Socializing a new puppy to chickens, any successful strategies?

[MiaS]

Hows your new pup doing @MiaS ?

So far, pup is most interested in chicken bedding/poop. Chickens are curious about her but she seems, to date, less interested in them. She is only 12 weeks old though so that prey drive to chase stuff is only just clicking in. She's also only just discovered the power of her sniffer. We go out to see the girls every day but it is a behind the fence interaction so we will see over time. So far so good.

I cannot however say the same for my hands, my gloves, my shoes or my favourite jeans, which are now full of tiny holes from sharp little baby teeth. I may only just survive puppyhood...

We do have major moments of hope when she is just soooo smarty pants and well behaved.

 

[MiaS]

I would suggest not getting a puppy! See, I had a sweet older collie Pyrenees who the chickens didn’t mind and the cats would sleep on her in the winter when they got cold. When she passed away, I got a younger not puppy Pyrenees who had never met a chicken before. She was great, barks away the weird animals that want to eat the hens and the cats love her too. The chickens still scream if I go near her whilst holding them, but she didn’t show much interest in them. So I think you should get an older dog already trained, and preferably with poultry experience. Good luck!

Too late for that My purpose in getting a pup is non-chicken related, just hoping they can co-exist in their separate functions but on the same property.

 

[MiaS]

I've had great luck with puppies and chickens. A basic rundown is keep the puppy on a leash, never allow it to get in the habit of chasing or "playing" with the chicken, teach basic obedience (come, sit, leave it) from day 1, and firm fair correction when needed.

Sounds like you have some dog training experience so I won't get too detailed on obedience training. Just share what I do.
When I have a young puppy around the birds, or other livestock, the puppy and building good manners is my #1 priority. I have a pocket full of treats, we hang out with the animals and work on "leave it" command.

I don't try to squeeze in chores or lose focus. Timing is everything. If you're off with you're commands, rewards or correction the dog won't learn what's appropriate. Because of this interactions between pup and other animals are brief. 10-15 minutes twice a day. Only once the dog's default is to ignore the animals do I take them with me to the barn for chore time. They're still watched closely and on a leash but they are allowed more opportunities to develop good habits.

She's a beautiful puppy! I've heard her breed is smart and training shouldn't be too difficult. Puppies are so much fun and so much work. Enjoy the process. She'll do great!

Great advice, thanks!

 

[MiaS]

View attachment 2036389
This is my dog he is a Bernese Mountain dog, they are a very docile breed. I got him when he was a very tiny puppy! I exposed him to chickens and ducks right away, so he would get used to them. Whenever I let the hens free range I would make sure if he chased or tried to kill a hen it was wrong by shouting at him. He was scared whenever I did but it got the point across. Whenever he would just exist with the hens and not do anything to them I would reward him. After 2 years of age and solid training, I never needed to watch him anymore with my hens. He happily coexists with them as you can see lol.

So my best tips:
- Get a docile/livestock dog breed
- Get them as puppy's (easier when they have been exposed to livestock their whole life)
- Be willing that it may take up to two years of training to get the dog costumed to living around hens and protecting them.

good luck, i'm sorry to hear about your old dog passing away and I hope you get a new one equally as awesome.

Thank you. It was a big loss, but she lived to be nearly 18 and had a wonderful life. We had a wonderful life together...

 

[aart]

I cannot however say the same for my hands, my gloves, my shoes or my favourite jeans, which are now full of tiny holes from sharp little baby teeth. I may only just survive puppyhood...

Need lots of chew toys, everywhere, to swap out with bad voice then good voice.

 

[micstrachan]

I love it & I suspect she (dog) would protect her flock if needed.

I dk, too! Once we had an HVAC worker over. She was pretty chill about it until her sort if leaned over to say hi to a chicken. She went a little crazy on him. (just barking, since I quickly got her under control. Another time, a neighbor’s dog wandered i to our yard while the chickens were out. Lexi (dog) saw him long before Zi did, zoomed across the yard and cut him off. It gave me time to call the chickens in and out of harm’s way.

