Tips on training puppies to manage my flock, please...

[RachelLeigh]

I have a seven week old German Shepherd. I need all the tips I can get on how best to get the puppie to love to protect the chickens. I don't want to mess this up. I've got one shot to get it right. I've already let her look at them. I also put a box of chicks down by her crate so she can watch them at times. The real work begins in the Spring. I realize this could be a three year learning curve lol. Thanks!

 

[justplainbatty]

I have a seven week old German Shepherd. I need all the tips I can get on how best to get the puppie to love to protect the chickens. I don't want to mess this up. I've got one shot to get it right. I've already let her look at them. I also put a box of chicks down by her crate so she can watch them at times. The real work begins in the Spring. I realize this could be a three year learning curve lol. Thanks!

In this thread, I explained how I trained my lab over time with new chicks but he was a bit older than your dog. We also had a 7yr old GS and she just never bothered the chickens outside. I never raised any chicks inside with her before she died. Good luck! Welcome to the flock!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/954657/my-fox-repellent-anyone-with-fowl-and-dogs-please-comment

 

[RachelLeigh]

Oh thank you for that link. Imma go read it Thanks for the welcome!

 

[aart]

Basic obedience is the first step for any pup:
.......recall, IMO, is of utmost importance. If your dog won't come to you when you want it to, that dog can become out of control and could get itself into a dangerous situation. It needs to know you're number one and what you say goes, without question.

....respecting the leash. With good recall dogs can free run off leash, but they need to know how to be leashed because eventually they will need to be on leash to go to the vet or might in a situation where leashing is the safest for the dog.

...basic manners: sit, down, stay, no jumping up(unless invited)

All these things will make life more pleasant for the dog, the owner and any other beings it is around.

A dog only wants to please you......
....and if you are clear and consistent with communicating to the dog what pleases you and what doesn't.....
everything else will go much smoother no matter what job you want to train the dog to do.

It's probably harder for the human to be aware and consistently clear on the 'message' they are conveying to the dog...than it is for the dog to obey.

 

[dan26552]

Basic obedience is the first step for any pup:
.......recall, IMO, is of utmost importance. If your dog won't come to you when you want it to, that dog can become out of control and could get itself into a dangerous situation. It needs to know you're number one and what you say goes, without question.

....respecting the leash. With good recall dogs can free run off leash, but they need to know how to be leashed because eventually they will need to be on leash to go to the vet or might in a situation where leashing is the safest for the dog.

...basic manners: sit, down, stay, no jumping up(unless invited)

All these things will make life more pleasant for the dog, the owner and any other beings it is around.

A dog only wants to please you......
....and if you are clear and consistent with communicating to the dog what pleases you and what doesn't.....
everything else will go much smoother no matter what job you want to train the dog to do.

It's probably harder for the human to be aware and consistently clear on the 'message' they are conveying to the dog...than it is for the dog to obey.

x2

 

[justplainbatty]

x3

And "leave it" is another important command, whether it applies to your shoes, people food or chickens!

 

[dan26552]

x3 And "leave it" is another important command, whether it applies to your shoes, people food or chickens!

Oh yeah can't forget that one. Also "mine" is a handy commend.

 

[aart]

Quote: Ditto 2x!!

 

[RachelLeigh]

Thank much! Very helpful!

 

[TalkALittle]

Oh yeah can't forget that one. Also "mine" is a handy commend.

Forgive me, but what exactly do you mean by "mine"? There are many common verbal cues used in dog training but there are just as many that people assign their own meaning to.

I knew a woman that used the cue "yuck" to mean "spit whatever you have in your mouth out". Most people would call that "drop it" or "out". I use "out" to mean "remove yourself from this space through the closest doorway".

I'm wondering what "mine" might mean.