lozkate Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 (edited) Hi all, There have been a few posts on here about dogs and chooks so we thought it might prove useful to see the results of my hard work with Finlay the gundog! We like this one - Finlay's been n the garden a while and can't work out how to get back in!. The chooks are clearly not bothered by him cos they're still snoozing on the conservatory step! Not the best photography but moment captured! Hope y'all like 'em. Loz n Kate Edited March 29, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Bless him he is doing well - my labrador goes into the garden with me and the chooks and she helps me feed them the corn - she would like the corn to eat - she is a labrador after all and she sniffed their bum and the chicken she sniffed looked round as much as to say "excuse me" It was very funny but she would mother them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Sorry can't view the pics for some reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 I can't see the photos either ( and I'd really like to! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkate Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 We'll try again. Anyone know why the URL for the photos keeps changing? It seems to work for 20 mins then changes to something else and stops working. Loz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 I can see the pics now but i couldn't this morning. Looks like the dog and the chooks are getting along fine! Love the sussex's, they're beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 I'm afraid I had a very sad dog vs chicken day and we are one chicken down Glad you're getting on well, I know that they can get on well together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkate Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hey Jules, He also is a great fox watch. He spotted one crossing the paddocks at the bottom of the garden the other morning and set off like an exocet after it. The weird thing is that he is a workling dog and hunts during the winter months. Go figure! As far as the obscure[d/} chook is concerned, if you mean the brown one, hand on heart we have absolutely no idea! She came to us as a Maran. We had hoped for brown eggs. Then she started laying blue/green. There's a better version of the pic and some others of her on the omlet gallery (link below). If you knhow what she might be please do let us know! Loz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkate Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 Little Chickadee, V. sad. Sorry I posted today! Was it your dog or someone elses? It took about 2 months to de-sensitise Finlay to the Chooks. At first he clearly associated them with Pheasant and they were on his agenda. He was then introduced on the lead and (because he understands 'leave it' means just that) we were able to gradually get him off the lead whilst we were there. He was still very sniffy but more 'leave it' work and some angryness seemed to do the trick. He now mainly ignores them and even seems to give them a wide birth. I know its a bit horse-door-bolted but if you need more detail re dog training I'm no professional but I do think I have had a good deal of sucess and I'm happy to share. Loz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 When I had another look at your signature, I thought she must be a columbine and I edited my post so I didn't look silly!! I've had a look on your gallery though and she's lovely, but I've no idea what she is. Our dog is now ok with the chooks too, but sometimes I have to growl at him when he gets too excited. He's a Springer from working lines although he doesn't work himself. He's got the ideal temperament for a customs dog though. Such a shame Little Chickadee. I'm so, so sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 We have a 6 month old black lab whose parents were gundogs and we have to watch her all the time with our girls. She'll be fine with them one moment and then try to 'play' with them the next - very unpredictable. I'm currently trying to teach her to 'leave it' and hope to have it sussed by the time we get some nice weather because I would like to be able to leave the back door open without worrying. I feel greatly encouraged by the pictures of your lovely dog with your girls . We had one frightening occurrence when Mille actually brought Peony in from the garden - one of my children had left the door open and she got into the garden unaccompanied. Fortunately Peony was just left a little flustered but no worse for her ordeal. Little Chickadee I understand how quickly and unintentionally it can happen and really feel for you and your family. ((virtual hugs)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 LisaP - I'm sure your dog will show less interest once she is a bit older. Jasper (Springer) was 2 when we got the chooks although he still behaves like a silly pup. I didn't trust him around the chooks but when Marigold was poorly and couldn't move hardly at all - she was a total "sitting duck" - he didn't take his opportunity. He still gets very excited by new chooks (although he spends half his life very excited about something! ) and runs around the perimeter of the run trying to get in (he's always good for testing the run for potential weaknesses!). He's a big baby really, but I've seen him shake his teddy bears and shudder to think if that were a chook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkate Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 LisaP Oh what joy you have to come! Labradors are ruled by stomach and are therefore quite bidable. That said its essential to understand that if you reward the wrong thing you that you can not undo! You can only adapt. What seems endearing at 3-6 months becomes a nightmare at 36! I have learnt by my mistakes. The best command, which Finlay will reponds to 100% is 'leave it'. We did not understand the significance until he was maybe 2 years old. If only we could have embedded 'come back' - hey-ho. We got the 'leave it' using clicker training - v.v.v. good method! if you want the detail please PM me. I said I'm not a professional so don't expect a step-by-step! Otherwise, if you don't intend to hunt/pick up with your dog please still train him. You'll all love it and you wont beleive how well you can communicate! If you know all this already sorry fo the granny-sucking-egg moment! Loz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Too Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 We too have two black Labs Both ignore the chickens. BUT Benson (actually a Guide dog Puppy who goes on Tuesday may have to change name to Dogs One ) has a real taste for chick poo well at least he has learnt not to chase chickens, pigeons or anything else for that matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayhatch Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 My parents my sister and I own two labs (a chocolate lab called Chester and black lab who came from the RSPCA called Poppy) and when they see a wood pigeon in the garden they go chase it. Don't think I will try them with chickens! So I don't think I'll be getting any chickens whilst I'm living with my parents! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkate Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 Finlay will still chase pigeons if they land in the garden, he just totally ignores the chooks as if he knows that they are also part of our family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Superjules and Lozkate - Thanks for your advice. We lost Kate, our lab/collie x, in January. She was only 6 and we had had her since she was 8 weeks old Problem was she was so easy going and easy to train, I think we took it forgranted that Mille would be the same. We were soooo wrong At the moment Mille chases anything from bumble bees to leaves and is completely unable to walk in a straight line - more sort of bouncing in zigzags We have had her since 9 weeks and love her to bits so I think we just have to look at her training as a challenge. We've had a very unsettling week with the loss of my mum in law, but when things are back on more of an even keel my husband and I are going to take Mille to classes - we've realised she's not Kate and we're going to need help. LisaP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Sorry to hear about your bereavement. Good idea to take your new pup to classes. They were great for Jasper and I - we both learnt a lot despite the fact I've had dogs before. We found our dog trainer just by asking around other dog owners while we were out walking. Hope you get on ok. Know what you mean about chasing - Jasper goes after litter blowing down the road on a windy day! (as well as rabbits, squirrels, any birds other than the chooks, cats, butterflies......) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
