Questions about if changing dogs food will help with prey drive.

[CluckyJay]

Huskies and malamutes can be penned--you just have to build the proper pen. I used to breed huskies and wolfdogs so I know its possible to contain them, lol. Its just part of having this type of animal. I don't recommend chaining them.

I do agree with punishing a dog in the canine fashion--its usually the easiest and most effective way.

And no, some dogs can never be trained to stop killing small animals. An animal might get better while you're standing right there, but when you turn your back--watch out chickies. If someone wants to risk their livestock then its their problem, I guess. I just hope the OP husky cannot get to another person's chickens while its running free.

Better containment and lots of interesting things for your husky to do should help you more than anything.

An about the pit bulls, there are many running around that are perfectly safe with livestock so its no surprise to me that people have "good chicken pits".

 

[RiverOtter]

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Actually, hunting breeds are some of the EASIEST to train. They are BRED to control their drives and channel them to your whims. Does any good bird dog explode barking around the field and maul whatever it grabs? No, of course not - they'd be no good as a hunting dog.

Hey, look, a (lol, really bad fuzzy taken by my daughter) picture of my beagle sleeping cuddled with one of our cats and our long-haired house bunny.

Mutts are a crap shoot. They may or may not inherit anything from any parent or grandparent and unless you saw the breeding you've no idea what they are. My mutt LOOKS exactly like a Border collie, see?

His mother LOOKED just as much like a ACD.

I've trained coonhounds to not tree cats, that beagle above that if rabbits are in the house or in cages they are MINE and Not To Be Touched but outside they are his and he can do as he pleases.
You can't submission train a cat but should my quail get loose and I am home not ONE of my 5 adult cats will touch one (the kitten is still learning)

But I would never say "Oh, of course you can teach your husky to not kill chickens". The simple fact is you are not a bad owner or a bad trainer if you can't. They are one of those breeds where you train and never depend on that training to over-rule instinct. You train and you lock up your chickens.

 

[schellie69]

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I live in town and I am the only person who has chickens, she got the chickens in my own fenced back yard. I never allow my dogs out side of the fence unless leashed. I don't believe in putting her in a smaller pen would help she has way to much energy she runs the backyard and the chickens are locked in their pen/coop area. We have used the submissive training successfully on the rest of our dogs. She is a work in progress. I am also working with our rooster who has decided to go off the deep end and start flogging people while they are in the pen. I do not punish except in the canine fashion I have used an pinch collar with another dog for walks. I once again thank everyone for the input, I will keep up the obedience training and the submissive training. Which works except with the chickens right now this dog will go submissive for my 2 year old grand daughter who just touched her neck and she rolled over on to her back she knows her place inside and outside just seeing the chickens triggers her prey drive. Thanks again.

 

[kstaven]

Dog training = Get it down pat once and repeat 10,000 times before you dog quits testing you to see if you are serious.

 

[GallusGal]

And no, some dogs can never be trained to stop killing small animals. An animal might get better while you're standing right there, but when you turn your back--watch out chickies.

Agreed. A number of behavioral studies on dogs have shown that even dogs who have excellent obedience performance while their handler is there have difficulty resisting temptations long term. I don't know the name of the studies because they were showing video clips as part of a documentary, but one was on dogs following human gaze, and it was noted that dogs would follow a 'leave it' command if the person was looking at the food reward, but if they averted their eyes, covered their eyes, or turned their back for long enough, virtually every dog eventually would come for the treat (the speed in which they did it, in about the same order).

I'll never say anything of "all" dogs, but I will say that "many" dogs will not stick to human commands and training when their master is not looking or not around. If you don't believe me, set up a webcam on that couch/chair/bed your dog knows he's not allowed up on while you're at work

Had a friend who did this, very amusing findings. When it comes to something as tempting as chickens and as strong and unpredictable as prey drive, I would think better safe than sorry.​

 

[miss_thenorth]

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What he said. It can be done. Just. don't. give. up.

 

[schellie69]

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What he said. It can be done. Just. don't. give. up.

No we are working with her all the time and she is improving, but I won't ever trust her with the chickens.

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

no where in that did wellsummer say that she beats her dogs there must be a misunderstanding
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ANYTHING is possible.
Just not probable.
Or even likely.

I am NOT saying to not train - I would NEVER say that, training ALWAYS helps. But I am saying don't trust a husky near chickens.

I have a wirehaired Pointing Griffon, aka, a versatile hunting dog. We bought her solely for hunting, and she was the best hunting dog we have ever encountered.(she is retired now, at 12yo) If SHE can be taught not to chase chickens, ANY dog can. She has retreived birds smaller and larger thatn chickens, yeet she leaves my chickens and ducks alone. i also have a rottweiler. He also leaves the chickens alone. My sil has a husky mix, submissive training has successfully taught her dog to leave her chickens alone. My sils neighbour has a pitt bull terrier and a jack russel/chichuahua mix. Both those dogs have been successfully trained not to chase their chickens through submissive training. So yes, it is probably and it is likely that it will work.

You're going to have to use some pretty serious punishment every time the dog puts an eye on the chickens.

And, no--you don't need to use pretty serious punishment to train a dog. You have to think like a dog, and correct it the way a mother dog would correct her offspring--by appliying a bit of pressure at her neck area, and growling. I did not have to beat my dogs into submission.​