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

[Higins00]

I have a boxer and a french bulldog I trained not to go after my chickens, rabbit, ect. I agree training is key and avoid terriers.

 

[biddyboo]

Our German Shorthair Pointer, pet dog not trained hunter, is unsafe around our hens. He knows they are "off limits" but he becomes totally fixated on them when around their pen and chicken yard, trembles, goes into pointing mode, cannot take his eyes from them. He tries to follow direction about sitting, not barking or lunging at the fence, but every instinct in his body seems to be telling him they are game for him. After working with him for a year and still feeling unsafe with the hens in the open or free range when he is close by, I wonder if all bird/pointer type dogs find chickens so irresistable? ~G

 

[farmerwnb]

Any hunting variety, especially retrievers will likely go after any birds(chooks). Do not assume that because a dog is small that it will not have a instinct to hunt. Little dogs like corgies and terriers were bred for their small game and rodent catching instincts/abilities. Training is a great way to stop it before it starts, but a sturdy electric fence will leave almost no room for mistakes. I know from experience that those learning mistakes can be heartbreaking.

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

Go for a Great Pry. Their really good with chickens.

Take a look at how happy Koda looks watching some of my chickens.

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

small dogs can be a preditor too. I have a chihuahua who has killed half a dozen quail.. I have no idea how she even got them out of brooder.. Way up on a table..

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Our friends have an Eskimo from a breeder and they were told NEVER to let it offleash-- and it does kill chickens if they roam into its territory. I would say no sled dogs for you. I am told they are bred to run in a straight line and are used to being tied for generations. Other than that, they are nice dogs I think a larger dog would be better than a small one and I would go for a Pyr or a newfy or a lab mix.
Personally, our Black Russian Terrier is just awesome and I trust her with the chickens: she counts them for bedcheck and disciplines the roosters if they want to flog us, and she trees raccoons and anything else that wants to go near her chickens.
Yes, she has been known to pick up a chick to try an put it back where it belongs. Sometimes the chick dies of fright. Sometimes it becomes a lifelong "Cleo's Friend"

 

[Barred Rocker]

Quote:
Actually my dog is a terrier mix, some jack russel and couple other terrier breeds. He was extremely easy to train. Of course when I first got chickens he went right after them but if I yelled at him as soon as I saw him take after them he'd stop and leave them alone. After about a month he didn't bother any more in fact now it's the other way around. The chickens have taken to chasing him and when he's not looking will peck him on his butt but he just ignores them.

 

[Chefmom]

I have a Blue Heeler. He is now safe with the chickens and takes his flock-protection duties quite serious. If they growl or let out any kind of "hey-what-is-that"noise Jake is out the door and running a perimeter around the flock. He checks the sky and the ground and then comes back to the house. But....he took a lot of training not to chase the girls or to bat them about.

If you look at chickens from a dogs eyes they are play toys. The worst Jake ever did was flatten a hen (right at my feet too) with his paw on her back and then shove his nose up her bottom for a really good sniff. He immediately let go when I told him to "leave it" but she went into shock and didn't really come out of it for about a week. She just stood around and wobbled and a little saliva came out of her mouth for a few hours. She finally recovered and was fine.

He is handy to have around when a rooster acts up. You just point and say "get him" and Jake chases the rooster off and he then leaves you to your chores. If he is out with the hens and a little bored he will herd the roosters around. I don't know how, but he leaves the hens alone and picks out one of the three roos and will just move him back and forth.

But it took a lot of work to trust him with the free range flock. We had a half blue heeler stray that was an amazing dog with the first flock of chickens. When it was time to put them up Blue would round them up and herd them into the coop. The most amazing part was the fact that he was 100% blind! When he died we ended up with a full blooded blue heeler puppy.

Jake was raised with my third addition to the flock, about 40 peeps. They started to range around 4 weeks and Jake was there with them. You had to be with him at all times to keep him from getting out of hand. I wouldn't recommend a heeler to anyone that doesn't have a lot of property and a lot of time. He is a very intelligent dog, a little too smart. He keeps the yard free of predators and watches the sky as well. He needs a lot of exercise and some days I don't think he ever tires out. And he really didn't mature until this year, he just turned three. It's been a long ride, but he is now a great protective companion.

As for a Husky, they are the closest to a wild wolf, I wouldn't ever have one with a flock of chickens. And a Labrador I know raided the neighbors chickens and brought one home. Sure they have a good soft mouth, that is because they retrieve BIRDS for hunters. Any dog is going to think chickens are play toys and will need trained, but I wouldn't go with any dog that his history has birds or retrieving in their breeding. Herding dogs need exercise and get bored easily, but are intelligent and trainable.

I love my heeler and don't want anyone else at my side.

 

[dragonlair]

Any sled dog type of dog is not a good choice to be around poultry. Most of them can not be allowed to be off lead either because their instinct is to run. They will also chase prey, they have a strong prey drive. If you have sheep near by, you will have them chasing and killing sheep. The Eskimo's may be smaller than huskies or Malamutes, but they are just as deadly.

 

[babyblue]

our old lab was great around all kinds of animals. picked them all up and brought them right too you lol. we ended up rehoming all the inside fuzzy and feathered pets because she would open every pen and ever so gently bring you the fuzzy.

but nearly any dog, with enough training can be good. if they dog has major prey issues one sharp snap from an electric fence will let them know. my old qh learned that if he had a winter coat on or timed it just right he could run threw with out getting zapped. I sprayed his face neck and chest down with water and let him touch the fence. never ever again has he ever run a fence again.