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Barnyard Buddies:  Introducing a puppy to the chickens....help  |
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 28 2010 : 07:18:52 AM
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I have a Great pryenees Lab mix puppy, just four months old. I've had him out with the chickens and I can tell he would love to chase them. I was looking for advice on how I can mix him into the flock with out losing any chicks. I know not to trust him, and the chickens have not been out that much because of our weather. I'm sure that spring is around the corner and I would like them all to get along, as friends, not as playmates. The chicken always loses when they "play". Thanks, Carol
Forget buns of steel, I'd rather have buns of cinnamon!
Farmgirl #680! |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2010 : 10:45:04 AM
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Probably would have been better to introduce the puppy to the chickens when the chickens were bigger than the puppy. Don't let anyone tell you that if your dog kills a chicken that you should tie the chicken around his neck and make him drag it around for days. Didn't work for us, he thought it was a meal "to go".. Sorry I don't have any real advice.
Belle |
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2010 : 10:51:28 AM
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I couldn't bear to do that, and that's mostly the advice I have gotten. I just want the puppy comfortable around the chicks, and not see them as playmates. Thanks Belle
Forget buns of steel, I'd rather have buns of cinnamon!
Farmgirl #680! |
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rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2010 : 11:11:41 AM
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Carol, I thinks it's wise to want to introduce your puppy to the flock and any other livestock you may have. It is a delicate matter because he will definitely want to "play" with them. I would start in a small space with your pup loose and you holding one of the chickens. Let him smell it, stare at it, whatever so he can be curious,but you're there to push him away or discipline him if he gets too curious. Or, if you have a coop or fenced area, let him watch from a distance a while. As he gets bigger and learns to obey commands, maybe introduce him to them, but on a leash (I like the retractable kind). This should give you a good idea how he will be and you can still intercede if needed. You're right though, I still wouldn't 100% trust him. I think lots of us take for granted and forget that they are animals first, pets second.
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!" |
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southerncrossgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
631 Posts
Gena
Harmony
NC
USA
631 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2010 : 11:47:57 AM
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Carol, I have a Great Pyr and I read everything I could regarding that breed. What I found was not to leave them alone with any livestock, until they are at least 8 months old.
She has never tried to hurt any animals. I didn't leave her until she was over a year though
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2010 : 4:13:31 PM
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I trained three dogs to go to the barn,I have free range chickens and I taught them all to leave them alone.
I started by holding a chicken and allowing them to sniff..[by the way i taught all my dogs leave it]. Then they got to be out with a lunge line on, if they got too rowdy i made them sit, then it was off lead and I would watch closley and remind them to leave it or just watch [another command I taught my dogs]. This has worked for me. Out of my 5 dogs [2 rotts., 1 labx, 1 jackrusselx, and a yorkie [too old to go out]] I have three that are trust worthy. Now I plan on working with my young rott. [she is going to be three, only had her 1 1/2]soon. She was a mess no manners, no listening, nothing!!! She is now ready for more training!
No leave it, I started by using food. Lay it on the floor, and stand with it between your legs, tell the dog leave it. This is usually a good step after sit has been taught.
Now as you get the dog to listen, step back.. and keep going [not all in one day, over several days or weeks]. This is leave it. I use this for food, live animals or something they found I want to look at before they inhale it.
Just watch was taught so we could camp and they would not bark. I would start by standing right next to the dog and get them to watch me, not the person or animal... I would say just watch. When they were quite i praised and treated and then eventually praise only. It works... none of my three bark when camping. Now the young rott is not there yet, but we are working on that one. I even use this in the house to quite then when someone comes to the door.
I hope this helps. I would also say look into some clicker training books. I love this method and have used some of the techniques and then also tweaked them too!
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
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Edited by - amomfly on Jan 28 2010 4:16:43 PM |
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 06:58:20 AM
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Thank you guys, great advice. We are going to go very slow with the chickens, I never thought to teach him "leave it" but that is my next trick. He sits, lays down and finally has learned to shake. He also has learned to bring the ball to chase. It has been hard to get him out as much in the cold, I'm the wimp, he loves it! I have used the clicker in the past. Angie, sounds as if you have some awesome dogs. Thanks again girls
Forget buns of steel, I'd rather have buns of cinnamon!
Farmgirl #680! |
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Barnyard Buddies: Introducing a puppy to the chickens....help |
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Introducing a puppy to the chickens....help
