Trouble with our own dog

[Minniechickmama]

I feel your pain. I have two Standard Poodles under a year old. Last fall the older, a female (not that it matters with this thread) took out all but 2 of my 15 8-week old chickens. I was left with one EE cockerel and one Australorp pullet, and 8 Dark Cornish hens. About a month later, she sneaked up on some hens that were ranging in the corn field and snatched one. I heard it and ran after. Unfortunately, that one died, probably from shock. After some very firm training (and a shock collar), the dogs seemed to understand. The male has now gotten older, and he has been continually out eating the chickens' feed out of the can feeder, but on Monday they both killed all of them. Thank goodness I have a batch in the bator and chicks on the way. I was as angry with myself as with them because I trusted them. I was a fool. They had been bringing around some dead birds last week, I think those had froze to dead this winter and they found them out behind the grainery. I believe the taste of bird probably set him off. He has been the instigator these last few weeks, but she willingly follows him into trouble. So, until I can raise the new ones to egg laying age or get some adults, I am out of fresh eggs and dearly miss looking out to see by chickens antics. I really loved them being here with us.
Lesson learned. I am pricing fencing and figuring out how I am going to keep this from happening again.

just because our pets are the predators doesn't make it much easier, does it?

 

[milestoog]

If you know someone with a shock collar that is the best and fastest tool for stopping bad habits I know. Keep in mind not one of the weak little things that are sold for cheap, but a good training collar. On the highest setting it will knock a dog to its knees. Dogs tend not to associate you with it, be sure to apply the collar a few days before use. Let him start after the chickens, instruct him to stop, light him up. Lighting normally only has to strike him a couple of times before he learns. I know it sounds cruel, but it is safe, no permanent damage is done, and the learning curve is short. Good luck with it


NT

 

[farmerwnb]

Electric fence! Two strands one at 4" and the other at 12" to 16". Then its time to "introduce them" Dog.. hot wires...and hot wires...dog. It usually takes only one introduction.

 

[Cati]

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses--there are a lot of good ideas here and I sure do feel better hearing that I'm not the only one who has lost a chicken this way (I don't know any chicken owners). I am committed to making it work for both the chickens and the dog and will heed this advice. Thanks, too, for the sympathy notes. I appreciate it because it is a very sad experience.

 

[blbgp]

Does your dog need to be outside unsupervised?

 

[Minniechickmama]

Quote:
My older dog got the message with the shock collar, the younger one it doesn't seem to faze him. He must have a much higher pain tolerance than me. I tried it on myself and it does not tickle. Of course, I did not put it on my neck, just my fingers.

 

[Cara]

I wouldn't use a trainer who says something is impossible before they've even tried. They can't have much faith in their own training methods.

That being said, i'd make it physically impossible for the dog to kill the chickens. Hot wires are you friend (and your dog's in the long run).

 

[Cati]

The dog doesn't need to be outside unsupervised but it would be convenient to let her out for a half hour or so without having to be out there, too. Needless to say, we are not letting her out at all unsupervised until we get a new run/wires.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
As a professional behaviorist using a shock collar on the highest setting (I never recommend them at all) is cruel and unnecessary. It is a "quick fix" but the dog hasn't learned that all chickens are off limits and at what cost? Of course it is really sad to lose the birds but I would imagine you got the dog for unconditional love also. Some breeds of dogs are very sensitive and this type of collar can literally ruin the dog--I've seen it-- permanent damage can be done.

Having chickens is a never ending battle to protect them and your dog is losing control over getting them. Your dog is a herding breed and can be trained to do such after slow familiarity on a leash. It is a much longer process and the dog may never be trusted alone with them but otherwise you are being unrealistic (and unfair) as the dog is only doing what it does normally. I myself will be training my Belgian Malinois, another herding and protection breed, as our chicks arrive in April. My plan will start soon by letting her be around the brooder without chicks for a while--right in the family room. I will also let her in the coop with me when no chickens are there many times so the coop itself isn't a draw. My dog is well trained to "leave it" and will leave a tasty roast alone--when I am there--there is no one saying "leave it" if I am not in the room! An electric fence is much better as the dog figures out the boundaries when no one is there (you will be watching close by). Please avoid the collar--but if you do use it never on a setting so high you "knock a dog to its knees."

So sorry about your loss

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Quote:
That's what I was gonna suggest. Relatively inexpensive, so easy to install, and nothing tops its effectiveness!