How can I get my dogs from chasing my neighbors cows?

Answer 1

Sounds like you have working dogs and most are natural herders.

I would start by teaching them the long down or ***platz*** command... train them with plenty of rewards or treats... and do not use compulsion... Train them while they are under distraction of the cows.

Start with a long line and just have your dog down. Foot standing on the line and you standing next to the dog.

Your dog will try to get up and you must place back down.. when your dog looks up to you because he really wants to ***go play*** then give him a treat - he is looking at you because you are the alpha and you are commanding him to stay down.

Eventually move away from your dog with the long line still on- return every few minutes to place a treat between his paws for being good... keep it up and eventually *IF* he goes to chase the cows you can always use your down command and retrieve him...

Good Luck
Handler/Trainer GSD's
Member USA- MSSV - AWDF

Answer 2

This is a serious problem - not only for you but for your neighbors. Stressing cattle by dogs chasing and running them causes all kinds of problems for the farmer who depends on his livestock for his livelihood.

Worse yet would be the casual horseback rider whose mount gets accosted by dogs running loose. WOW! Talk about injuries - and law suits.

Think of it this way: Imagine you're a lawyer and your neighbor lets her kids run loose in your office knocking over file cabinets and such. That would cause a whole lot of problems for your business.

So even though you may live in the country where one would expect that dogs should be allowed to run loose - the truth is - No, they shouldn't be allowed to run loose. EVER!

You need a good fenced in kennel for your dog to be in while he's outside unsupervised. They're not cheap - with a cost about $250 U.S. but they're well worth it.

I would avoid tethers as Fido could get tangled up in it or he could choke - and they break, collars slip etc. No. A good chain-link or woven wire kennel is the way to go.

Then take Fido to obedience school and work with him every day until you have a truly reliable recall ("come") command etc. so he can be outside in a supervised situation unleashed.

Until then, keep Fido on a leash - or in a kennel.

Trust me. The farmer has the right to shoot Fido if he poses a threat to his cattle.

Answer 3

Train him not to. Keep a leash on him. Reward him when he doesn't chase cows. Put the dog in a fenced area.
This is a really important problem because in many areas, like California, ranchers are allowed to shoot and kill anything that goes after their animals. I've seen ranchers kill dogs that were chasing their sheep.

Answer 4

Get an invisible fence installed 2 feet from the neighbors cattle fence, and , if they have board fence, run a strand of 12 gauge 4 prong barbed wire between the bottom board and the ground, this added slowdown combined with the invisible fence should prove a formidable, although not perfect, deterrent. your neighbor will pay for the barbed wire i am sure, it keeps calves from rolling under the fence when very young

Answer 5

Shock collar. We had a dog that we had to use it on. It was the only thing that worked! Because you can get in trouble for the dog doing that. Where I live the neighbors can shoot any animal that is in their yard. Good luck!!

Answer 6

get a dog fence or chain him up. I have pet dogs. I also have cows and sheep. I HATE IT when people let their dogs chase my livestock. I used to be nice about it and tell people to please keep their dogs at home but it never worked. So now I just shoot any dog I see on my property. I suggest you keep your dog at home or your neighbor will get angry and shoot him. Livestock can easily die from heatstroke, stress or heart attacks if they are scared and run down so it is not fair to us livestock owners when people let their dogs run loose and kill our animals.

Answer 7

maybe take them on a leash where they would chase the cows but hold them back and get them use to NOT chasing the cows. Also keep treats with you to feed them when they dont struggle to chase them. =]

Good Luck

Answer 8

Fence your yard - solid privacy fence on the cow side. Your neighbor is entitled to shoot the dog for "harrasing livestock" and in my area will be advised to do so by animal control.

Answer 9

petsafe makes an electionic training collar. At first you push the 'shock' button and it will emit a tone and shock ( at whatever level you set it at ... i use a 3 for my chihuahuas and an 8 for my lab. it goes to 10. when i had him on it the doberman was a 10, and it only worked a little). theres also a 'tone only' button and once they get that the tone means stop because what your doing is not correct... because a dog chasing a cow is not bad its instinct.... you can revert to tone only and they freeze and usually look at you like... what? . trust me it works.

Answer 10

Don't let them run loose. Either put them on a leash or fence them.

In many areas, farmers have the right to shoot dogs caught harassing livestock. If you don't stop your dogs, the neighbor might.