Keeping Chickens Newsletter

Gezme eating while surrounded by chickens - photo by Jennifer Floyd

Dogs do not just figure all of this out on their own; they are not born with the knowledge that large, noisy feathery things are to be cherished and protected. They are, however, born with the POTENTIAL to do this kind of work, with the cleverness and desire to figure out how to keep the peace, and with all of the necessary instincts for stock guardianship. How to actualize this inborn potential? The beginning is socialization.

Take your dog or puppy with you when feeding, cleaning, or doing any other routine activities with your stock. I feed my flock early in the morning, before leaving for work. When training my young flock guard, Gezme, I took her and her brother up to the bird yard with me every morning, allowing them the opportunity to interact with the fowls, and with the senior guardians (Sahin and Sahbaz). While feeding, cleaning, and scrubbing things, I kept an eye on her, and if she began to put her feet up against a pen, run around it, or chase a bird, I yelled, "Gez, Phooey! Leave it!" If she remained interested (in a playful or predatory fashion), I'd run over, roll her over on her side with one hand across her neck and shoulders, and the other over her muzzle (holding her firmly but gently) and tell her, "No! Leave it!" Usually, after using this 'mother dog' style discipline a few times, she would look at the birds, but not try to chase. Until she forgot, the next day!

This is where consistency comes in - NEVER allow the dog to do something you don't approve of. Chasing is an inherently rewarding behavior, so in order to extinguish it, the less it is allowed to happen, the better. Also, allow alternatives; chasing is an instinct that is not wrong, but it must be directed at appropriate targets (something all young wild canids are taught by their mothers). A chicken may be "No" and "Leave it" (or get rolled and pinned), but a squirrel, gopher, or rabbit may be "That's a girl" and "Get it". That shovel or feed dish may need to be left alone, but that bone or