fuzzy_dragonfly Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I'll be brutally honest in saying my initial intention for buying a dog was to deter foxes from my poultry. I'm close to bushland and have spotted foxes too close for comfort. Now I have my pup I'm finding it quite enjoyable to train and bond with her and have plans to continue training and getting her involved in dog sports. Naturally most of the time she is in her own yard, away from the poultry and chihuahuas yard. I let the dogs interact with supervision as the old dogs don't appreciate being jumped all over. On the odd occassion she will chase a chook but this is getting less and less. I can get her attention by playing fetch. She was even locked in the chook yrad by accident one day and didn't ruffle a single feather the whole time she was in there. What I would like to know is as good as she is now with the poultry do you think there may be issues in the future? She always follows me into the chook yard, I hope that growing up with poultry will make her less interested in chasing them. What are your thoughts or training tips when socialising a young pup with chooks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 By the sound of things, your pup is doing well. Just keep a close eye on her whenever she is around the chooks and continue to discourage any chasing that she may do. She is still young and learning the rules, so until she is older and more settled, supervision is the key. Don't let her have any access at this stage which is not monitored. Having said that, you should try to give her as much experience as you can with them, while she is still young. She seems to be pretty casual about them in the photo. I don't think you will have any problems in the future if you do the correct groundwork now. Good luck and let us know how she progresses. Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 You may want to try getting her to sit, and 'down' when in with the chooks.... don't just let her wander. As she grows there is the chance all that feathery movement will excite her... but if she links "chooks" and "lying quietly".... maybe.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 (edited) I also have chooks, mine are free range and only go in at night. My pup 1st thought they were good toys and chased them a bit but after taking him to them on a lead and getting him to sit he now leaves them alone. What i did was get the chooks a bit ruffled so they made nosie and flapped their wings around him while he was on the lead so it was in a controlled situation. I think when a pup grows up with other animals they tend to leave them alone, I also have sheep and cows and he just sits and watches them lol. Sharon Edited November 6, 2008 by Raven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trifecta Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Your puppy is doing very well! On the occasion when she chases a chook, you must reinforce the chooks are part of the pack & are "yours" & under no circumstances are to be chased. A behaviourist friend of mine has actually trained a cat-killing JRT to live harmoniuosly with two cats & free range chooks. She also knows to leave lizards & snakes alone, but is allowed to hunt & catch rabbits. One of the cats is particuarly cheeky & tries to make eye contact with the JRT & sits very close to her..... so she turns her head away from him & pretends he is not there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Midol Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 A dog won't keep foxes away imo, unless it's specifically bred for that. My two sibes were asleep maybe 3m from my duck enclosure... a fox got in, took all 3 and my dogs didn't even wake up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzy_dragonfly Posted November 8, 2008 Author Share Posted November 8, 2008 (edited) I just noticed that the buff rooster's head is on backwards . First couple weeks I had her on lead in the chook yard, so she'd get used to the sights and sounds of poultry. Sui chases one of my cats, but he starts it by encouraging the chase! I think she was eating a chook poo in the photo ;) . I don't generally let her eat it but I don't want to draw too much attention to it either so that it doesn't become a big thing. I have a puppy training book that says drawing attention to it might make the behaviour worse and most grow out of it eventually. BTW my chooks are all wormed and lice/mite treated regularly ;) . Actually the chooks are pretty good around Sui, but as you can see from the next photo they're fairly layed back chickens: EDIT: I know it won't stop foxes to have a dog, it might deter them though, if they don't think the poultry will be an easy meal ticket. The poultry are locked in at night. I know a fox wouldn't dare enter from the back property because of the neighbours rotties. Also when I lived at Belmore the neighbours German shepheard would alert us to foxes and feral cats near the poultry. Edited November 8, 2008 by fuzzy_dragonfly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sausy.dog Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 I have found that dogs only deters them if the dog is around all the time. If the dog is not there just once they seem to know. My dog is a great fox deterrent but a few years ago I had to shut her in for just one night and I lost chooks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonymc Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Fuzzy, the future depends on several factors such as your awareness and management,the dogs level of drive and an outlet for drive. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puglvr Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 My first post. I have pugs and two of them are lethal around chooks. We have enclosed the orchard where the chook houses are, so the chooks can't get out but still manages too. If they stay out of the house yard they are fine. But if they come in the yard Elly will kill them if i'm not quick enough to rescue. The others will join in the chase but not actuall attack. The German Shepherds attitude is "oh look there's a chook" How do I stop her. Jane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shazzapug Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Your dog looks as relaxed as my Pugs do around my chooks and cats...also the sheep take no notice of the Pugs either. I have heard that the scent of the dog will deter foxes...so either gather up her pooh and place it on your borders of your property or take her for a walk right around it. I know we have foxes cos we see them running across the paddocks but havent lost a duck for a few years now....all we have left is a drake Muscovy who lives freerange and is about 4 yrs old now. BTW she is a lovely looking dog...and I cant see why as a puppy she would change with the chooks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shazzapug Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 My first post.I have pugs and two of them are lethal around chooks. We have enclosed the orchard where the chook houses are, so the chooks can't get out but still manages too. If they stay out of the house yard they are fine. But if they come in the yard Elly will kill them if i'm not quick enough to rescue. The others will join in the chase but not actuall attack. The German Shepherds attitude is "oh look there's a chook" How do I stop her. Jane You just have naughty Pugs Jane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Our dogs do a great job on the foxes, If your dogs have access to the area where poultry are at night time they should do the same. Most dogs will alert that there is a fox, even if they do not chase it off, that's what good country dogs do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paganman Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Hopefully shell be ok but I wouldnt leave her with them when your not there to watch her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzy_dragonfly Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 My first post.I have pugs and two of them are lethal around chooks. We have enclosed the orchard where the chook houses are, so the chooks can't get out but still manages too. If they stay out of the house yard they are fine. But if they come in the yard Elly will kill them if i'm not quick enough to rescue. The others will join in the chase but not actuall attack. The German Shepherds attitude is "oh look there's a chook" How do I stop her. Jane Can you distract them from the chickens? I try to distract Sui as much as possible so I'm the most interesting thing in the yard. I would never leave a dog alone with the chickens no matter how well socialised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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