Dogs and chickens

[Literaryseed]

Could anyone share some advice on breeds of dogs who get along with chickens? We have chickens and are looking to get a dog in the next year but want to do our research thoroughly.
I'm guessing spaniels yes, terriers no?
Thank you!

[CMOTDibbler]

I think you just can't generalise- imo its all about training the dog to behave around the chickens from an early age. I started with the dog on a long line and worked from there, and with my foster puppies the chickens are in a run and we call the puppy away from them over and over.
I have lurchers (and cats as well) which everyone will tell you can't happen!

[Literaryseed]

Thank you. That's interesting. Some of the things I've read online suggest some dogs are a definite no because their prey drive is too high.

[Chasingsquirrels]

My cocker spaniel was allowed in with my hens (with supervision) from a pup, and was completely fine.
Then one day he ran towards them, they flapped - and he'd found a new game.
Now they are kept apart!
He wouldn't hurt them but does want to play, which would involve chasing, cornering and carrying away.

[frostedviolets]

I have a border collie, I’m not sure if she’d fit what you are looking for because she was obsessed with herding them, she would lie down and leave them alone if asked but she wasn’t at all happy about it but she never harmed them and the chickens weren’t frightened of her at all, they used to come into the house all the time if the windows were open, we put a baby gate in front of the back door over summer so the collie wouldn’t be constantly moving them around the garden, our boldest one hopped onto the gate once and jumped on the collies head (she was sleeping by the gate) and into the house startling her awake, she never hurt her.

[cjpark]

We've got a Boston Terrier and ducks and chickens. He doesn't bother them at all even though they free range. He will help me drive them towards their coop in the evening though but that by training.

[leafeater]

It's really a matter of training. We've got a cocker, who is obsessed with birds, so I was concerned, but we managed it. Now she's old and senile, every so often she charges at them, but she's so slow and wobbly, she's never got close!

[Sunnydayshereatlast]

Our rottweiler loved our Ladies!! They are herding ddogs and she would run up to them and swerve back to us in a huge circle. The chickens gave zero fucks and never moved!
Unlike our Big Brave (not) dcats who watched them from a high vantage point!!

[Literaryseed]

Thank you all! Really helpful!

[P0lka]

Utterly dependant on the individual. My lurcher (v high prey/chase drive, utterly incensed by anything small and furry) allows the chickens to eat from his bowl, and to peck at him while he snoozes in the garden.

[CMOTDibbler]

Thats so sweet P0lka. Ddog1 (grey x saluki, bred for hare coursing) is terrified of them and has to have his outside bed on the garden table otherwise the hens chase him off it. And won't eat if the door is open as they are after his food.

[LooseleafTea]

We have started to train our cavalier at nearly 2 years as our new house has visiting Chickens and it makes me worry if she can’t be trusted. So far she’s always on a lead and it’s only early days but they do come inside and she’s starting to ignore them! I would love to get to the stage where I can trust her but I don’t Yet know if that will ever happen.

[JacobReesMogadishu]

My spaniel chases pigeons, rabbits, etc and kills them. She’s terrified of the chickens, even the bantams. Same for my old terrier. If young dogs are introduced to adult Chickens the chickens tend to put them in their place.

[Sunnydayshereatlast]

CMT I have similar x ddog. Any chance of a sneaky pic please??

[RainbowBrite1]

I used to have a border collie and chickens. At first he loved to chase this then after a while he would happily just lay down with them around him and not bother.

[CMOTDibbler]

@Sunnydayshereatlast nothing I like more than sharing pics of the dogs! And a pic of our 9 day old chick as well

[steppemum]

we have a springer spaniel and chickens.

They are not a good mix. Our chickens free range around about one quarter of our garden. There was a simple fence which kept them in their part of the garden. That fence is now 5 foot tall and strong enough to resist a dog throwing itself at the fence. The chickens don't care, they ignore him as he doesn't get through.

If a chicken gets out, he gets it. He has killed one, and caught several. Mostly in the first year. (he was a rescue) he is better now, we have trained and trained and trained, but if one got out, he would kill it.

[steppemum]

I don't know if he is typical of all springers, but he is very very bird driven. Out on walks he will stalk, chase and pounce on any bird. He never catches them, but he always tries.

[Sunnydayshereatlast]

Ah lovely pic!! Our dpuppy has a greyhound gp, a saluki df and a deerhound dm.
Def wouldn't trust her with a dchicken. Especially as she tried to lift my dcat by his back leg today!!

[Literaryseed]

Thank you all. Lovely photos of the DDogs and chick.

[MaryBoBary]

Our whippet was 4 when we got chickens and was always fine with them and the cat. In fact the cat was more of a pain with the chickens

[leafeater]

To be fair, the best thing we did was introduce our cocker to a broody chicken who gave her hell. She was a lot more wary after that