 

[2hotchicks]

First, a disclaimer...dogs are like people and they all have different personalities; however, my four dogs are great with the chickens. They are all strictly house dogs who go outside to play and do their business, but I don’t have to supervise them with the chickens who free range in the back yard. I got my day old chicks May 2019, and my dogs were 13, 11, and 4 (boxer, pug, boxer). In the same week I adopted a mixed breed puppy (Pointer/lab/bulldog/Heinz 57) who was about 12-15 weeks old. When the chicks were in the brooder I would put them in a baby pool and let the dogs look at them. When I started letting the chicks outside with supervision, I just let the dogs out with them. They were harmonious from the very start. My only issues with dogs and chickens have been that the dogs are interested in the chicken food and poop, and in the compost and chicken scraps. Also, the puppy knows that eggs are food, because my dogs eat a raw diet that included whole raw eggs. So, if an egg is laid on the ground, it’s a snack for someone.

All of this to say that when I dog sat for my sister’s puppy who is the same age as mine, I didn’t put the ladies up when I let her outside. She chased immediately and had to go out on a leash the rest of her visit.

Consistency and reminding dogs what is expected behavior is the best advice I can give though. I speak to my dogs like the are human, and they act like humans.View attachment 2005347View attachment 2005348View attachment 2005349View attachment 2005350View attachment 2005351View attachment 2005352View attachment 2005353

That's what I call a true pack, every member of the pack is important. Love it!

 

[DuckMama9]

Really has more to do with training the pup, good basic obedience first.
Recall is the most important, IMO,
and not putting them into a situation where they can get into 'trouble'.

I agree, it is all about the training. Enroll in basic obedience training. Recall is important as well as “leave it”. You will need to establish a good relationship with the pup and clear communication to let him know what behavior is acceptable and what is not. You will establish that quilckly with daily trainings and working together. With good obedience training as a foundation, you will be able to gradually habituate your pup to exhibit the desired behavior around the flock.

 

[aroostercalledBrownie]

We have a border collie who was raised with the chickens. She (the dog) is not very high in the pecking order! I wish I could give you a strategy. Border Collies are super smart and she has always been eager to please. We taught her not to use her teeth on US by yelping. I think the chickens taught her themselves. They were pretty bossy and would peck her to put her in her place. If she tried to play rough, we’d firmly growl at her. She learned quickly that the chickens are part of the family and excitedly runs to their gate when it’s time to let them out for freerange time. Here she is with my alpha hen a few months ago...View attachment 2005188

And here she was with the hens as a puppy...
View attachment 2005189

OH MY GOSH SHE IS SO CUTE AS A PUPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[aroostercalledBrownie]

First, a disclaimer...dogs are like people and they all have different personalities; however, my four dogs are great with the chickens. They are all strictly house dogs who go outside to play and do their business, but I don’t have to supervise them with the chickens who free range in the back yard. I got my day old chicks May 2019, and my dogs were 13, 11, and 4 (boxer, pug, boxer). In the same week I adopted a mixed breed puppy (Pointer/lab/bulldog/Heinz 57) who was about 12-15 weeks old. When the chicks were in the brooder I would put them in a baby pool and let the dogs look at them. When I started letting the chicks outside with supervision, I just let the dogs out with them. They were harmonious from the very start. My only issues with dogs and chickens have been that the dogs are interested in the chicken food and poop, and in the compost and chicken scraps. Also, the puppy knows that eggs are food, because my dogs eat a raw diet that included whole raw eggs. So, if an egg is laid on the ground, it’s a snack for someone.

All of this to say that when I dog sat for my sister’s puppy who is the same age as mine, I didn’t put the ladies up when I let her outside. She chased immediately and had to go out on a leash the rest of her visit.

Consistency and reminding dogs what is expected behavior is the best advice I can give though. I speak to my dogs like the are human, and they act like humans.View attachment 2005347View attachment 2005348View attachment 2005349View attachment 2005350View attachment 2005351View attachment 2005352View attachment 2005353

So cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And what are the breeds of those chicks?