Post by bluebar23 on Nov 6, 2017 12:37:30 GMT -5
So we have two outside-only dogs: A four-month-old Karakachan (LGD) and a five-month-old mutt (50% rat terrier, 25% springer spaniel, 25% cocker spaniel). They are about as well-behaved as you can expect from a couple of puppies. We had some trouble with them a couple months ago eating chicken eggs out of the coop, because our toddler had dropped a couple and they're smart, but we didn't have much trouble breaking them of it (kept chickens locked up until after eggs were collected, didn't allow the dogs to enter the coop).
This morning, however, I looked out the living room window to see the two of them playing with something... which I quickly realized was a dead duckling One of our muscovy hens had eleven babies that she hatched about a week ago, and sure enough, now she only has ten. She had eleven very alive, perfectly healthy ducklings an hour prior to this, so I don't think they found it dead.
It was the mutt who had the duckling in his mouth when I caught them. I ran outside, yelled "No!" and told them to go inside; they have a doggie door to the front porch. I just locked them up and left them. I wasn't sure the best way to react, and I didn't want to do the wrong thing. The Karakachan is very sensitive, so I'm very careful about over-reacting around her (although the mutt is as thick-headed as they come).
I am just sick. It is supposed to be their job to protect the animals. I am inclined to blame it more on the mutt, being half bird dog. The Karakachan will chew on any random thing she can find, but I'd like to think she wouldn't go after an obvious member of the flock. They have both been great about hunting moles and mice, which I want them to do. How do I teach them that ducklings (or any baby poultry) are off-limits? I can lock the ducklings up temporarily, but we've always let both our ducks and chickens free-range, and I don't want them to lose that because the dog can't behave.
Blergh.
This morning, however, I looked out the living room window to see the two of them playing with something... which I quickly realized was a dead duckling One of our muscovy hens had eleven babies that she hatched about a week ago, and sure enough, now she only has ten. She had eleven very alive, perfectly healthy ducklings an hour prior to this, so I don't think they found it dead.
It was the mutt who had the duckling in his mouth when I caught them. I ran outside, yelled "No!" and told them to go inside; they have a doggie door to the front porch. I just locked them up and left them. I wasn't sure the best way to react, and I didn't want to do the wrong thing. The Karakachan is very sensitive, so I'm very careful about over-reacting around her (although the mutt is as thick-headed as they come).
I am just sick. It is supposed to be their job to protect the animals. I am inclined to blame it more on the mutt, being half bird dog. The Karakachan will chew on any random thing she can find, but I'd like to think she wouldn't go after an obvious member of the flock. They have both been great about hunting moles and mice, which I want them to do. How do I teach them that ducklings (or any baby poultry) are off-limits? I can lock the ducklings up temporarily, but we've always let both our ducks and chickens free-range, and I don't want them to lose that because the dog can't behave.
Blergh.