Rex earned his keep today.

[speckledhen]

Good boy, Rex! Love him!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Wow! Nice story! That's awesome that he did that! I love hearing stories of such herioc dogs. My dog once did the same thing with coyotes. Gotta love 'em!

 

[ruth]

Thanks all - I'll pass your comments on to Rex. It was funny after the fact because as we were all walking back up to the house Rex turned and took one final run toward the back of the property, barked, and them came running back. My husband translated it "Yeah, and stay out".

He has been a great guard dog for the chicks. He was not raised with them. In fact he was 4 years old when I got them this spring. I was so conerned for nothing because all I had to do was show them to him, hold one till Rex calmed down, pet it and tell Rex how much I loved it. I had to tell Rex "guard the baby chick". Of course that first day he was excited and would try to climb in the box with them, barked at them, even looked like he would grab one but I kept it up for about 10 minutes and then he laid down next to the box of babies and there he stayed. One night I literally tried to drag him out of my bathroom because he had slept inside with them for a week and he growled at me. That's when I knew he took his job seriously and I no longer had to worry about him eating the chicks. They were his.

 

[SimplcitiyAltered]

What a wonderful dog you have thank goodness he was around because that could of ended very horribly. Our dog was raised with our baby chicks and he was wonderful with them till they grew up and he had decided if they run they are his to do with as he pleases I have had a lot of bare butts to deal with and no amount of training has detered him. He is the proccess of being rehomed. So I commend you on your lil chicken sitter he did a wonderful job.

 

[country freedom]

You're so blessed to have Rex as a family member. Alot of people don't understand that certain animals belong with people, not to people, like property. You don't have to have a worry with him around.

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

That's great!!!!
I love to hear about "other breeds" that guard chickens. Sometimes it just takes a job for them to do to become real protectors.

We have a Blue Heeler/Border Collie mix that lives with one pen of chickens. With her there, I don't have to lock them up at night. She was raised in the house, but she went with me to do chores every day & I took her into every pen with me & the chickens. I let her out to play with me & run around every day so she doesn't get bored being with the chickens all the time. She is also a very hyper dog anyway, but the chickens don't even pay any attention to her.

We also have several Great Pyrenees for guarding sheep & goats. I would only trust one of them to live in a pen with the chickens full time. Of course, they are still pups & I'm sure they will settle down as they age.

Jean