Train dogs by pack order?

[RJSchaefer]

Yet another dog thread...

I have 3 dogs. None of my chickens/ducks/rabbits have been harmed. Yet. I know it's coming and am actively attempting to train to no avail. I think it's because I'm training my pack in the wrong order. So here it is, listed in order.

1. Toulouse - mini-dachs & shep/huskie mix, almost 3 years old
2. Honey - we're not sure on the mix, but we think she's an Italian Greyhound/terrier mix. She's almost 2 now.
3. Thompson - beagle/Aussie mix. 8 months old.

Tommy, when by himself, is really good with the chickens. He was always the one hot on my heels to go out to the garage to check on them at night when they were super-tiny. I could give them [chicks] a small taste of freedom and Tommy would get curious, but ultimately keep his cool.

Honey...well. We can't train her. She's just too skiddish and high-strung. I have begged and pleaded with Boyfriend to rehome her, preferably with a nice old lady who can dote on her 24/7, but he won't part with her. Fortunately, she usually stays curled up in her little den under the porch.

Toulouse is a fantastic family dog. He responds to basic commands - come, stay, no, leave it - until he sees the chickens. Then all bets are off. We have this problem in one other instance (bikers), so T is actually losing his freedom tomorrow and going on a 30 ft lead. I can't risk him injuring someone.

When T first met the rabbits he almost bit one's head off. He tried to eat a baby chick. He's always whining and scratching to get into the garage. I think, given his breed, the fact he was raised on a prey model diet and my previous encouragement of his predator instinct (we have problems with possums and squirrels), he's a lost cause with the chickens. I'm really sad by this, too, because if he would straighten up, he'd be a great guard dog.

Because Tommy has been so easy going, I've been training him first. Today, after we got the temporary fence put up so the chickens could roam, I noticed he was whining and clawing to get at the birds, something he hasn't done before. I think he was following Toulouse's lead. Which made me think I should train Toulouse first, then use him as a "role model" for Tommy.

But I don't think I can train Toulouse to not want to consume the chickens.

All that being said, I see my two options as work my butt off to train Toulouse to not attack the chickens OR keep Toulouse restrained or confined, all the time, when outside and focus my efforts on Tommy. Is there a third option I'm missing, a better one?

 

[dainerra]

a bit of both. continue training each dog individually. (And prey model diet has nothing to do with it. Rayden's favorite food is rabbit and his favorite game is trying to catch the wild bunnies that come in the yard)


Here is the method that I use and beware that no, not every dog can be trained to be around the chickens. It's not a matter of breed or diet, just individual prey drive and personality.

Start at the closest distance that he first notices the chickens (rabbits, whatever). When he looks at them, say "Toulouse leave it" The second he looks at you, give him a super special yummy treat that he only gets for this job. If he doesn't look at you, give a little tug on his leash (think a tap on the shoulder). Treat when he looks at you. If he STILL doesn't look at you, then you are too close. Back off a few feet and try again.
Remember, you want to sit him up to succeed. Once he is 100% ignoring them at this distance (could take a few days. could take a couple weeks), you can move a bit closer.

I never trust any of my dogs alone and off-leash with loose "prey" Too much that can happen, even if the dog doesn't intend to hurt them.

Another problem is that, if the dogs are all outside, a pack is going to act differently and do things that each individual dog might not do on it's own. Good old "mob mentality" at work.

Until you have him trained, he can NOT be allowed loose access to the yard or the ability to get anywhere in the vicinity of the "prey" Each time he even gets to satisfy his desire to sniff, he is rewarded and it makes the problem that much harder to break. Think trying to teach a child manners but whenever he goes to grandpa's house everyone laughs when he belches at the table!