What dog breeds can be taught NOT to hurt my chickees?

[meghan713]

I have 9 chickens currently, am buying three guineas and six ducklings next weekend, and have eleven more chicks arriving in the mail next month! I definitely love my poultry, and am NOT willing to give it up. But I have a 5-year old sister who is dying for a dog, and to be honest I'd like one too. What dog breeds could be trained as puppies to leave the farmbirds alone? I would prefer NOT to have herding dogs, as our neighbors own sheep and I don't want the dog constantly over at the neighbors house herding sheep and I don't think my neighbors would appreciate that much either. Can any of you help me? I'm sure some of you have dogs that have done well with chickens. Are there any breeds that I DEFINITELY shouldn't get?

 

[stirkle]

i was worried about this with my dog as he went crazy when I first had chickens... once he got a shock from the electric fence he never went after the chickens again...

 

[stirkle]

my dog is a flat coated retriever by the way

 

[nzpouter]

any dog... depends how much training you can give it.

 

[Kristian]

Exactlly, but the safest will probably be a small mianature breeds that is not a big threat. But if you want a bigger breed the the Great Pyrenees is the dog for you. But raise it with the flock so that it may grow an attachment toward its flock.
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[Break an Egg]

It may be a bit of trial and error. I had a small pug poodle cross and he was a very hard dog to train. We couldn't even potty train him. When we would try and make him submit to us he would try and bite. He finally did bite my 2 yr old and we rehomed him. (luckilly she was okay just scared but no skin broken)

I was very sad and never thought I would get another dog.

Last December on my SD's b-day we got another puppy, she is a black lab mix with God knows what else in her. She is the most docile dog, she is very submissive and stays away from the chickens after I let her know they are not okay to play with. She was potty trained in 2 weeks, and she sits, shakes, and talks.

 

[gypsymom]

Stay away from breeds such as terriers and spaniels that have been bred to go after birds or small animals. Huskies and similar breeds are also a no-no. Labrador and other retrievers are good choices because they are naturally soft-mouthed, non-aggressive and easy to train. Poodles would also probably work out well. Our Lab is so good around any animal that we can put pet rats or chicks on his head or let him roam loose around livestock. He just has no instinct to chase or kill. But every individual is different and training is definitely required. Do not let any dog near your chickens unrestrained until it has been thoroughly trained not to chase or bite them, starting with a complete basic obedience course.

 

[Break an Egg]

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I watched something on animal planet that said golden retrievers were soft mouthed dogs, they can carry an egg in their mouths without cracking them.

 

[meghan713]

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okay, i was under the impression that labs and golden retrievers were a bad choice? but everyone else recommends them so i will think about that. and would an american eskimo count as a husky-type dog? cause thats one of the breeds we have thought about....

 

[Angelline]

My old english bulldog is great with all animals, except raccoons and squirrels.