Show off your house ducks!

[Debs Flock]

It's their breed standard, and I'm standing by it. Myself and many of you I know take a stance of "better safe than sorry". We all want to believe our pooches are innocent and couldn't hurt a fly, but I see post after post after post of duck owners who have lost their birds to dog attacks. Every time a dog attacks a human, what do you hear from the owners? "I can't believe my dog would do this, he's never ever shown any aggression before".

I own cats. I love 'em and I'd defend them to anyone who said they hated them. But I at least acknowledge that as predators they are fully equipped and capable of harming or even killing my ducks. That is a fact. It is no different with a dog, especially ones that are notoriously tenacious and bred for chasing instinct. If yours is well trained and everyone gets along just fine in the present, good for you. But that is never a guarantee that something won't happen down the line, or that it won't happen to someone else.

For all of you folks with dogs that can access your ducks, if nothing has gone wrong, you should consider yourself lucky. I believe in erring on the side of caution, as mentioned above, "better safe than sorry". Regardless of breed, canines do have an innate prey drive. Things could go wrong in an instant. There's no way to know what could trigger a dog to behave instinctually. A clap of thunder, a screaming baby, something dropped on the kitchen floor, a running duck...

Amy hasn't provided any type of false information. She provided breed specific information. Any dog, no matter how well behaved, can turn on a duck. My father had a Jack Russell. Best dog in the world for ten years. As the dog aged, he simply became crabby. In the end, my dad had to help the dog up the steps. One day my dad, doing the same thing he always did by helping the dog up the steps, got bit when the dog turned on him and my dad had to get over 30 stitches in his arm. I bet that same bite would have killed a duck.

 

[Amykins]

Thank you so much, Deb. I realize my words may sound harsh (I have a bad habit of going into "clinical mode" when I type about serious stuff) but I'm really not trying to imply that all your pooches are bloodthirsty killers. It's just that I love ducks more than anything and I care about protecting them.

I know we all like to think that our pets will always get along and that it's kind of a personal insult to hear someone say that your dog or cat could one day kill another. But it does happen, a lot, and I just want the person who is considering getting a house duck with their JRT in the home to take that into consideration, that's all.

 

[Debs Flock]

Right, being a responsible pet parent entails many things including being at least somewhat objective. I have cats, dogs & ducks. My cats and dogs do not have a way to gain physical access to my ducks, nor will they ever. I'd love to have a house duck, but it just won't work with my other pets. Informed decision making is essential. Our pets can't do it for themselves. We have to keep them out of harms way.

 

[AmandaVirginia]

A terrier is a terrier is a terrier. My mother's Westie killed my guinea pig and maimed my cat, and he was a sweet, affectionate couch potato his entire life! They're bred to chase and kill small animals, and that instinct is VERY strong. Even to this day, breeders go out of their way to preserve that instinct as it is their breed standard and many of them are purchased as working dogs. If you bring home ducklings and one of them runs away from him (as they always do) it will trigger his chase instinct. That's how my other pets died. Seeing things run away from terriers just does something to 'em. They just GOTTA chase it down! Unless he's either very old or has been through extremely strict obedience training, I simply do not trust that the situation will be a safe one for the ducks.

More on Jacks in specific: "[COLOR=252525]An important attribute in this dog was a tempered aggressiveness that would provide the necessary drive to pursue and bolt their quarry." "Because the preservation of this hunting ability is of highest importance to most registered JRTCA/JRTCGB breeders, Jack Russells tend to be extremely intelligent, athletic, fearless, and vocal dogs." "Jack Russells can be stubborn at times and aggressive towards other animals." "Being a hunt-driven dog, the Jack Russell will usually pursue most creatures that it encounters." [/COLOR]Even the JRTCA says that if you have small animals like cats, rodents or birds, then a Jack Russell is not a good choice for you. 

Unless you can guarantee that the dog and the house ducks will never have access to one another (which is unlikely), the risk is just too great.

