I am a volunteer with the Humane society. I recently adopted out a dog whose new owners are complaing that she is bringing home the neighbor's chickens. Is there a way to stop this behavior before they are forced to return the dog. Thanks...Please valid answers only.
2007-11-29 07:29:23 · 13 answers · asked by cleosasp47 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
This would be a red zone case. You can teach the dog that the chicken are not prey, but it is complicated and professional trainer is your best bet, =because they are on the scene and can read the dogs signs. He has to be able to go near the chickens and realize that are not food...YET.
The humans in his family have to extablish themselves as pack leaders, by long controlled walks.
Red zone dogs normally have to be pushed into a dominate position. ....before any training can be started. But eventually you can place a chick next to him and he will not touch it because he has been taught not to.
See trainer He is just confused at who is NOW the pack leader. The prong collar works like the bite that a pack leader dog would give him to get him to submit. You need to make him know that YOU are now the pack leader. I'll give you a few tricks.
1) walking on a leash is IMPORTANT. Put him on a leash, and put him in a sit position. The walk starts when he is calm and you decide to start. Go out the door/gate ahead of him and keep him to your side or behind you. If he is out from, then he is the pack leader. IMMEDIATELY when he tries to get ahead or start for another dog, STOP him by pulling UP on the leash, not back. If he continues to try to lead, reverse your direction so that you are now in the lead. If he approaches another dog, put him in a sit position and make him stay there. Keep using the sit position to control, or refersing directions. He should learn pretty quickly that you will tolerate no misbehavior.
2) DO NOT pet or reward him with attention when he is bad. Push him down, stand up, ignore, leave the room.....whatever, but ABSOLUTELY NO, attention to bad behavior. Petting is for good hehavior.
3) In extreme cases, because of bad behavior, push him to the floor on his side, put you hand in a claw position at his neck (feels like a dog bite) and hold him down until he calms. When he can lay on the floor (without your hand on him) in a calm position he will have submitted to your authority. you will be recognized as the pack leader. Be sure you have help around if he is violent so you don't get dog bit. But this is what another dog will do to him to show who is the boss. And you have to be the boss.
good luck
see trainer:http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/
2007-11-29 07:39:22 · answer #1 · answered by Lyn B 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I don't know about your shelter, but most shelters or rescues have a contract with their dog's new owners stating that the dog will never be allowed to roam free or live outdoors. If it were up to me, I would demand the return of the dog...it's obvious that they are not properly caring for it...the neighbor could end up killing this dog if he catches it happening...and being allowed to roam to the neighbors' house? Bad, bad owners! The only way to stop this would be a fence, and keeping the dog indoors when unattended. If it were the owners' chickens, maybe there would be a chance, but it would be kind of hard to train the dog to leave the NEIGHBOR'S chickens alone.
2007-11-29 12:58:44 · answer #2 · answered by Leigh 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can the dog be contained to the property, either by fence, dog run, or walked on leash in the yard? If not, the only answer besides returning the dog is likely using a shock collar (trust me, I abhor the things; the only time I would suggest using one is to save the life of another animal; frankly, I'd probably return the dog first). Predatory behavior can not be "trained out" of a dog, so they would probably need to provide another outlet, such as lure coursing trials or even just "animated" toys that the dog can chew up. If they do decide to use a shock collar, they should work with a trainer who has lots of experience with them.
2007-11-29 07:41:51 · answer #3 · answered by melissa k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shy of "making darned sure the dog never has access to the chickens" by properly securing the dog, the answer is no, probably not. And in many states, the neighbor would be within their rights to shoot and kill the dog the next time it goes after the chickens.
The DOG'S owner needs to be responsible and keep their dog off of their neighbor's property. If they are unwilling or unable to be a RESPONSIBLE dog owner, then they need to find a new home for the dog.
2007-11-29 07:36:15 · answer #4 · answered by Nandina (Bunny Slipper Goddess) 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They should not be allowing the dog to run loose - in most areas it is legal to shoot a dog that is destroying your livestock. The dog could also get run over or attacked by other animals. They need to put up a fence or build a kennel. Our local humane society will not let people adopt dogs if they do not have a way to keep them from running loose.
2007-11-29 07:41:08 · answer #5 · answered by chickadee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would the Humane Society be adopting out an animal to someone who was not taking care of it? The animal should be on a leash or in a fenced yard at all times that is the law and if you, as you say, work at the Humane Society you would know that.
2007-11-29 07:48:06 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Other than keeping the dog away from the chickens, no.
Can they put up a fence? Almost any dog will kill chickens if given access.
I did see a Cesar Milan show where he worked with a dog like this, but they would need access to the chickens to do the training.
2007-11-29 07:50:09 · answer #7 · answered by maxmom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have dogs placed in our shelter for chicken killing and we only place them in homes with fenced yards where the owners keep no chickens. It's prey drive and can't be changed - it's instinctive. The dog can never 100% be trusted around chickens and possibly other small animals (such as rodents, rabbits and sometimes cats).
2007-11-29 07:36:41 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We had a similar problem here, where a husky puppy accidentally killed a duck, and after that, kept intentionally going after other fowl.
The only thing we were able to do with this dog was to get the dog out of the environment where fowl lived - we rehomed him to a house in the city (where he is still living happily with another dog and cat).
2007-11-29 07:33:41 · answer #9 · answered by rjn529 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Before i let my hens have free roam of my place i let my dog sniff them in the coup first,the leave command is a must though,then one day i just let them out & told my dog to leave & she did.
If the lady could actaully workk with her neighbour then than would be a great help:)
2007-11-29 07:39:12 · answer #10 · answered by Karens BCS 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