What kind of dog is good around chickens?

[MudPie]

E-Collars (shock collars) are great. But follow guidelines when using them. Use it as a training tool, not punishment. Also, purchase a high quality collar. I've seen a number if inexpensive ones that don't carry enough voltage to get through the hair and get the dogs attention. Those products are a waste of money, and effort. The owners just get frustrated w/ the process, abaondon the effort, and the dog will not change it's behavior.

It's a all about getting the dogs attention. It's like having the dog on a leash that is 2 miles long. Teaching the dog that no matter where he is, and no matter how far he is from you, you still have the ability to reach out and correct his behavior.

Putting an electric wire around the base of your chicken run is a good tool as well. About 4 inches off the ground. It deters the dog from digging around the run. Use a electric fence charger for this, not the 120v wall outlet. Fence chargers are high voltage, but extremely low amps. Amps are what kill. I read the other day some knuckle head hook his electric fence straight to a 120v outlet, and it killed a neighbor's child.

And keep in mind, some dogs are just more birdy than others. Depending on the age of the dog, it may be a very long training effort.

 

[Skamaghetten]

I have a shock collar for my French bulldog, she loves to chase the chickens. When the collar is on her, she has no interest in leaving my side. If we always left the collar on her she would never go to the bathroom, catch 22. When the collar is off, all she wants to do is catch her dinner. The collar is not an end all be all, but it does help in many situations.

 

[warmfuzzies]

It totally depends on the dog. My dad always said GSDs were horrible dogs, because they would eat sheep and chickens, but our is the best ever. He never even bothers the tiny babies.

I would say two types are LIKELY to be the bst. Guard dogs and family pet breeds.

Guard dogs because they like to have something to attach to, to protect, and family pet type breeds, because they see them as mambers of the pack, or at least they know you love them, so they should too.

However, the worst chicken killer we had was a blue heeler, and I know people who have had trouble with boxers, labs, etc.

So it really is just each individual dog.

 

[NotTheMomma]

The best kind of dog around chickens is a well trained dog. I would NOT get rid of my dog just because it chases or kills chickens. Take the time, and energy to train the dog to leave them alone. Or else make sure you have separate areas for them. Build a sturdy chicken run, and that way the dogs can't get to them. Plenty of options besides getting rid of a family pet because it doesn't like the new pet.

Too many dogs being passed around because a new baby, a new pet, etc. comes into the family. You don't desert a kid when you have another one do you?

Work to make it happen.

Sorry, but a major pet peeve of mine! Getting a dog is for LIFE. Not just for a few minutes, few years, etc. You make a commitment to that dog when you bring it into the family. Unless it is biting, attacking in a vicious way, etc., and training has NOT helped, then have the dog put down. No need to send a problem to someone else.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Depends on the dog. We had two cocker spaniels named Howard and Ann. Howard was very rowdy, destructive, and would bite strangers or chase livestock. No amount of training helped him. He did like me though and would do his commands but, unsupervised no way!

Ann was the opposite and very humble and was our designated foster mother for any type of animal. At one point we bought a goat kid and it screamed all the time from loneliness so we put it with her and Ann pretty much treated it like her baby. She was even a foster mother for kittens, chicks, ducklings. It was kinda cute watching her lie on the ground and little birds trying to climb under her.

 

[Terri]

It is all in the trainning. My 11 year old pitX is the only one not allowed around the chickens.

 

[warmfuzzies]

I actually agree and disagree.

I think it is all in the training, but after they have killed 7-8 of them, I dont think any training will stop them, unless you put the chicken in a pen and train the dogs never to go near it. But I dont think it would work with ranging chickens.

I would never trust my training over the instincts of a dog that has killed and eaten lots of chickens. But for a dog new to chickens, or a pup, yes, I think that almost any of them should be able to be trained to respect the chickens.

 

[Kotiya]

Someone told me to use the remains of one of the chickens the dog had attacked. Attach it to a rope around their neck. At first the dog will be thrilled with the new toy, but after a few days even the dog can't get far enough away. She said it worked great. I've been waiting to see if we need to try it out for ourselves. Our dog comes in the house, but certainly wouldn't with a dead-chicken necklace on!

 

[BlackBart]

As it has been said before, it is all in the training. Training from day one.

I had a wolf cross, he never touched the chickens.

I now have two Australian Cattle Dogs (Blue Heelers) they don't touch the chickens.
The Red Heeler is a rescue dog and I am her sixth owner and for the life of me I can't understand why, she is a awesome dog! and she doesn't touch the chickens.
The Blue Heeler guards the chick cage but could care less about them when they are older.
As I tell all the fourlegged's, We don't hurt family members

and that goes for the cats too.

I wonder what Cesar Milan would say about tying a dead chicken around the neck of the dog that killed it?

 

[genabeana]

My Shar-pei LOVES the chickens! They're scared of him, though. He would never hurt them, but I could see him getting excited and catching one too rough and killing it on accident. Anyway, as long as a human is with him and them, he's just great. wagging his tail, trying to lick them if they'd stand still! He also loves our Guinea Pig. He's scared too! Poor dog just wants a few friends and everyone runs away screaming!