'A terrier is a terrier is a terrier' - you are absolutely wrong. I have three terriers, Yorkshire Terriers. Whom all did wonderfully with Perdy, Winnie, & Pippa and whom all do wonderfully with Winter. Every single duckling I have hatched this year, 29 ducklings, has imprinted on my little Palmer. And, she is unbelievably gentle with them all, as she mothers them taking them in like they are her own. I could watch my Palmer with ducklings or our Winter all day. There is something so serene about the way she is with them. My Palmer is very intelligent and she knows ducklings are living, breathing, fragile beings that she needs to care for and to look after. I've never trusted anything more than I trust my Palmer. I know for a fact my Palmer, nor my other two terriers, would ever lay a paw on our Winter. If there is any bossing around, it is on the ducks end. I know that much.

It's their breed standard, and I'm standing by it. Myself and many of you I know take a stance of "better safe than sorry". We all want to believe our pooches are innocent and couldn't hurt a fly, but I see post after post after post of duck owners who have lost their birds to dog attacks. Every time a dog attacks a human, what do you hear from the owners? "I can't believe my dog would do this, he's never ever shown any aggression before". 

I own cats. I love 'em and I'd defend them to anyone who said they hated them. But I at least acknowledge that as predators they are fully equipped and capable of harming or even killing my ducks. That is a fact. It is no different with a dog, especially ones that are notoriously tenacious and bred for chasing instinct. If yours is well trained and everyone gets along just fine in the present, good for you. But that is never a guarantee that something won't happen down the line, or that it won't happen to someone else.

Actually, when you know your dog, it is a guarantee. There aren't many things I will argue about because arguing is petty. But, I will argue this to the end.

Thank you so much, Deb. I realize my words may sound harsh (I have a bad habit of going into "clinical mode" when I type about serious stuff) but I'm really not trying to imply that all your pooches are bloodthirsty killers. It's just that I love ducks more than anything and I care about protecting them.

I know we all like to think that our pets will always get along and that it's kind of a personal insult to hear someone say that your dog or cat could one day kill another. But it does happen, a lot, and I just want the person who is considering getting a house duck with their JRT in the home to take that into consideration, that's all. 

And, I love my dogs more than anything. As I said earlier, it's not about the breed of the dog but the personality of the dog. Some ducks become very aggressive when they hit puberty, some remain sweet. It's not all ducks, it's the personality of the duck. As @bernieduck said earlier, his Jack Russell is nothing like how you described the entire breed to be. In fact, his Maltese is more playful and high strung. My three terriers and Winter are together all day every day. They are never apart. Winter cries if she is not with them. Depending on the personality, not on the breed, it can be done. And, it's glorious.

 

[Debs Flock]

"I know for a fact my Palmer, nor my other two terriers, would ever lay a paw on our duck."

This quite simply isn't possible to know for a fact. Let's be real...my dad never in a million years would have thought his own dog would bite him. I'm sure there are LOTS of people that have been in the same boat. Bottom line is...you can't predict the future. Being realistic is an important part of owning pets.

 

[AmandaVirginia]

[COLOR=0000CD]"I know for a fact my Palmer, nor my other two terriers, would ever lay a paw on our duck."   [/COLOR]

This quite simply isn't possible to know for a fact.  Let's be real...my dad never in a million years would have thought his own dog would bite him.  I'm sure there are LOTS of people that have been in the same boat.  Bottom line is...you can't predict the future.  Being realistic is an important part of owning pets.

It actually IS possible. If you knew my Palmer, you would understand. There are those kind of dogs and I have one. I am living proof.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

'A terrier is a terrier is a terrier' - you are absolutely wrong. I have three terriers, Yorkshire Terriers. Whom all did wonderfully with Perdy, Winnie, & Pippa and whom all do wonderfully with Winter. Every single duckling I have hatched this year, 29 ducklings, has imprinted on my little Palmer. And, she is unbelievably gentle with them all, as she mothers them taking them in like they are her own. I could watch my Palmer with ducklings or our Winter all day. There is something so serene about the way she is with them. My Palmer is very intelligent and she knows ducklings are living, breathing, fragile beings that she needs to care for and to look after. I've never trusted anything more than I trust my Palmer. I know for a fact my Palmer, nor my other two terriers, would ever lay a paw on our duck. If there is any bossing around, it is on the ducks end. I know that much.
Actually, when you know your dog, it is a guarantee. There aren't many things I will argue about because arguing is petty. But, I will argue this to the end.

