Ready To Kill The Dog (am joking I think)

[Potstubsdustbins]

When training a gun dog because of where they work usually on a farm steadiness is a prerequisite. They must be steady with any animal or fowl. This can take a long sometimes very long time.

The only reward given is a short retrieve with a dummy, and lots of kind words no sweeties, no sausages you just end up with a fat dog. If you dog has a favourite toy, ball etc use this as a reward and loads of praise when it goes right.

It starts with hours spent walking the dog on a lead among all the various 'others' he may meet, but before that he must walk to heel on command.

One of the methods used to get the dog to walk to heel under any circumstances is to use a fine leafy twig. First take the dog away from all distractions. Choose the side you are going to walk the dog on I prefer my left so twig in right hand. Hold him on a tight lead so that his head touches your leg, walk him and after a few steps relax your grip on the lead just enough for him to move forward. As soon as this happens lay the leafy part of the twig on his nose and shake it whilst giving you command. He won't like this and will pull back from the twig allowing you to tighten the lead, immediatley praise him and start again. Another 20 steps and repeat you will be suprised how quick he will pick it up. You can then start to walk him near to livestock always on the lead and always with the twig. He will slowly start to steady down and shortly thereafter will be looking at you and not at the livestock which will have become mundane and uninteresting.

Colin.

[VirginVegGrower]

When training a gun dog because of where they work usually on a farm steadiness is a prerequisite. They must be steady with any animal or fowl. This can take a long sometimes very long time.

The only reward given is a short retrieve with a dummy, and lots of kind words no sweeties, no sausages you just end up with a fat dog. If you dog has a favourite toy, ball etc use this as a reward and loads of praise when it goes right.

It starts with hours spent walking the dog on a lead among all the various 'others' he may meet, but before that he must walk to heel on command.

One of the methods used to get the dog to walk to heel under any circumstances is to use a fine leafy twig. First take the dog away from all distractions. Choose the side you are going to walk the dog on I prefer my left so twig in right hand. Hold him on a tight lead so that his head touches your leg, walk him and after a few steps relax your grip on the lead just enough for him to move forward. As soon as this happens lay the leafy part of the twig on his nose and shake it whilst giving you command. He won't like this and will pull back from the twig allowing you to tighten the lead, immediatley praise him and start again. Another 20 steps and repeat you will be suprised how quick he will pick it up. You can then start to walk him near to livestock always on the lead and always with the twig. He will slowly start to steady down and shortly thereafter will be looking at you and not at the livestock which will have become mundane and uninteresting.

Colin.

No chance with a terrier. I went dog training for five years with my boxer and was taught a whole raft of stuff, none of which will sink into a terrier's brain with hens on his mind. He is very well trained, comes immediately when called - all prior to the hens arriving. Just got to let him smell and get bored. All on the lead of course

[Two_Sheds]

You can then start to walk him near to livestock always on the lead and always with the twig. ... the livestock which will have become mundane and uninteresting.

lol !
Have you actually succeeded at this, or just read the method? It might work with a docile breed, but terriers are bred to chase & hunt.

[VirginVegGrower]

lol !
Have you actually succeeded at this, or just read the method? It might work with a docile breed, but terriers are bred to chase & hunt.

I thought I might ask Rupert to read it but he was too busy reading his chicken cook book

Seriously, the comments are helpful and would work with the labradors/spaniels of the world but Rooty is too terrier-like. Am thinking electric fence might be my only answer here.

[Nicos]

Electric fence???...our new cat Hibou boldly stalked our chooks until her ear touched the electric fence..and ....POW!!... ZAP !!!...YEOWWW!!....

worked a treat!!

...she now observes them from afar!!

[OverWyreGrower]

Electric fence???...our new cat Hibou boldly stalked our chooks until her ear touched the electric fence..and ....POW!!... ZAP !!!...YEOWWW!!....

We thought about this, but realised that our dogs are used to electric fencing from being brought up around horses....

They regard the shocks as minor irritations, and don't care whether they get zapped!

Luckily, we realised this before spending tons of money on an electric fence!

[VirginVegGrower]

We thought about this, but realised that our dogs are used to electric fencing from being brought up around horses....

They regard the shocks as minor irritations, and don't care whether they get zapped!

