pfitz Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Anyone on here got a border terrier. Mine is very interested in my new chickens and I am interested to hear of how other people have introduced dogs to their new chickens. My dog's instinct is to chase anything small which moves, but I think he can be trained out of it with gradual exposure under controlled circumstances. Any tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 A friend has a Border Terrorist and has managed to train the instinct out of him, but still doesn't trust the little tyke enough to leave him alone with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 A friend has a Border Terrorist . That's so funny AND so true! I've been owned by them in years past. It's very true of a lot of terriers. My step daughter has a small female Staffie and she is horrible to the hens. Well, I say horrible, but only the once!!! I'm afraid I've banned her ... the dog that is ... from visiting. My two Border Collies are as soft as anything and the younger one is actually frightened of the chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Shepherd type dogs are usually fine, Terrorists are so hard to train, mainly because of their natural instincts, but also because they have very dominant characters. My lurcher is still learning, but she's only a pup and doesn't go near the feather hellions unless she's on a lead or there's a fence between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margalot Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 We have a Parson Russell Terrier who just wants to kill the poor chickens Hence we have to have free ranging times when she is shut in. We tried to introduce her gradually but it hasn't worked and she has even been pecked on the nose twice when she sticks it through the run bars.....still hasnt deterred her! I am thinking of buying a remote spray collar now as she will ignore any treat when she is looking at the chickens, feel quite sad because she used to have freedom of the whole garden and is now on a rota shift with the chooks. I cant blame her thought becasue she is just doing what she was born to do! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 These working terriers just go for it, don't they. When I was working I got involved in an RSPCA case of badger baiting. Two lakeland Terriers were dug out of the ground after their owners abandoned them after a police chase. Their noses were an absolute mess but they were still "Gung Ho" I subsequently found out from the RSPCA that there were underground dog shows for which one of the prizes was for "The Most Scarred Nose". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koo2cat Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 My sister has two borders and my Mum had one until she passed away at Christmas. My sisters dogs are a nightmare when they come up but I put that down to the fact they don't live with chickens so they are a bit of a novelty. They love our rabbits and cats too. My Mum's dog however never bothered with any of our pets! Maybe that's because she was old (and deaf!). Our next door neighbor but one recently got two Omlet hens and an Eglu and sadly her Cairn Terrier got them both !! I love Border Terriers and would love one but think I have enough animals at the moment!! Hope they get along soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Some dogs are fine and can be trusted with chooks, but personally, I wouoldn't leave any dog alone with chooks as the feathered hellions are inclined to do the flapping thing, which sets a dog off. Gamebird's Lab is fine with her girls and my friend's 3 GSDs are too, but it always worries me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 My little monster is fine with them... just likes to lick their legs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola O Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I've got a Min. Poodle - Millie - who has been fine since day one - she's not interested in the chooks at all, just wants to get in the run and eat the pellets. I also have a little wire haired Jack Russell cross type of terrorist - Freda - who simply wanted to eat the chooks , and in the first year I had them she got hold of one a couple of times during supervised into's - she had lulled me into a false sense of security and I let her off the lead. I left it thinking that we never would be able to let them mix, but decided to try again about 18 months ago. I stated off walking her round the garden on a lead, tied her to something so she couldn't chase them, and as things improved let her wander round dragging the lead (that seemed to slow her down a bit), all this was done with me watching her like a hawk. Now she is like a different dog. She can be out with the chooks when I am in the garden as well and she is as good as gold, even though I don't compleley trust her as I do Millie. Sorry to ramble on, but really wanted to say that it is possible to have a degree of calm and harmony when you try to mix a terrier in with chickens, it just takes time and patience. Nicola Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 My little monster is fine with them... just likes to lick their legs lol... My GSD is an angel with my girls I can leave her outside whilst I do a bit of hoovering and she keeps watch. In my chicken encyclopedia it does mention as Claret says that shepherd type dogs are good with chickens. my MIL'S JRT doesnt get on with them and they dont like her (Ella gave her a good pecking one day!