Re: killer dogs
Julie Stauffer
Tia,
I looked up your problem in my herding training books. Says it is important
to nip it in the bud. Suggests using a retractable leash and having a
chicken get close enough for dog to chase it. Give a command such as "Leave
it!" right before the dog hits the end of the 30' leash. After a few times
and dog is no longer running full out, shorten leash and take him in with
chickens. Use leash and some type of stick or boogeybag (stick with noisy
plastic bag tied on end) to keep dog off of chickens. Have chickens between
you and dog, reaching over chickens with stick (hit the ground, not the
dog).
Just a thought.
Julie
I looked up your problem in my herding training books. Says it is important
to nip it in the bud. Suggests using a retractable leash and having a
chicken get close enough for dog to chase it. Give a command such as "Leave
it!" right before the dog hits the end of the 30' leash. After a few times
and dog is no longer running full out, shorten leash and take him in with
chickens. Use leash and some type of stick or boogeybag (stick with noisy
plastic bag tied on end) to keep dog off of chickens. Have chickens between
you and dog, reaching over chickens with stick (hit the ground, not the
dog).
Just a thought.
Julie
Deborah Lewis
Tia, I did talk to my sister about her dog. She said they put a muzzle
on him. He still tried to chase them, but wasn't able to grab them.
She thought he spent one summer wearing the muzzle when he was going to
be outside and maybe up to a year of mostly off the muzzle, when they
would be with him, but in the muzzle if they couldn't be around. They
never had a problem with him after that. He was pretty young though,
about three years old when they got him. I don't know if that will make
a difference. She also said he was good about the muzzle, but that if
he'd hated it, it probably would have been too hard to make him wear it.
Don't know how you feel about that. = /
Deb L
on him. He still tried to chase them, but wasn't able to grab them.
She thought he spent one summer wearing the muzzle when he was going to
be outside and maybe up to a year of mostly off the muzzle, when they
would be with him, but in the muzzle if they couldn't be around. They
never had a problem with him after that. He was pretty young though,
about three years old when they got him. I don't know if that will make
a difference. She also said he was good about the muzzle, but that if
he'd hated it, it probably would have been too hard to make him wear it.
Don't know how you feel about that. = /
Deb L
Tia Leschke
> Tia, I did talk to my sister about her dog. She said they put a muzzleI'm definitely thinking about it. I want to thank everyone who responded to
> on him. He still tried to chase them, but wasn't able to grab them.
> She thought he spent one summer wearing the muzzle when he was going to
> be outside and maybe up to a year of mostly off the muzzle, when they
> would be with him, but in the muzzle if they couldn't be around. They
> never had a problem with him after that. He was pretty young though,
> about three years old when they got him. I don't know if that will make
> a difference. She also said he was good about the muzzle, but that if
> he'd hated it, it probably would have been too hard to make him wear it.
>
> Don't know how you feel about that. = /
this. Rod and I are talking over how we want to handle it. We don't need
training that would allow him to be out around the chickens when we weren't
there. He isn't ever allowed out unless we're with him. (Our road is
terrible for speeders even if there wasn't a leash law.) Until we get this
sorted out, we just have to only have him out with us when we're really
paying attention to him.
Tia
[email protected]
In a message dated 12/18/2002 3:48:11 PM Eastern Standard Time,
leschke@... writes:
The two things I would recommend are 1) a shock collar. Fast, effective, but
harsh. Or 2) weeks of training with treats (if he's a chow hound) and a
willing, brave chicken. Time-consuming but gentler.
The shock collar can be purchased (and sometimes rented) from a trainer. He
must wear the collar ALWAYS, and you must be willing to zap him whenever he
even thinks about chasing a bird. The first time is HORRIBLE.
The gentler training would start in an enclosed area, on lead. I'd start with
a chicken wing on a long string. Pull the string and make the wing move. If
he goes for it, snap the lead. If he doesn't, "good boy" and a treat.
Gradually, as he becomes trust-worthy with the wing, add a calm chicken. Then
wilder and wilder chickens. After he's trustworthy in the pen, move to an
open area---and start over with the wing (maybe a new wing by now (but you
CAN freeze it)) and move on to the calm and wild chickens. He's ALWAYS on
lead. Then go back to the pen without a lead, If he's trustworthy there, go
to the open. If you've done your job, he should be fine.
If he EVER stumbles, go back two or three steps and try again. He's a dog.
That's the hardest thing for people to remember. He has instincts, and the
"hunt and chase" one is HUGE. As someone said earlier, that's what we've used
to OUR benefit to produce dogs that fox hunt, bird hunt, herd, drive,----so
many things we've manipulated this instinct for.
To do something as simple as to train him to lie down immediately on command
(WITHOUT FAIL, every time you say it) could stop the drive (override it) to
chase and kill chickens. It wouldn't stop the desire, but stop the motion. In
order to TRUST him, you need to stop the desire.
Good luck!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
leschke@... writes:
> Rod and I are talking over how we want to handle it. We don't needTia,
> training that would allow him to be out around the chickens when we weren't
> there. He isn't ever allowed out unless we're with him.
The two things I would recommend are 1) a shock collar. Fast, effective, but
harsh. Or 2) weeks of training with treats (if he's a chow hound) and a
willing, brave chicken. Time-consuming but gentler.
The shock collar can be purchased (and sometimes rented) from a trainer. He
must wear the collar ALWAYS, and you must be willing to zap him whenever he
even thinks about chasing a bird. The first time is HORRIBLE.
The gentler training would start in an enclosed area, on lead. I'd start with
a chicken wing on a long string. Pull the string and make the wing move. If
he goes for it, snap the lead. If he doesn't, "good boy" and a treat.
Gradually, as he becomes trust-worthy with the wing, add a calm chicken. Then
wilder and wilder chickens. After he's trustworthy in the pen, move to an
open area---and start over with the wing (maybe a new wing by now (but you
CAN freeze it)) and move on to the calm and wild chickens. He's ALWAYS on
lead. Then go back to the pen without a lead, If he's trustworthy there, go
to the open. If you've done your job, he should be fine.
If he EVER stumbles, go back two or three steps and try again. He's a dog.
That's the hardest thing for people to remember. He has instincts, and the
"hunt and chase" one is HUGE. As someone said earlier, that's what we've used
to OUR benefit to produce dogs that fox hunt, bird hunt, herd, drive,----so
many things we've manipulated this instinct for.
To do something as simple as to train him to lie down immediately on command
(WITHOUT FAIL, every time you say it) could stop the drive (override it) to
chase and kill chickens. It wouldn't stop the desire, but stop the motion. In
order to TRUST him, you need to stop the desire.
Good luck!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 12/18/2002 6:51:47 PM Eastern Standard Time,
kbcdlovejo@... writes:
thought "WHAT?" before I checked the subject line. LOL I need some sleep.
Amy Kagey
Give the gift of reading:
<A HREF="http://www.ubah.com/ecommerce/default.asp?sid=Z0939&gid=462366"> Usborne Books!</A>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
kbcdlovejo@... writes:
>Geesh, I just read this post on the heels of the "wild boys" posts and
>
> The two things I would recommend are 1) a shock collar. Fast, effective,
> but
> harsh.
thought "WHAT?" before I checked the subject line. LOL I need some sleep.
Amy Kagey
Give the gift of reading:
<A HREF="http://www.ubah.com/ecommerce/default.asp?sid=Z0939&gid=462366"> Usborne Books!</A>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]