest flock yet so i just don’t want to come home to a massacre some day.

after our dogs got used to our chickens they never do anything just make sure he gets plenty of exercise b/c he will try to chase them if he gets bored.

 

[QuailExpert]

haha my dog is a black lab. we trained him as a hunting dog so he kind of thinks my pet quail is food. my suggestion is slowly integrate them together under close supervison!!!
possibly distract him around the chickens with a toy so he gets used to them or keep him on a leash around them until he gets used to them! everything is exciting for a puppy so keep that in mind ! this is a new thing for him and he most likely just want some new friends !!!!!

 

[Peter.J]

Ok, yeah we are definitely supervising at this point; we will let them free range all day and monitor things with the puppy all day.
OldHen- i have a buddy who’s puppy killed some chickens at 8mos old after being just fine so you have a good point. I guess we may just have to keep our guard up for a year or too.
QuailExpert- he’s a rhodesian ridgeback; i was debating on training him up for upland birds but decided that probably isn’t good for a chicken yard dog... I think instead i’m Going to train him to find deer/elk antlers...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ok, yeah we are definitely supervising at this point; we will let them free range all day and monitor things with the puppy all day.
OldHen- i have a buddy who’s puppy killed some chickens at 8mos old after being just fine so you have a good point. I guess we may just have to keep our guard up for a year or too.
QuailExpert- he’s a rhodesian ridgeback; i was debating on training him up for upland birds but decided that probably isn’t good for a chicken yard dog... I think instead i’m Going to train him to find deer/elk antlers...

There's a reason most dogs in the pound and on Craigslist are around the 8 month age. Everyone expects the dog to be done being raised, but it isn't. Be prepared if it happens, and go back to the basics until you get control again.

 

[Peter.J]

OldHen- yeah i think you’re very realistic. I was hoping there was some ‘silver bullet’ idea but yeah i think we just need to wait until he’s old enough to trust him...
Eventually i wanted to get one of those solar activated coop doors to let the chix in/out with the daylight but that may just have to wait a year or two...

 

[Abriana]

Be gentle, consistent, and reward good behavior. Don’t punish him for bad behavior, or negative reinforcement, use positive reinforcement. Never ever leave him off leash even near the chickens until you’re fully confident that he’s going to show no interest in hurting the birds. My collie is AMAZING with my chickens. He shows interest in them as friends and not as food, and I am comfortable leaving him alone in the pen (though not with my rooster, who thinks he’s an enemy) while I am in the coop not paying attention. I trust him with chicks and bantams. Because he was good with them from day one there wasn’t much training involved, and collies are the number one best breed with chickens. Reward him when he’s gentle with them, and stop the training session if he gets antsy, nippy, or stops obeying. In between training sessions, allow him to nap. All good behavior will stay in his head, while most of the bad behavior disappears. But for this to happen he needs to sleep for at least thirty minutes.
Good luck training him!

 

[Peter.J]

Thanks Adriana, he’s always off leash and so far has been good with the chx when they’re free ranging. When he was super young we had a mean RIR rooster that would chase him (rooster stew after attacking the wife and sister...)
So i wonder if that taught him a bit... We have a couple of cockerels now so hopefully in a month or two they’ll step up to the plate and be a little more defensive of the flock; not that they need to but it would help if they were a little more protective.

 

[Abriana]

Thanks Adriana, he’s always off leash and so far has been good with the chx when they’re free ranging. When he was super young we had a mean RIR rooster that would chase him (rooster stew after attacking the wife and sister...)
So i wonder if that taught him a bit... We have a couple of cockerels now so hopefully in a month or two they’ll step up to the plate and be a little more defensive of the flock; not that they need to but it would help if they were a little more protective.

What breed is he?