the babies meet the guard dog.....

[mdulik]

Psst.. hey you!! HEY.. up there.... you have to know that we have some freeloaders around here...

Hey look at me..... I'm a cowboy.... WOOOO HOOOO......

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

That is an awesome dog!

 

[mdulik]

he really loves the chickens...He has a path worn around the whole pen where he keeps them rounded up. He wont let them get too far and he brings em home.... They can do anything they want to him and he just takes it.

 

[mlove]

How adorable! I love your dog.

 

[tlcarnes1976]

This dog is awesome to say the least. My shepherd mix can lick her chops at the chickens but not trusting her yet. My other shepherd male is more interested in eating their food and droppings than the birds themselves! Who knows if I can trust them around them, not willing to take the chance....I love both animals too much!

 

[tlcarnes1976]

This dog is awesome to say the least. My shepherd mix can lick her chops at the chickens but not trusting her yet. My other shepherd male is more interested in eating their food and droppings than the birds themselves! Who knows if I can trust them around them, not willing to take the chance....I love both animals too much!

 

[braedandhalshens]

Hello to everyone! New to the chicken world.

I was just gonna post about this until I seen this. Anyone have any suggestions on introducing the chicks to the dogs? I 4 RIR about 4 wks, and a Newfie/Lab mix and a St. Bernard. I turned my St's old puppy kennel into a little "run" to let them explore and let the dogs sniff at them. My Newfie comes and goes, but my St just sits and never leaves, constantly sniffing and trying to get a closer look. Will this "marriage" ever work?

P.S., I will post some pics soon.

 

[buffbuttercup]

it's so hard to say! my female (dog) is ever curious of anything small. but once a chicken gets big and feathered, she has no interest in it. i think the baby feathers mimic fur and so she wants to investigate. just keep an eye and NEVER keep them unsupervised. my dogs were raised around foul and duck, but i would still never leave them unattended around the youngins'. anything with fur is fair game with them. depends on the dog! i have catahoula/border collie X.
good luck!

 

[suzyq53511]

i had my part of my face ripped off by a border collie when i was 3... over 1500 stitches. the thing is you cant even tell. thank god for plastic surgery!!! lol

 

[pgpoultry]

I have to agree, depends absolutely on the dog not the breed. My border collie is totally safe with chickens and chicks, and I regularly leave him for several hours at a time with our free rangers. If it rains the chooks usually steal his bed totally or they share it with him(sometimes plus the cat too). In fact on a couple of occasions when hens have failed to come back to the hen house at night they have found their way to his bed for protection (he sleeps in a stone extension 'outside'). Some hens have also laid their eggs in his bed.
On a practical note it is best to introduce newcomers to each other initially behind chicken wire and to watch all introductions very closely, being ready to intervene immediately. Take it as slowly as is necessary and make it clear to the dog that the chickens are your possession and he is not allowed to harm them. Give him treats and praise when he ignores them.
Just to say that our own dog was here before we had chickens and has obviously learnt what behaviour is acceptable when chicken/chicks are around. Similarly he had to get used to and is safe around newborn lambs. He, however, hates our goat and growls, snaps and runs at him, yet still he knows he cannot bite the goat (However, the goat does not repay the compliment and constantly tries to head butt and gore the dog)Most dogs are capable of behaving around other animals if they are properly introduced and trained, though there will remain some dogs who cannot ever be trusted. Good luck with the 'introductions'
Sandie