The Poultry Keeper

greentree · Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 160 Location: Wicklow - Ireland

Just got a 9 month old springer spaniel. He was a stray that we got at the pound. He is a wonderful dog but is mad to get at the hens!

Any advice here?! I have some experiance training dogs but am I wasting my time with this one since he's a natural gun dog? Will he always try to go for them?!

Mick

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7145 Location: isle of lewis

i'm working on one at the moment
she's got a strong working instict ,lead ,loads of praise for not looking and titbit (livercake)to distract ,maybe teach a touch
don't let it happen or you'll have a devil of a job sorting it as the chase is loads of fun,i also use a shake tin Wink

greentree · Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 160 Location: Wicklow - Ireland

Here's the mandatory pic!

Sedgewort Bramble · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:41 am Post subject:

The fact he's a Gundog makes no difference to him wanting to chase. I run 3 Cocker Spaniels, and they all had to learn what NOT to chase.
They now run around the garden along with chickens, and make no attempt to chase or retrieve them.

That magic work 'NO'.....

Bob

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1383 Location: Carmarthenshire

Loads of distraction training ON LEAD to begin with - spaniels love food so you shouldn't have a problem. Just stand by the chickens with him and if he starts to make a move tell him firmly "no", each time he looks away or ignores them give him lavish praise and reward with something nice and tasty (not chicken!!!! Laughing

). If he really is so intersted that he doesn't look away then move further away from the chooks - moving nearer as he responds. Good Luck. We have 7 dogs, including a spaniel, and all have been taught not to chase the sheep and chickens, they are out in the paddock right now with my OH playing ball and saying hello to the new lambs Very Happy

with both the sheep and chickens around.

greentree · Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 160 Location: Wicklow - Ireland

Thanks Guys - Training will start today!

So, letting him race around the chicken enclosure at 100mph is a big no no!?

I'll get out the treats and make sure he's not off the lead in the field for the next few weeks!

Mick

Sedgewort Bramble · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject:

The best advice I was ever given....

Decide what you DON'T want your dog to do.
Then make sure he doesn't.

Bob

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1383 Location: Carmarthenshire

Very very good advice Sedgewort!

I've been a dog trainer (puppy, pet obedience, flyball and agility) for more years than I care to remember and it still amazes me the things that owners allow their dogs to do then moan about it!!!!

Esther.R · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 75 Location: Shetland

I am currently training my whippet that hens are not prey and so far it is working very well. He is now 'hen safe' providing he knows I am watching him, if he thinks I can't see he will try and have a chase though but a growl from me stops him in his tracks. I just introduced them gradually and everytime he went to chase he got told off, when he ignored them and looked at me he was rewarded and it only took a couple of weeks to make him reasonably hen friendly.

debcat · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject:

one of my collies is like that, as long as you are outside with him he leaves them alone. I wouldn't trust him out on his own, he wouldn't attack them nastily but seems to think they are for playing with
The other one will happily wander round with them all day and just ignores them

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1613 Location: Clawddnewydd

one of my collies is keen on the poultry too. That said, I have a couple of cochin cockerels who think nothing of pecking him if he gets too close (much to his utter

) I wouldnt trust him 100% though......... A sharp "no" usually does the trick.

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2474 Location: South Cumbria

Our 3 are fine when we are there but I wouldn't trust the Border terriers on their own but Lab is ok, the Borders have learnt they cannot catch the guineas though as they are sometimes in the same area as the dogs as they fly the fence

greentree · Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 160 Location: Wicklow - Ireland

Thanks for all the replies! He's getting calmer and calmer now around the hens. It will be a few weeks though before I can take him off the lead.

Another question! - Do you think he would be any good in keeping the fox away during the day?

Mick

greentree · Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 160 Location: Wicklow - Ireland

OK - 1 week later!

I was just out for an hour with him playing fetch in the field beside the hens. After the initial dash towards the pen, he spent the rest of the time just ignoring them and chasing the ball!

I think we are nearly there!

Mick

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

Sounds good!