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

[aart]

Quote: I assume that they mean that 'Mine' indicates something belongs to owner - and the dog is not allowed to touch it.....
..........my dinner-get away from it-don't even look at it...... my chicken - don't you dare harm it.

 

[TalkALittle]

Ah. I teach "leave it" to mean "that item is off-limits, ignore it, don't sniff it, don't touch it, and certainly don't take it in your mouth".

I just wondered if the poster had something else in mind because they said it was "another" cue after "leave it" had been mentioned.

 

[dan26552]

 

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.

I assume that they mean that 'Mine' indicates something belongs to owner - and the dog is not allowed to touch it.....
..........my dinner-get away from it-don't even look at it...... my chicken - don't you dare harm it.

Yup that's what we use it for, or if they fight over a toy "mine" means they can't have it till you say they can.

 

[alldembirds]

i have pitbulls and a bulldog and I think "mine" is the best command to teach any dog, I say "mine" ( or sign "mine" two of my dogs are deaf) to show my dominance over something. almost like leave it, but i do sometimes use leave it for things i never ever ever want them doing

like the other poster said mine is good for all kinds of things , if they fight over a toy teach them it's not theres it's "mine" and only you can fight over it.

with anything if you tell them it's yours they will understand it is off limits until you give it to them.

when i am playing catch one of my girls doesnt like to give the ball up but drops it when i say mine and we can continue playing, she knows it isnt negative just me being boss,

when i am eating i tell them "mine" and they stop wining and go lay down

when they get overly sniffy and lick everything i tell them "mine" and they calm down

I taught them our ferrets were "mine" and they check on the constantly, every time they pass the cage they make sure they are there, they also leave the cats alone because they are "mine"

they know that outdoor cats are not "mine" and will go after them but if i say they are "mine" they stop in there tracks.


in short "mine" is my most used command and i am glad they know it, we have zero dogfights and no other animal drama

 

[TalkALittle]

Yup that's what we use it for, or if they fight over a toy "mine" means they can't have it till you say they can.

It sounds like you have two meanings for "mine", one that means "you should never have this item" and another that means "you might sometimes be able to have this item".

I'd rather avoid potential confusion and reserve my "leave it" to mean the dog should never expect to get the item.

 

[dan26552]

And signs, signs are handy to teach a dog.

 

[RachelLeigh]

Awesome! How interesting!

 

[azygous]

From what I've read about training puppies to be caretakers of a flock, they usually are immersed in the flock practically from birth. The idea is to get them to identify with the flock animals, therefore becoming protective of them as time goes on, especially if this trait is in their genetic makeup. I imagine German Shepherds would have such genes. The puppies grow up believing there is no difference between the flock and themselves, therefore they will protect their own.

The training commences later as the dogs mature, the imprinting on the flock being the more important first step. Doing this with llamas, sheep, goats, is a lot different than trying it with chickens, but I bet you can adapt the process to chickens. You'd need to take steps to keep the chickens safe until the dogs can be trusted.

It sounds like a very exciting undertaking.

 

[dan26552]

My dog met my sisters chicks twice, once when he was 4 months old, and again when he was 11 months old, but he still alerted to a possum attack.

 

[RachelLeigh]

Yes, very exciting undertaking.

Here is a question....what is the best way to handle IF my pup kills a bird? I am going to be very consistent and diligent and proactive to make sure this never happens. But lets say, in the future, I have trusted her for a minute based on her performance and she gets a bird while my back is turned. What should I do?