Just a thought. One of my friends used a row of xmas rope lights (bought on sale in January) to keep under her pots in her greenhouse in the winter months. easy under'floor' heating for the plants which may also work in some way for a trough of chickenfeed?? Just gave off a gentle steady warmth....
Most of us are seeing the flies go for this year but I wonder if Nu Stock would keep them off a wound?
What an awesome training method, now tell me how to train the geese to leave the dogs alone. I never leave my dogs out with out supervision because my 2 geese think everything belong to them, They don't attack me but they will go after the dogs. I step in between them when they start after them but if theres a better way? My mixed bird dog did grab my gander once when he came to the back door and tapped on it, she got him through the dog door, so they don't come in the back yard now, MY other 3 dogs are mini dachshundsLabs are the Cadillac of dogs for training ease...they want so badly to please you that they will turn themselves inside out to make it happen. First, it is the most important thing that the dog sees you as his pack leader. I know the Cesar Milan thing sounds old and tired but before I ever had heard of him, I was making sure my dogs thought I made the sun come up each morning. Fortunately, Labs are easy to convince of this...they are so eager to please.
I would work on that until you have only to point to get the dog to go here, there, anywhere. We had Jake trained in that manner by the time he was 3 mo. old and at 6 yrs old I'm still trying out new training on him...and he is still receptive and quick to learn. So, you can teach an old dog new tricks!
Labs are also very food motivated, this makes your job exponentially easier. Food + Praise= Trained dog. Labs just want a job to do and they will try to do anything for you, you just need to expect it from them. Get in the habit of giving them orders...it doesn't matter what it is, it's for conditioning them to do what you say, no matter what. Every time you get a chance, be training the dogs...you can do this while walking them, while doing chores outside, while sitting in the living room. Get them so tuned into your voice, your body language and your wants that they know without a doubt that you rule. All of this can be done in a matter of seconds each time and can be fun for you both. It can become a game and you always win.
Once you have them conditioned to what you want, get a chicken and call them to you. Let them sniff it while you pet it but if they show too much enthusiasm, nip it in the bud real quick and in a hurry. Tell them it is YOUR chicken...loudly and firmly. Even to this day, if I say "MY chicken" to Jake in that certain tone of voice, he will duck his head a little and turn his face away.
Then, tie the chicken's legs and leave it lying out in the yard and go in the house where you can observe them. Leave a window open so you can shout a command. The chicken will eventually flap around, squawking, and start flopping to get loose. This will attract the dogs....shout from the window "MY CHICKEN!" if they even turn towards or start towards the bird. If they stop or turn away, that's good. If they try it again, do the shout. Of course, your neighbors will be calling the mental hygiene commissioner to set you up for an evaluation, but no matter.
After a bit,they will look towards the house before they take a step in the yard...just waiting to see what to do. After that training session, if they did well, go get the chicken and untie her, hold her in your arms and pet her, call the dogs to you and pet them,but make sure you hold the chicken in a position that is higher than their heads.
If they do poorly with this training and shouting from the window does nothing, go out there, get the chicken, make the dog lie down and hold the chicken against his throat and repeat loudly, MY CHICKEN...give a little shake on the neck hide when you say it. This is about the most terrified you will ever see your dogs be...having a chicken holding them by the throat is horrifying to a dog, I'm sure. By Jake's expression, it was probably a part of his worst nightmares over all these years. Probably wasn't a good experience for the chicken either,but it was a nasty Wyandotte that needed the training as well.
You know what? It worked and he is very loving towards his chickens and the chicks, licks on the chicks when he gets a chance. He's not frightened of chickens but he has a sense of protectiveness towards them. He even gets a little upset if I am working with them and make them squawk...I have to make him quit fussing and go lie down or he will dance and talk to me, all in a very concerned tone.
But..first and foremost, the dogs have to believe that you hold the keys to hell if they do something to those chickens when you are not around. This doesn't have to be accomplished with any hitting or yelling, just a tone and expression, body language and purpose. They have to know that everything you own is yours and they mustn't touch it, even when you are not around.
I hope that helps?
Okay...I've been scanning through here trying to find that link to the deep litter thread but can't find it.Can someone post it again?
Labs are the Cadillac of dogs for training ease...they want so badly to please you that they will turn themselves inside out to make it happen. First, it is the most important thing that the dog sees you as his pack leader. I know the Cesar Milan thing sounds old and tired but before I ever had heard of him, I was making sure my dogs thought I made the sun come up each morning. Fortunately, Labs are easy to convince of this...they are so eager to please.
I would work on that until you have only to point to get the dog to go here, there, anywhere. We had Jake trained in that manner by the time he was 3 mo. old and at 6 yrs old I'm still trying out new training on him...and he is still receptive and quick to learn. So, you can teach an old dog new tricks!
Labs are also very food motivated, this makes your job exponentially easier. Food + Praise= Trained dog. Labs just want a job to do and they will try to do anything for you, you just need to expect it from them. Get in the habit of giving them orders...it doesn't matter what it is, it's for conditioning them to do what you say, no matter what. Every time you get a chance, be training the dogs...you can do this while walking them, while doing chores outside, while sitting in the living room. Get them so tuned into your voice, your body language and your wants that they know without a doubt that you rule. All of this can be done in a matter of seconds each time and can be fun for you both. It can become a game and you always win.
Once you have them conditioned to what you want, get a chicken and call them to you. Let them sniff it while you pet it but if they show too much enthusiasm, nip it in the bud real quick and in a hurry. Tell them it is YOUR chicken...loudly and firmly. Even to this day, if I say "MY chicken" to Jake in that certain tone of voice, he will duck his head a little and turn his face away.
Then, tie the chicken's legs and leave it lying out in the yard and go in the house where you can observe them. Leave a window open so you can shout a command. The chicken will eventually flap around, squawking, and start flopping to get loose. This will attract the dogs....shout from the window "MY CHICKEN!" if they even turn towards or start towards the bird. If they stop or turn away, that's good. If they try it again, do the shout. Of course, your neighbors will be calling the mental hygiene commissioner to set you up for an evaluation, but no matter.
After a bit,they will look towards the house before they take a step in the yard...just waiting to see what to do. After that training session, if they did well, go get the chicken and untie her, hold her in your arms and pet her, call the dogs to you and pet them,but make sure you hold the chicken in a position that is higher than their heads.
If they do poorly with this training and shouting from the window does nothing, go out there, get the chicken, make the dog lie down and hold the chicken against his throat and repeat loudly, MY CHICKEN...give a little shake on the neck hide when you say it. This is about the most terrified you will ever see your dogs be...having a chicken holding them by the throat is horrifying to a dog, I'm sure. By Jake's expression, it was probably a part of his worst nightmares over all these years. Probably wasn't a good experience for the chicken either,but it was a nasty Wyandotte that needed the training as well.
You know what? It worked and he is very loving towards his chickens and the chicks, licks on the chicks when he gets a chance. He's not frightened of chickens but he has a sense of protectiveness towards them. He even gets a little upset if I am working with them and make them squawk...I have to make him quit fussing and go lie down or he will dance and talk to me, all in a very concerned tone.
But..first and foremost, the dogs have to believe that you hold the keys to hell if they do something to those chickens when you are not around. This doesn't have to be accomplished with any hitting or yelling, just a tone and expression, body language and purpose. They have to know that everything you own is yours and they mustn't touch it, even when you are not around.
I hope that helps?
