I hate my dog, I want to kill him

[RichmondHens]

Love it! I had a horse take hold of my back while I was grooming him once, and I had to whack him in the tender area to make him let go!

[Two_Sheds]

My OH thinks he can bring a terrier into the house with my parrots, and have them all happily free-ranging with each other.

Na-ah

To a dog (or cat), any smaller moving thing is prey

[janeyo]

How horrible for you to have to deal with that, and knowing it was your lovely dog that did it.
I am not going to give you any what 'should have been dones', no need, it's been done already! And you can't change it.
But take comfort in the fact that your children did not witness it too.

XX

[binley100]

My dog thinks he should pick everything up and bring it in the house whether it be a hedgehog or a baby bird , trouble is some things just can't stand the shock. Don't beat yourself up or take it out on your dog cos of it's natural instincts. It's all down to good ole mother nature.

[Bephlam]

So sorry to hear of that...like you say, it's a lesson learned.

I have three dogs, and three cats who often free range with the chickens...however, I NEVER leave the dogs out alone with the birds....just in case! The cats are a very different story...but my birds are BIG...so the cats don't stand a chance with them!

R.I.P wee Violette....and don't be too hard on the dog...he knows not what he does!

[mr darcy]

So sorry to hear of that...like you say, it's a lesson learned.

I have three dogs, and three cats who often free range with the chickens...however, I NEVER leave the dogs out alone with the birds....just in case! The cats are a very different story...but my birds are BIG...so the cats don't stand a chance with them!

R.I.P wee Violette....and don't be too hard on the dog...he knows not what he does!

yes but that's since last autumn that the dogs have shown absolutely zero interest in the birds, so god knows what suddenly got into his head, he knew he'd done wrong and i did run him under the outdoor tap for quite a long time

[tlck9]

how horrid for you. Unfortunately I have a gun dog (albeit a rubbish one as he is gun shy) and to add he was terrified when a pheasant jumped over the hedge and ran past his nose.

However he gets too excited around the chickens and they have to be in the run when he is on the allotment. Although I dont know what would happen, he has had his nose pecked hard by Henna and Freddie puffed up so big I thought she was going to burst, poor CluckCluck gets very scared.

So although I would love to see them free ranging together somehow I do not have a hope that will happen. Although that said my friends got a doberman and he quite happily runs free with his flock, but I suspect he has been brought up from a puppy to do that and his instinct is to protect his family rather than eat one

it is not to do with bringing them up or their breed unfortunately alot is down to instinct and to chase/catch prey of whatever animal

[Hilary B]

And a cockerel would probably not have made any difference!

[Flummery]

Just about to say the same Hilary. A dog (even a pet one) is as dangerous as a fox to chickens.

[BUFFS]

sorry to hear of you losing your bird,i,was lucky,when my spaniel thought she would chase the birds,they all went for her,ended up one riding on her back,our top hen is a bolshy madam,more of a cockerel in nature,we all think we know our animals but i suppose we only know whats on the surface,hope the kids are okay now.

[frias]

So sorry to read about Violette. My mums guide dog is a big softie and takes no notice of my hens but I still wouldn't leave her with them unsupervised. A fox would probably have taken the cockerel and more than one hen. I know electric fencing is an expensive outlay but it gives great peace of mind.

[mr darcy]

Thankyou everyone the kids are still miserable now again, we buried Violette next to Indie and planted some purple colured dahlias called 'dear love' my son's choice. It's part of the process isn't it, he's defintely greiving as he cuddled her all the time. New birds are fine and both laying from day 1, we'll get used to it...but both Indie and Violette had special personalities, very human freindly. How funny about the hens attacking the dog for the electric fencing, what could I get? would it keep out the dog and the hens wouldn't cross it?

[shirlthegirl43]

Sorry to read of your loss mr darcy. We always had chooks and a mini dachshund when I was a child (and do so now too). Rudi was great with the hens till one day when he saw mum chasing one off the garden at which point he decided to start chasing them himself. He killed one when mum wasn't watching, but the next time she saw him and was so cross she picked up the dead hen and whacked the dog with it - he never touched another hen. Drastic action and possibly wouldn't work with every dog.

Hugs to you and the family, those chooks don't half get a place in your heart xx

[mr darcy]

Sorry to read of your loss mr darcy. We always had chooks and a mini dachshund when I was a child (and do so now too). Rudi was great with the hens till one day when he saw mum chasing one off the garden at which point he decided to start chasing them himself. He killed one when mum wasn't watching, but the next time she saw him and was so cross she picked up the dead hen and whacked the dog with it - he never touched another hen. Drastic action and possibly wouldn't work with every dog.

Hugs to you and the family, those chooks don't half get a place in your heart xx

I heard of someone tying the dead hen to the dog and leaving it for days
I did push his face into the feathers very harshly telling him bad dog, then I ran him under the freezing outdoor tap and made him stay away from us for a couple housr, i know this seems harsh but given that i felt like throttling him he think I was quite restrained

[Nicos]

for the electric fencing, what could I get? would it keep out the dog and the hens wouldn't cross it?

This is where I bought mine from- they posted it to France and were fantastically helpful.
We got the one with finer mesh at the bottom which is supposed to keep out rats etc too.
I understand that once the dogs have been zapped they won't go near it again ( unless in a pack -hunting mode)
My gals fly out occasionally - just one every month on average but they don't have clipped wings and are bantams ( lightweight and good flyers)
It's also green so not so obvious- and a few centimeters taller than other makes I've read up on.
It's family run and are really helpful with advice as to what you do and don't need- worth giving them a ring.
( and nope- I'm not on commission for them, just exceptionally happy with their product and customer care)

Welcome to Electric Fencing Direct - electric fencing and netting systems to contain and keep out animals

I recall someone else on the Vine buying from them too..sorry but can't for the life of me remember who!!!)