braden01 Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 We have 2 chickens arriving next week (our first ) and our gardener has just got herself a German Shepherd puppy. She is keen to bring her puppy with her as she doesn't want to leave him at home all morning / wants to get him used to the car etc but I just wondered what your experiences of chickens and excitable puppies have been? Particularly as our chickens will be very new, I want to make sure they settle in well. I can certainly ask her to tie her puppy up at the other end of the garden - luckily it is 170ft long (the garden, not the puppy) so he will be well away from them. Is this sensible? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 I have a German Shepherd dog....sadly she isnt a puppy anymore....just big and hairy! My dog is excellent with the chickens - and they take NO notice of her. With a puppy though im sure it will be very different because its not trained like a big dog/listen to commands etc. I would imagine the puppy will be very inquisitive, playful and bouncy...the chickens may take a back step and think "blimey this dog's a bit bonkers".... With socialisation and a lot of distant contact to begin with im sure they will get used to each other, gradually build up the closeness of the contact and I reckon all will be ok. Our dog and chickens all sit next to each other and they're all friends. In my chicken encyclopedia it does say that some "shepherding breeds of dog" do become great protectors of chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Like Chelsea just said - most dogs can be fine with Chooks.. once they are past puppyhood. But having said that there have been several reported dog attacks on chooks on this forum. So treat it with caution and see how it goes. I used to have a lurcher, and I just know that she'd have gone for the chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 This didn't work with my dogs, but then they are terriers and anything furry or feathered is considered fair game to them but this is what's recommended: Have the puppy on a long lead or rope and allow them to "investigate" these funny feathery things. The moment the puppy gets too eager shout NO very loudly and pull the lead/rope hard. If NO isn't enough, a tin containing some marbles makes a very scarey noise when shaken!! Gradually the puppy will realise that the chickens are not to be messed with and peace will reign. Well that's the theory anyway - shame my Jack and Alf can't read the text book! Some chickens are rather confident anyway, and will think nothing of chasing off a cat. You never know, your's might see of the puppy?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 my mother-in-laws JR terrier is the same..she hates the chickens and they hate her, and the chooks certainly make it known they dont like her - lots of Bawk bawk bawking !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 I introduced our Westie by letting him into the garden on a long lead while the chickens were out. At first if they got too close he would jump at them, but while he was tied up they could easily get away. Didn't take him long to get used to them and now I can let them all out together. He still gets excited if they jump in front of his face, but he's still more worried by them than they are by him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbagepatch Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Our German Shep and terrier take no notice of the girls at all, although GS likes to make sure they are all safely guarded. He does that with me too........stands in front of me whenever he thinks I need protecting. Bless him. I would take care introducing dogs and chickens, you will need to keep a beady eye on the hound for a while. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Rosie would like to eat the chookie girls, but then she remembers they are friends - besides that she is scared of them when they flap their wings at her and squawk. She is a collie cross and does like to herd them back into their chookie house if they have been out free ranging - pretty good so far, but she is an old lady now (11 1/2) and in her youth they would have been ex chooks!! I'd say go for it, but err on the side of caution, especially when the chooks are young. Mine have developed in confidence hugely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