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I have a border terrier called Dennis who is nearly 5. When I first got my chickens I despaired as he would try and grab them by the neck whenever they got near enough and I ended up having to shut him in when I was out with the girls. But after a few weeks I got fed up with his whining by the door whenever we were out and let him out. By then the girls were bigger and when he got too near they went for him and he has not gone near them since. But interestingly whenever i get new chickens he goes mad again, desperate to get near them. I think they can be trained out of it and it is to do with them being used to the chickens - at the mo I have new ex bats who he wants to get at but 3 oldies who he walks past and ignores - I think it's the novelty. I would now leave him with the oldies alone in the garden which I never thought would be possible. Give it time, keep the girls safe from him/her till they are used to each other and it should calm down... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Ruby isn't too bad with my girls until they flap - that sets her chase instinct off She's only a pup though and I'm hoping to train her to be more tolerant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I don't have any experience with terriers but I do have a Labrador Retriever with all the inbred retrieving instincts. It does all depend on your relationship with the dog and who is pack leader. Oliver (my dog) and I work well together and he is happy for me to be the boss. When I first got the chickens I praised him for ignoring them and when he showed interest in them I distracted him and when he responded I again praised him. He soon learnt that if he ignored them he got a treat and lots of fuss. I also have a certain noise I use which means "NO, do not do that" (sounds like a hissing noise - a bit like an aerosol spray) which has in the past been backed up by jabbing two fingers in the side of his neck (which is what the alpha dog in a pack would do to reprimand a naughty dog, except it would use it's teeth!) - so it's a language they understand rather than shouting at them which can confuse them. Some dogs are easier than others and it all takes time and patience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hens@HalfMoonLane Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 We have a border Terrier cross who is brilliant with our hens - she's more interested in eating their food - infact until we got the hens I thought she was possibly the greediest animal ever. When out walking she'll chase anything. We also have a GSD X collie rescue dog that I don't think would ever be OK with the hens. Hope you manage to get her used to them it will make life much easier and enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I have a border terrier called Dennis what a great name for a dog I love it when dogs have "men" names. We have a neighbour with a big fluffy thing called Reg...love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 My Welsh Terrier was once in the garden and one of the chickens escaped from the run (I was putting some food in for them) he didn't know what to do with the chicken so rounded her up for me! I have to say if it had flapped its wings he would have got excited and there could have been disasterous results. He will get excited if the chickens are making a fuss in the run but otherwise totally ignores the run now He will leave anything if told to "leave it!" firmly but I would never trust him alone with the chickens loose Its one big game of crowd control to me! keep them apart or separated by a sturdy run and all will be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I have a border terrier called Dennis what a great name for a dog I love it when dogs have "men" names. We have a neighbour with a big fluffy thing called Reg...love it. That's a great name too - I wanted to get 2 and call the other one Norman! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 The dog we're fostering at the moment - Gina, a lurcher / staffie cross - is definately interested in anything small, furry, feathered or fluffy. The first time my girls saw her they freaked out and flapped about which only excites our dog more. But then they did the same reaction to the neighbours cats for a while. They now mostly stand still and try to stare her out! (Through their run mesh) she eventually looses interest when the girls are calm. I would never trust her on her own with the girls out of their pen though. It's just too tempting, plus I don't think the terrier in her will ever leave them alone If we still have Gina over the summer then it'll be sharing the garden in shifts for the girls to get any free ranging time. I have a border terrier called Dennis what a great name for a dog I love it when dogs have "men" names. We have a neighbour with a big fluffy thing called Reg...love it. A friend of mine has a cat called Colin and a rabbit called Dave. So funny to hear her calling their names across her garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loopy Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 We've got a lurcher with a very strong prey drive, but he's been fine with the chickens. We were careful about introducing him at first, but after his initial curiosity had worn off, he lost all interest and just ignores them. He's about 9 years old, which probably helps as he's too lazy to do most things, let alone chase chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 You'll have to post me a picture of your hound Loops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loopy Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Bailey the lurcher - doing what he does best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Oooohhh, he is adorable Loopy, looks so much like Ruby too. Give him a big sloppy kiss from Ruby, won't you? Rubes is being spayed on Tuesday and I'm nervous for her. Will start her on the Arnica on Monday in readiness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
