Introducing the dog......

[tlck9]

Hi All

I'm slowly trying to introduce the dog to the chucks, being a springer is is supposed to be used to all livestock, but isnt. Anyway here is my problem, or perhaps i'm just after someone to confirm

Mine are on the allotment, in order to get to my chucks, I go past a group of 9 chucks in a covered area. He can see them clearly and is quite happy to walk past with not so much as a murmour

Now, get him near the run of mine and he goes mad....but this is the thing, not at the chickens, but at the coop

Now obviously it will smell of chickens but i'm wondering if he's picking up more than the chickens, do foxes spray? or badgers for instance

the chucks can be out in the run and he pays them little in the way of attention, the odd excited squeal which the chicken seem to find quite interesting and come and have a look at him, wondering why he is making a noise

I'm keen for him to get used to the chickens, obviously through the wire - so are there any tips on how to do this the best way

May be jealousy, but why the excitement of the coop and not the run where the chickens are

[Hilary B]

Hi All

I'm slowly trying to introduce the dog to the chucks, being a springer is is supposed to be used to all livestock, but isnt. Anyway here is my problem, or perhaps i'm just after someone to confirm

Mine are on the allotment, in order to get to my chucks, I go past a group of 9 chucks in a covered area. He can see them clearly and is quite happy to walk past with not so much as a murmour

Now, get him near the run of mine and he goes mad....but this is the thing, not at the chickens, but at the coop

Now obviously it will smell of chickens but i'm wondering if he's picking up more than the chickens, do foxes spray? or badgers for instance

the chucks can be out in the run and he pays them little in the way of attention, the odd excited squeal which the chicken seem to find quite interesting and come and have a look at him, wondering why he is making a noise

I'm keen for him to get used to the chickens, obviously through the wire - so are there any tips on how to do this the best way

May be jealousy, but why the excitement of the coop and not the run where the chickens are

Could it be that the coop reminds him of something from 'a previous life'?

[Eco-Chic]

As you say there may have been a fox prowling around and that would excite/irritate your springer. Could just as easily have been a squirrel, rodents or a cat though. Mine investigate all new scents.

My JRxSpringers killed one of my chooks but I let them out in the main garden where the coop is when the chooks are locked away at night and in the morning. When I first got the chooks I had to keep my dogs on the leash until they learned to be calm around the coop.

Don't be too assiduous in clearing up the dog's poo, as the scent is supposed to warn off the foxes.

[OllieMartin]

...assiduous...

Nice word. Thanks for that

[Eco-Chic]

Nice word. Thanks for that

My pleasure Ollie♥

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi All May be jealousy, but why the excitement of the coop and not the run where the chickens are

Dexter still gets excited every morning, and wants to get out and say "hello" to the girls. He even knows when the gate to the back garden is open! Strange thing is, he goes to the back of the coop - even when the girls are out in the run! There are even Dexter pawprints on the coop at the back.......figure that one out! LOL!
What was that saying..........never work with animals or children?..............

[moola]

having always been a lab lover I have recently moved over to the dark side and have a working cocker pup. These spangels do love the feathered creatures don't they?? ???
My labs don't bat an eyelid at my chooks but pup is OBSESSED!

[winstonwobble]

My springer pup (8months) is quite scared of the chooks wont even try to get their food as he had a good telling off from one of them when he first came and hes never forgot the chooks know the difference in the dogs as they will gladley move out of the way of the other one but make scooby move round them Have you maybe got one thats a bit bossy that you could introduce him to?

[lynda66]

rather than trying to get the dogs used to the chooks, use distraction techniques ... dogs respond well to having something more interesting to do, and once they realise the run/chickens arent as interesting as biccies or balls, they won't even bother with them .... i've just got a staffy pup, and after a week, he no longer even bothers other than a cursory glance to make sure they all there ... also the leave command needs to be reinforced xxx

[tlck9]

I hadnt thought of rodents, he did go mad under the shed when they was put up, so perhaps that could be a reason

Thanks for the tips, I will keep trying.

The only thing is that he is a squealer, does anyone know if this can be determinental to the chickens. They are quite used to dogs, having come from a farm where the guy has several running past the coop/stable

I wouldnt want one to drop of shock if he inadvertently ran up to the run before I could calm him down

[Eco-Chic]

Tick mine have run up to coop bashing on the wire, barking like nutters,trying to push their noses through and the chooks either ignore them or try to peck their noses or paws through the wire.

There is a park behind my garden so every now and then the dogs have a yip yowling convo with 'park' dogs. Chooks totally ignore. They also ignored the fireworks set off about four feet away from their coop in the neighbours garden and three dogs barking furiously at the fireworks to make them go away and then barking a victory bark when they succeeded. I think the chooks look on the coop and run as a bit of a haven against outside hostilities

[mr darcy]

Mr Darcy and one of my mongrels, Spike, were seen nose to beak sharing some bits of dry croissant yesterday. There appears to be a mutual discision not to start anything, normally speaking both have way too many hormones....!!!

[moola]

One of my exbatts takes on the labs - tries to steals their bones!! I'm going to have to tackle my cocker problems - I keep putting it off but I know I have to sort it. I'm going to try the distraction technique for a while with the leave command and if this doesn't work I'll sit him amongst my friends cockerels.

[Eco-Chic]

Blimey, I've heard of clicker training, but rooster training

I'd give quite a lot to see a couple of big bruiser roosters re-educate my dangerous brothers

[moola]

It's meant to work a treat EC. My friend has trained all 3 of hers on this basis. her labs actually run away from her chooks!!!!!