I'm in a similar situation to yours. We have 3 Yorkies, one 3 pounds, one 4.5 pounds, and one 6 pounds. The tiny one is the one that's afraid of the ducks, but she's afraid of almost everything. She runs if a duck starts walking toward her. The middle one is a rescue and the dumbest dog I've ever know, but she's as sweet as she can be. The largest one is the bravest and the guard dog of the group. I've seen her push the ducks back when a stupid black cat I've pinged with a BB gun a couple of times come into the yard.

I think there's always a possibility any dog will turn on its owner or anything else, but it's usually because they're ill, old, or both. None of our dogs are either. I have no qualms at all about our dogs around our ducks and intentionally leave them in the yard with the ducks as a kind of alarm system and some level of protection. I guess you just have to gauge the probability that something will go wrong and do what you feel comfortable with.

 

[duckies1230]

It was a hard choice for my hubby to decide to let JoJo be a house duck. His biggest problem is his area which is in the kitchen bc that's our only tile floor. Jojo has come a long way recently. He let's me put on his diaper no problem, loves laying on the couch. The only thing is he still stares in the mirrors non stop and now he only eats unless I'm home. But today I got his new pet thing from amazon and his box with bedding is connected to it so he can't wander the kitchen pooping everywhere which I did have pet pads down but now he's contained and only in there at bed time or if we ALL have!!!! Have!!!! To leave the house.. Point being, house ducks are great. He should be getting a gf pekin tomorrow bc he will be getting less attention from mama once my baby is born in February!!!! And we are going to look at a new house tomorrow which I already told the owner about JoJo and another one so if he didn't allow I wasn't even going to waste my time. And so far, so good,! Wish me luck!

 

[Julie Birb]

It was a hard choice for my hubby to decide to let JoJo be a house duck. His biggest problem is his area which is in the kitchen bc that's our only tile floor. Jojo has come a long way recently. He let's me put on his diaper no problem, loves laying on the couch. The only thing is he still stares in the mirrors non stop and now he only eats unless I'm home. But today I got his new pet thing from amazon and his box with bedding is connected to it so he can't wander the kitchen pooping everywhere which I did have pet pads down but now he's contained and only in there at bed time or if we ALL have!!!! Have!!!! To leave the house.. Point being, house ducks are great. He should be getting a gf pekin tomorrow bc he will be getting less attention from mama once my baby is born in February!!!! And we are going to look at a new house tomorrow which I already told the owner about JoJo and another one so if he didn't allow I wasn't even going to waste my time. And so far, so good,! Wish me luck!

oh, Sweetie, I am so thrilled for you. You and JoJo deserve this. I am sure Ryleigh will be happy with a new duckie.

 

[Amykins]

It was a hard choice for my hubby to decide to let JoJo be a house duck. His biggest problem is his area which is in the kitchen bc that's our only tile floor. Jojo has come a long way recently. He let's me put on his diaper no problem, loves laying on the couch. The only thing is he still stares in the mirrors non stop and now he only eats unless I'm home. But today I got his new pet thing from amazon and his box with bedding is connected to it so he can't wander the kitchen pooping everywhere which I did have pet pads down but now he's contained and only in there at bed time or if we ALL have!!!! Have!!!! To leave the house.. Point being, house ducks are great. He should be getting a gf pekin tomorrow bc he will be getting less attention from mama once my baby is born in February!!!! And we are going to look at a new house tomorrow which I already told the owner about JoJo and another one so if he didn't allow I wasn't even going to waste my time. And so far, so good,! Wish me luck!

The no-eating thing has me a little concerned. :/ You sure you can't talk hubby into getting a second duck for him to bond with? You can't be there 24/7, that's my biggest problem right now. Sigh.