Luckily, we realised this before spending tons of money on an electric fence!

Hells bells - don't know what to do then!

[OverWyreGrower]

Hells bells - don't know what to do then!

If Rupert hasn't ever been exposed to electric fencing - this could work - I still think you'd need to match it with training/desensitisation etc.

Our 2, however, have been dealing with it since they were teeny puppies.
They will run around the horse fields and just duck under, or jump over the tape. If they get zapped, they don't even make a noise anymore.

(P.S. Have to point out that they don't just run in random fields willy-nilly! The fields and horses belong to their breeder/our friend and the horses are used to dogs being there)

[Dazy]

I have two terriers, a staffie and a patterdale and both are very good round the chooks, that said they are dogs and any dog should not be left around chooks unattended, don't give up just yet and please find some low calorie treats if you intend to use any.
I would get myself a cuppa and a chair, dog on a lead with muzzle(if you feel it's necessary) and sit close as you can to where the chooks wander, it should be possible for you to get your dog to sit beside you but if you can't stop the excitable behaviour then ignore it completely but stay calm! only speak or react when the dog has calmed down.
This would be best done by the person whom the dog regards as "pack leader" perhaps a couple of times a day with a set time limit, after exercising the dog would be ideal as it should not be as full of beans.
Consistence, patience and time are all essential for dog training but particularly terriers

[Potstubsdustbins]

2 Sheds you can laugh as much as you like but you obviously know little or nothing about working dogs. Yes I have trained them to a very high standard and yes it really works if you have patience and commitment. It usually takes about 2 years with training sessions every day but the results are well worth it.

You laugh away but I want my dogs to work at distance as well as stand to heel. I want them to hunt to command, to retrieve to command, to change direction to command, to sit to command and not move ever until told to. These commands to be given by mouth, whistle or just hand signal.

My dog will hunt in a field of sheep and totally ignore them and remember he is hunting but he as been taught what to hunt for and what to ignore.

Dogs do have natural instinct and all we do is utililise that instinct to our own ends, we either enhance it or curb it to suit our purpose. A springer for instance is first and foremost a hunting dog and we must retain this instinct but curb it just enough to make them steady with livestock. It isn't easy but it can and is regularly done.

Just because you might find it difficult to understand please don't laugh at people who know better. Just as I don't gainsay your comments on gardening for I believe you know what you are talking about.

As to terriers if you start with them young enough they to can be taught to be steady with livestock. If you doubt this go and watch the man who works his terrier on you local farm. I have never trained a terrier but they use similar methods to what we use to train springers. Which is lots of exposure under controlled circumstances and lots of praise and fun when they get it right.

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

2 Sheds ... you obviously know little or nothing about working dogs.

None taken

[mandyballantyne]

Hi,

This is not an advert for a product

But have a look at this site Secret to Happy Pets

I have used both the cat and dog products with great success you can get it from your vet who will give you great advice too!

Mandy

[PAULW]

Hi,

This is not an advert for a product

But have a look at this site Secret to Happy Pets

I have used both the cat and dog products with great success you can get it from your vet who will give you great advice too!

Mandy

IMO chemicals are no substitute for good training

[Potstubsdustbins]

Paul, their not as much fun or as rewarding either.

Colin

[VirginVegGrower]

I have two terriers, a staffie and a patterdale and both are very good round the chooks, that said they are dogs and any dog should not be left around chooks unattended, don't give up just yet and please find some low calorie treats if you intend to use any.
I would get myself a cuppa and a chair, dog on a lead with muzzle(if you feel it's necessary) and sit close as you can to where the chooks wander, it should be possible for you to get your dog to sit beside you but if you can't stop the excitable behaviour then ignore it completely but stay calm! only speak or react when the dog has calmed down.
This would be best done by the person whom the dog regards as "pack leader" perhaps a couple of times a day with a set time limit, after exercising the dog would be ideal as it should not be as full of beans.
Consistence, patience and time are all essential for dog training but particularly terriers

Funnily enough we have tried this today and it's working, so tonight Rupert got a squeaky pig toy for reward. He is lying back in front of the fire - his favourite place with none of the whining/constant wanting to go out of previous days/nights. I think we may be getting somewhere, although not with my daughter who picked up a squeaky chicken - is she having a larf!?