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

[swdypdy]

We have a Great Dane, Brutus, who LOVES his chickens. Our other dog (who has now been re-homed) got a tasting for chicken one day and went after them. He did get one but Brutus defended the entire flock (wish the bird brains knew to hang out by him...he was trying to protect them and they were just wondering around eating oblivious that their siblings were being attacked!) Anyway, the dog that attacked them (A springer spaniel) had been completely fine with them for over 6 months. One day he just got an urge and went with it! I think it truly depends on how faithful you are at training. But I agree it's probably better to stay away from certain breeds....LIKE BIRD DOGS! Man, we're not very smart sometimes!

 

[Cindy2348]

I have a Portuguese Water Dog and she is amazing with my chickens. We also have turkeys too and she mingles right in with them all.

 

[mika4me]

Anyone have experience with Australian shepherds and chickens? I have two Aussies and four chickens who just moved outside to their coop. The dogs will lay with their noses up against the wire practically touching the chickens and the birds don't seem to mind. The dogs don't seem aggressive either, just curious. But I've also seen our dogs take off after the neighbors' chickens when they stray into our yard and chase them right up against a fence with lots of squawking and panic sounds coming from the birds. I think it's because those birds run when they see the dogs, and the dogs want to herd them all up together or something. They don't actually attack the birds but I think if I were a chicken it would give me a heart attack.. How do you train a herding dog to not chase something? It would be nice if the birds and dogs could be out together, but I'm definitely afraid to try it...

 

[Tropical Chook]

I have a dalmatian and a Rottweiler and I would have bet my life on it that they would have killed my birds if given a chance. Then one day I decided to let the birds out, and to my surprise, the dogs weren't even interested in them at all. The Dalmatian chases any form of life that tries to venture onto our property, but she's fine with anything that actually lives here. She won't tolerate the chickens trying to climb on her though, and does snap at them if they try to. Fortunately, all the birds have learned that they must respect the dogs, so yes, peace reigns.

 

[WonderChicken]

Our Treeing Walker Coonhound is the absolute best predator deterrant. Their over eagerness to please you and gentle spirit makes them easy to train. I spent not more than one week training the pup that the chickens were "mine" by letting her out in the yard with me and the chicks and anytime she gave excited energy toward them she was quickly repremanded and she has been wonderful with them ever since. Now she lives outdoors in the fenced yard and guards over the yard night and day. Any predators that come even remotely near are smelled by her and she immediately goes into protective mode defending the fence line. She has accepted the chicks as part of the pack. They wander right up to her and she will push out her snout to give them a sniff. She will even follow them around the yard as they free range and as they move she will follow and find a new resting spot to watch from. Now, yes she is a hunting dog and I do watch her as she stalks her squirrels that come in the yard, but the breeding is such to chase, not kill. Better than a retreiver who is bred to track and retrieve fowl by mouth, or herding breeds who are taught to nip with the mouth. Coonhounds are bred to track and notify, that's it. Nothing in their breeding makes them want to put a bird in their mouth. If the chicks are out while she is eating they will come and eat right out of her bowl with her. They will also drink from her water bucket as well. It's quite comical at times. She likes to share their mash and scratch as well. I've also caught her inside the coop out in the run eating out of the feeder...lol. Sometimes I wonder if she thinks she's a chicken or if she thinks they're dogs. Either way, I am beyond pleased at the relationship between them and am considering breeding her just for this purpose. Sounds like there are many peeps out there who want and need a perfect pup for protection of their flocks ;o)

 

[WonderChicken]

Quote:
I wouldn't try it. The breeding of the herding group is to nip with their mouths while chasing/herding causing panic in the animal being chased. It is in their genetic makeup and unless you have full control over your pups herding instincts and a keen eye to keep on the pup at all times you may not be pleased with the outcome.

 

[nzpouter]

We have dogs and chickens for a long time, of all breeds from daschunds to rottweiler..... all live with all the other animals in this property.... We always treat the dogs as dogs and they have a job, to look after anything within the 4 boundaries where they live in, some had accidents when they're younger but they are given a chance not to make a habit out of it.... and all don't.

Currently we have 3 dogs (pitbull, bull terriers.. from 8-14years old) that will eat sleep and live with goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks and pigeons 24/7 if need be... They will hunt and kill any predators that enter the place and they are fed on raw diets... so whoever told you about dogs and blood, ignore them.

 

[xyresicchick]

My dog is great with chickens.

When I got him he was a rescue dog- a mystery dog that was a stray so we have no way of knowing what he actually is. Well when we brought him home he grabbed my cat by his neck and shook him! It wasn't a KILL shake - more of an "i'm scared of everything and want you to know who is boss" shake. well we right away yelled "NO!!!" at him. he only tried it one other time since then a few days later and we said "NO!!!!!" in that dominant, loud, booming low voice again. he never tried it after that. he was just too scared to try.

when i hatched out my chicks in may, and they started peeping and being talkative... my dog wanted to chew on them! squeaky toys!!!! - yeah.... well I had to figure something out. he already associated the word chicken with getting a treat. because i give him chicken treats... so hmmm. I decided to call them "babies". I would take a chick in my hand and say "see the baby???" and when he got excited I would say "Be nice to the baby..." in the low *boss* voice and he would come over and sniff and if he got too interested, perked his ears or put his mouth near my hand i would say "You be nice..." in the same somber tone. he knows that voice is the DO NOT CROSS THE LINE voice. I did this repeatedly until he knew they were off limits. every day, and every time i was near the chicks it was the same thing. he was never allowed to be with them alone. ever.

my chickens are now 19 months old. when they were about 9 weeks, maybe even younger, my wyandotte roo pecked his nose. he didnt like it! it scared him. he stays a good distance after that. I dont think he expected it. after that i decided to socialize them with him even more. i would randomly pick up one of my chickens and make himsit or lay down and then put the chicken on his head, back, or next to him... being careful, in case he decided to "play".

at this point, he is so used to them that now he will shuffle around in the yard playing with them. i have one hen that will charge at him and he jumps backwards excitedly. then he'll shuffle around and "rarf" at her and she'll turn her head sideways and run towards him again. whenever he shuffles around, she jumps sideways. and when he stops shuffling, she charges him again! it is so funny.

i have a pic of him on my byc page. i think he is either a poodle/spaniel mix or a spanish water dog.

 

[lovemelovemybirds]

Our outside dog is for flock protection though..so it is a bit different circumstances. We have an inside dog too who goes out amongst them? but I would not trust him alone with them ever. The outside flock dog is a Staffordshire/Rotty/Chow mix...spayed female. Sits by the horses at night watching the field. Eats with the birds...she and four geese run the place at night for protection...she was raised with them from six weeks old. I feel that is the key as well......however...we did the same with two heeler dogs at separate occasions. Both killed a chicken. Both are gone now. I kennel my flock dog during the day and let her out after they roost..however, when the time changes it will be dark before I leave..so she will stay amongst them till someone gets home to put her up. Good luck...we've found more than one dog around the flock incites pack behavior....we do not leave the two dogs out with the flock together unattended.

 

[animallover505]

my friend has 2 blue heelers, a boxer, and a lab, and they are all fine around her free range chickens