Search results

Thanks. I was wondering how much of LGD is training versus nature. Will be keeping an eye out for that pup next year if it comes around my chickens. They had that pup on a chain this visit and never let her off. I'm sure they were worried the pup might run out to the road and get run over.

First time I've had to deal with a returning dog, getting smarter with each visit. I say my chicken run is predator resistant, not predator proof. I only hope my fencing holds off a predator long enough for the chickens to run into the coop for safety or I can get outside and chase the...

Thanks. Me too.

Sounds like you are a responsible dog owner. You saw a problem and fixed it. I expect dogs to be true to their nature, and a Laboratory Retriever is a hunting dog. Owners of hunting dogs need to keep their pets close because it's in their nature to capture and kill prey. I grew up with labs when...

The first year I had my chickens the kids came over with their step-mother and visited my chickens. The step-mother had raised chickens of her own in the past, so she probably enjoyed the visit more than the kids. But that family unit broke up last year and step-mom is no longer in the picture...

Well, I thought that might be a good idea for some people, too. In my case, I knew who the dog belonged to and it was less than a minute walk to their cabin. It gave me the opportunity to "return" their dog without initially causing them any negative feelings towards me - as might be the case if...

Exactly, the BYC community is a great place to sound off on an issue and getting some feedback on possible options. I appreciated the feedback I received, even those suggestions that would not work for me. Might help someone else in a different situation. I think the more options we have, the...

:lau Funny you should mention that. They showed up, this year, with a puppy on a chain! She was a beautiful Great Pyrenees. If she is true to her breed, she should be a great livestock guardian dog by nature.

:old I am much more patient than I used to be! Maybe it comes with older age? But I tend to reflect more now than immediately react to a situation as I get older.

:old I grew up hunting out in the field with my grandpa before I was big enough to carry our lunch. Always had rifles and shotguns from an early age, went through gun safety training, member of NRA (when they believed in gun safety), and really enjoyed those days out in nature hunting for food...

UPDATE: The family's vacation appears to be over. Their outside tent is packed up, their car is gone, and the kids and dog went back home. I don't know if expressing my concerns to the owners about their dog made any difference, but at least I made it through this period without any fatal dog...

It was a mixed breed dog, but very beautiful. Still would have benefited from some good training. Even if the dog was a pure breed, the owner would not have changed her mind to "let the dog be a dog" meaning she had no intention of training any dog she had.

If I ever get another dog, that's the kind I would want. What breed is she? Is it the breed or the training that has her living so well with baby chicks?

I agree that people with dogs should be more responsible for them, and I will add proper training. Unfortunately, I have relatives that don't believe in that at all. When one of my relatives got a new puppy for her boy, I suggested she enroll them both in a dog training course. Good for the...

The dog is definitely in her last years. Just limps along and cannot even run away. Very sweet dog and had no problem with me putting her on a short rope to walk her back home. If she did finally break into the chicken run, I don't know if she could catch a chicken unless she was able to corner...

Thank you, @NatJ, for picking up on that comment. That is exactly what I was thinking at the time. Although the dog did not go out on the road, it was close enough that I could stretch my concern for the dog and talk to the owners about the road hazard to their dog.

Yes, that was a good suggestion and one I would consider. Yep, if nothing else, I hope people take out of this that we should constantly be thinking about weak spots in our protection. I don't expect I can stop all possible attacks, but I have been fixing some issues that I did not previously...

Yeah, I kind of liked that white lie idea too. If it comes to more serious intrusions, it's an option to consider. However, I don't want to be that neighbor that is known for putting out poison that could kill their pets, so even a white lie about poison might not be in my best interest.

Correct. I'm not upset about the dog, it's the owners I am working on and I hope my talking to them about my concerns is getting through to them. Another few days of their lake vacation and they will be gone for another year. I'm just working hard to make sure no attack happens.

:old My grandfather had 2 black lab hunting dogs back in the 1940's. One day, they broke off their chains and took off running. Although they did not cause harm to anyone, one of the neighbors set out poison for the dogs, which did kill them. My grandfather never forgave the neighbor. Never...