Does anyone know of any way to clicker train a dog to get pet chickens off of a porch?

Question

How can I clicker train my dog to get chickens off of a porch without motivating it to chase them or bite them.

Answer 1

Oh, that is going to be tricky!
The problem with this is, if you teach him to chase chickens he may decide to chase them all the time, or at your neighbor's home, which might get him shot..
I would really consult a professional trainer, especially if the dog is not one of the herding breeds...
Sorry, but without seeing your dog, it is almost impossible to responsibly answer that any other way! Blessings- dd

Answer 2

It's hard to say without seeing how your dog responds to the chickens naturally.

I am a big fan of clicker training, but I will say that herding tends to be a natural instinct, and teaching dogs to herd usually involves shaping that instinct. It's one of the few training applications where clicker / operant conditioning is not particularly helpful. That said:

1) Is your dog a herding breed, or has some sort of herding instinct?
2) What does your dog do around the chickens now? Mellow? Excitable?
3) Do you currently feel safe with the dog around the chickens?
4) Will the chickens move away from the dog today if he approaches them?

If you already trust the dog around the chickens AND the chickens will move away from the dog, you could click train him to respond to hand commands to move one or more steps in a particular direction. You might use targeting to do this, either using a target stick that you can hold away from your body, or perhaps put colored tape or plastic lids on the floor to make it clear to the dog where you want him to go. This wouldn't so much teach the dog to herd the chickens as it would let you possibly direct the dog around to move the chickens while you are able to stay put. If the dog has any herding instinct, it's possible he would get the idea after a bit and start doing it on his own, but more likely you'd have to micro-manage the process.

I'm very much a novice in the ways of herding (one of my shepherds just got their first sheep herding title last weekend... yay!) but if your dog does show some inclination toward trying to move or circle around the chickens AND is safe around them, you might practice somewhere other than the porch at encouraging your dog to *gently* move the chickens around, then slowly refine your ability to get the dog to move the chickens where you choose, and then start working with the dog to actually round them up off the porch. In this scenario, I'd actually skip the clicker or any treats and instead just encourage the dog to stay focused on the chickens themselves. This really requires that the act of herding is internally motivating to the dog.

Good luck! I love when we can find practical and functional jobs that our dogs where our dogs can help us do everyday things.

Answer 3

yes when the dog looks at the chicken use the clicker and then each time it moves toward the chicken with out just chase it click again./ it is going to take a little bit of time to do this.

Answer 4

There are a bunch of things you should know about dog training but we are going to discuss what I feel are some the most important. Keep in mind that these are only some of the things you should know. Go here http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?V6M8

1. Repetition is the number 1 principle of dog training. Dogs just like humans learn by doing things over and over in order to get better.

2. Dog Training can and should be fun for both you and your new pet.

3. Training sessions should always be short but sweet. I never work a dog more than 15 minutes in a session to keep from losing the dog's attention. You should train you dog at least once a day but never more than three formal sessions a day.

4. Your goal should be that each training session is just a little bit better than the last one. You need to always strive to make the training better, slowly. I mention this because quite often I see people who do daily training sessions but the dog never gets better and it is not the dogs fault.

5. Having patients is very important in dog training. Losing your temper does not work with a canine it simply makes things worse.

6. Exercise is very important in the training process to get rid of all the dogs nervous energy.

7. Taking your pet for walks is very important because it develops serotonin which gives your dog a feeling of well being.

8. Always be sure to give your dog a bunch of praise in your training. It is your dog's paycheck for doing a great job.

9. Never hit your dog. I have heard people say I never hit my dog instead I roll up a magazine and swat it. It's the same thing... hitting is hitting.

10. After each training session be sure to do something that your dog will enjoy. Take it for a walk, throw the ball or maybe even rub its belly. Just do something that makes the dog look forward to the next training session.

These are things that I teach my dog training students as well as my dog training clients. I hope these things will give you something to think about when training your dog. Spend some time training your dog daily and you will both reap the benefits.

Answer 5

IFIN YOU GOT CHICHENS ON YER FRONT PORCH......CHANCES R YOU JUST MIGHT BE A RED-NECK.