Question for the dog men/women

lefthooker

Hi all,
I found a stray GSP last autumn, she was hanging around the cattle troughs, hungry and miserable. After a few days calling and coaxing I got her into the jeep. Nobody came calling for her so she has become a pet and is now a beautiful, strong, playful dog. She only has on speed- flat out, and does a great job of chasing birds off the feed passages. All going well till a few days ago.

The neighbour lets her hens run free and they often wander into my yard. At the start of the week I saw her trotting across the yard with a hen in her jaws. I let a few shouts and she dropped the bird. The hen scampered off minus a few tail feathers. She got a severe scolding and was put in the house. Yesterday I found her creeping up on another hen. I've resorted to muzzling her whenever I let her off her chain, not something I'm totally happy to do.

Is there any way of getting her out of this bad habit before it gets any worse?:(

charlie10

ya shoot the hens!!! only joking e-collar might do the trick but hard enough to get a german to pick a bird without trying to turn her off!!:rolleyes: but if a pet e collar would probably correct her as she goes for it instantly no point correcting her after.

TriggerPL

charlie10 wrote: »

ya shoot the hens!!! only joking e-collar might do the trick but hard enough to get a german to pick a bird without trying to turn her off!!:rolleyes: but if a pet e collar would probably correct her as she goes for it instantly no point correcting her after.

I'd agree with Charlie if you slap her for it u could undo all the work ya have done in gaining her confidence . A e collor you could give her a dart everytime she even thinks about it

lefthooker

I get what you're saying but I don't know if its a workable solution. I can't watch her all the time and can't blame her for whats her nature. Even today once I had her muzzled up and let her off her chain for a gallop about the farm all she wanted to do was jump up on me for a bit of attention and affection.

TriggerPL

lefthooker wrote: »

I get what you're saying but I don't know if its a worable solution. I can't watch her all the time and can't blame her for whats her nature.

You won't need to ! A few darts and she will get the message ! And explain to your neighbour that the dog is chasing the hens and to try and keep them under control , try and resolve the problem between ye !

charlie10

walk her around hens with a lead on with slip chain and bang her when she goes for them if u persist u might turn her off it . u might have to spend a bit of time but repetition will do it

wirehairmax

Why punish the dog at all? The hens are in your yard and the dog is only doing what comes naturally to it. I would suggest to your neighbour that his egg suppliers will be getting scarce unless they are better fenced in. There's no need to be worried over it. Maybe suggest that you will help him build a run for the hens as you are fond of the hens and wouldn't like to see them becoming the dogs dinner! Don't blame the poor dog.

thelurcher

lefthooker wrote: »

Nobody came calling for her so she has become a pet and is now a beautiful, strong, playful dog.

If you find a stray dog you need to ring the various pounds in the area - county, city and any of the independent ones around - and leave a good description of what you found.
You can't expect people out looking for a dog to call to every house or farm in a 10 mile radius.
I'm not saying you didn't but so many people don't. To me this is tantamount to stealing.

lefthooker

thelurcher wrote: »

If you find a stray dog you need to ring the various pounds in the area - county, city and any of the independent ones around - and leave a good description of what you found.
You can't expect people out looking for a dog to call to every house or farm in a 10 mile radius.
I'm not saying you didn't but so many people don't. To me this is tantamount to stealing.

Right mate;

• rang the pound and got advice on what to do, they as much didn't want to know
• put a notice on the local radio stations lost/found desk
• put a notice in the local shop
• rang every person I knew with an interest in hunting to see if they were missing a dog or if they know someone who was

Short of me going door to door I did as much as I thought necessary. Ya see there woods and good cover next to my land and I think she's either gun shy or not properly trained so perhaps she was just "let off." If someone had lost her while out for a shot they didn't come back looking or making inquiries- its easy to find out who owns the land

lefthooker

wirehairmax wrote: »

Why punish the dog at all? The hens are in your yard and the dog is only doing what comes naturally to it. I would suggest to your neighbour that his egg suppliers will be getting scarce unless they are better fenced in. There's no need to be worried over it. Maybe suggest that you will help him build a run for the hens as you are fond of the hens and wouldn't like to see them becoming the dogs dinner! Don't blame the poor dog.

I don't want to punisgh her and I don't blame the dog for doing what is natural to her but at the same time I don't want to fall out with my neighbour or have her knocking on my door

deeksofdoom

Just build a pen for the dog.

Using an E-collar would be a stupid mistake, you could ruin the dogs prey drive.

lefthooker

She has her own house built and I have a stake driven down in the garden with a 20ft chain so has a large area to roam.
The E collar doesn't appeal to me, I think I'll try something like those muzzles that slide over the jaws but don't allow the jaws to open wide enough to grab

charlie10

there is a gsp missing its advertised on donedeal maybe just maybe.........

deerhunter1

lefthooker wrote: »

Hi all,
I found a stray GSP last autumn, she was hanging around the cattle troughs, hungry and miserable. After a few days calling and coaxing I got her into the jeep. Nobody came calling for her so she has become a pet and is now a beautiful, strong, playful dog. She only has on speed- flat out, and does a great job of chasing birds off the feed passages. All going well till a few days ago.

The neighbour lets her hens run free and they often wander into my yard. At the start of the week I saw her trotting across the yard with a hen in her jaws. I let a few shouts and she dropped the bird. The hen scampered off minus a few tail feathers. She got a severe scolding and was put in the house. Yesterday I found her creeping up on another hen. I've resorted to muzzling her whenever I let her off her chain, not something I'm totally happy to do.

Is there any way of getting her out of this bad habit before it gets any worse?:(

I doubt it,she is a hunter/pointer/come stalker,its in her blood