Tying a dead chicken around their neck

[Ryan81986]

Quote:
X2. Some people think that poodles are fluffy innocent dogs (ok maybe the toy poodles are), but they are technically a type of hunting/retrieving dog, and they won't think twice about massacring any small living thing that comes near it.

 

[ruth]

I tried this earlier this week with a dead duck tied around the neck of one of young GPs who kills one any chance she gets. I guess I should have beat her with it first because tying it around her neck was a big reward for her - sort of like a feed bag - because when I came back out a few minutes later to check on her, there was nothing left but a few tiny down feathers - she had eaten every bit - wings, bones, feet - everything. And I had it tied up tight next to her collar using wire which I had rolled the duck up in first and she was on a tie-line so I know she didn't just pull the duck off and leave it somewhere. I think she thought that was a special treat and that it must have been her birthday or something.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Did not work for me. I had a Great Pyranees and wacked her with the dead hen, then tied it around her neck and she proceeded to EAT IT! She killed again a few days later and I found her another home with NO chickens. Have enough other things trying to kill my chickens, don't need my own dog doing it.

Once a dog kills and eats a chicken it is about impossible to ever trust it again. Just my own experience.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Thank you for all of your feedback. I do want to point out a couple of things. First of all, I won't be getting rid of our dog, we bought her to breed and paid too much for her to give up now. Second, I know she is a retrieving dog, and she definitely has that instinct to retrieve bred into her well. I had to explain to my irate 11-year old that it is in her nature to go after them. Hopefully, when we get our next batch of chicks, we will have more protection for them and this will not be an issue again, but I will probably always be wary. If she kills again, around her neck that chicken shall go and we will see how it works out. Now that we have a second puppy we will have to train them both on who is in the family and who is not. They are both smart dogs and they learn fast, so maybe there is hope, but I am not betting on it working out all perfect. The funniest thing to us is how she goes and wonders all around the grown hens and she does not bother them at all any more. She actually goes into their little house and eats their feed and doesn't bother a feather. The younger ones just seemed more skiddish and playful to her and I am sure it set her off and once she got the first one blood lust took over. It is a lesson to us. We will get through it somehow and have both our dogs and chickens somehow.
If we do the chicken around the neck thing, I will post something on it. Thanks again to all responses.

 

[babalubird]

Well, don't know if this would work or not, because as of yet, haven't had to worry about breaking a chicken-killing dog.

We just bought an English Shepherd. The parent dogs were laying among his chickens. First question I asked, any problem w/the parents killing your chickens. He said the male, no; the female, yes, one or two. He said he "sent her off for a while." She no longer kills chickens. He never clarified how long or where. If the dog is strongly bonded to you and cares about being with you and your family, that may also be worth a try if the dead chicken around the neck doesn't work. Just make sure you don't send her somewhere that treats or spoils her worse than you do, or she may feel rewarded for killing chickens.

Connie

 

[purr]

i did this it did work,it was my german shepherd lab mix and I think part of it was he had to stay outside,couldn't come in the house and was ostracized for a week by one and all. I must say though that I caught him with the chicken in his mouth and when I said his name in disbelief he dropped the chicken immediately. I felt so bad for him for that week. he did seem really remorseful

 

[gsim]

Have heard it works and I think it mostly does. The key is to beat the dog with the carcass so that he gets the idea that you are really mad at him. The dead chook around the neck is just an all-day reminder or maybe a 3 day reminder? If it doesn't take, then it is decision time.

 

[littlekit]

Please do not beat your dogs, guys. This doesn't teach anything in MHO> Sorry, I had to say it.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
I want to remind people while maintaining the alpha place in your dog relationship is important, beating a dog can result in jail if someone turns you in, or it can result in serious injury or worse to yourself if the dog turns. I have never beat a dog, though I do bite them when training, along with snarling and growling at them. Make note I do not actually bite but use my hand and dig my fingers in around the neck while snarling with my mouth over the hand. This is a absolute necessity when raising wolves.

Now for people with a regular dog I suggest a training collar, a metal collar with metal turned in. When the collar is tightened the turned in metel ends simulate a bite to the neck. Use a short strong leash hooked to the collar. The leash should be so short as to allow just a lift to apply pressure to the neck. Get the dog used to the collar by walking them without the birds around so they get used to the collar. The dog will learn to stay at your side and obey your commands and learn basic obedience and it's place in your society. Once this has been accomplished you may start walking the dog in with the chickens and I do mean in with the flock. You should throw treats to congregate them in the training area. This is a two part training, it trains the dog to ignore and accept the chickens, and it removes the flight instinct of the chickens. Flight instinct will trigger the predator instinct, which doesn't matter whether it is a chicken, child, cat, or whatever sets a dog into the prey mode.

Granted my alph female is old now, when she was young she killed deer by herself before I fenced her in. The male I have used to kill anything that moved including birds in flight. In one year all three of my dogs can be completely trusted with the chickens. I still chain the male until I am completely confident, but I have watched as the chickens scratch around him in the kill zone and one even took a dust bath right next to him as he laid there next to the bird.

You have to be willing to take the time to train and have the patience because this will NOT happen overnight it will take months maybe a year. But when you have accomplished this you will have the finest predator control that is available, a well trained dog that knows his job.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
I agree with this--beating is abuse and only makes the dog fear you--not respect you. I know its an immediate reaction (and understandable) when you see the carnage but it only causes fear and confusion. A careful, positive approach needs to be taken prior to introducing the dog to chickens as it is their instinct to kill prey.