Suggestions needed!! Training a new puppy with the chickens!!

[Mountain Man Jim]

April: I've seen a couple of drag designs. I¡¦m sure there are several variations. Mine dangled right in front of Fluffy¡¦s chest. The chain was only about four inches long and the log was the foot or so long. I used a chain because otherwise fluffy would have chewed a rope in a couple of minutes. I¡¦ve read about the longer drags, I wasn¡¦t comfortable having something on a longer tether. I was afraid it could get tangled around her legs or would not be in the right position when she started to run. In practice the drag length I used ended up getting in between the her front legs and caused her to run bowlegged which really slowed her down, but it didn¡¦t hit her legs too hard, etc. I think the drag in the front also help the jumping on the fence and possible escape attempts.

Ozark Hen: Hagrid looks awesome. He looks a little like a Mastiff. I bet he will be an excellent Chicken Guardian Dog (CGD) ļ

Below is a picture of Fluffy (imagine her with three heads (reference to Harry Potter)). She was about 1.5 years old. This was from last Winter. Fluffy is sitting on a 4 ft snow drift at the front porch. Last Winter was tough. Note: the 4 foot fence behind her.

Jim

 

[ozark hen]

Fluffy is absolutely gorgeous! what a beauty/

 

[FarmerMack]

Quote:
Shake and roll is the most effective way to train a dog that a particular behavoir is not approved. I used to shake roll over and glare at mine and get in their face. Sometimes I even growled a bit and showed some teeth hehe. I did have one male Keeshond that growled back but only once as I decided to nip this in the bud right away. I bit his cheek hehe, he never growled at me again.

I did decide that Keeshonds are the dumbest dog I've ever owned. Guess my sheppard spoiled me as he knew how to spell and the Keeshonds knew how to give me dumb looks "what did I do?". But they all knew when the "big dog" was mad at them

A good book on training dogs was written by some Monks that raise sheppards. It goes over this type of training. I believe they were from New Skeet (sp?) NY or VT.

Be the Alpha dog it works

Farmer Mack

 

[hcammack]

I growled at my dog every time she gave "that Look" to the chicks and i chased her off every time she got to close Now she thinks the chicks are hers and she sits outside next to the coop and eats chicken poop all day.

Good luck Training
Henry

 

[FarmerMack]

Quote:
I guess they are right up there with "kitty treats" in the litter box.

Farmer MacK

 

[Chickending]

Beautiful pics of the dogs. I love big fluffy dogs....

I agree with Mountain Man Jim, I will add this, each dog's personality is different and it all comes down to consistency and making sure the dog understands who is the boss of the house and yard. I have used a shock collar for my dog as he is a bit hard headed but the results end up being the same. I have trainined dogs that I didnt need to utilize the collar. It takes voice training and plain and simple "dog sense". I am constantly reaffirming with my dog that I am the boss of the pack. When we are with the chickens it is business only and NO play. He does chores with me and helps to guard the chickens. He is Pit/Boxer mix and he is great with the birds. Most times all he needs is a look from me and he knows what I am thinking and backs off. I will tell you though its been alot of hard work, constant reaffirming and training. When you own a dog training never stops. And plus puppies are all in for play and fun so its hard. Best advice is utilize the advice and be consistent. You are the boss not the dog.
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This summer I am going to try free ranging my chickens, supervised of course, but it will be a test to see how the training works when outside the "work" area he is used to. But I am sure we will have some challenges but hope the base of training I have developed with him will all pay off.

Good luck

 

[Bec]

Thank You all!!
Since then, he has gotten better..little by little, but atleast now if he looks like he is going to he will listen to me when I say "Ace NO!" He will stopp and find something else to do and won't go back. He never really messes with them unless they are running by him..then it triggers it. So we are still working on it and slowly getting results. When he does get one( which has been 3 times) , he pulls the feathers out...OUCH! But he needs to know that we don't touch the chickens at all! My older doberman, Major, Used to correct him when he would do this, now he just sits on the porch and doesn't even care...so much for that...lol