Has anyone successfully trained their dog not to chase deer?

[sophy]

Without resorting to electric collar?

We live in a very rural area and the dog has recently killed two young deer on walks. We muzzle her now but she still chases them, obviously the deer get very scared and panic and I am worried there could still be an accident.

She usually comes when I blow the whistle, but when she has the scent of a deer nothing can distract her.

Grateful for any advice!

Geepers the electric collars can be effective but they are punitive and so many people are totally against them.

I have seen them used by skilled dog handlers on dogs which would otherwise be facing euthanasia, and the effects have been excellent. However, because they work by association, ie the dog learns that chasing deer is associated with pain, there's a real risk that the dog makes the wrong association. For example, if the collar is activated when the dog is near children, there's a risk it may become fearful of kids, if it is accidentally activated in a car or while on a walk and behaving well, it can cause huge problems with anxiety.

Like these rattle bottles everyone is so fond of using, the timing is so critical that things like this are best left to experienced and trained handlers, IMO.

CountessDracula, your dog is beautiful

What a breed they are, in spite of the blatant defiance

ah so is yours

They are fabbo aren't they

I haven't tried this, but know someone who did it successfully with their dog chasing sheep. Sounds a bit harsh, but may be worth looking at. Get one of those long retractable leads - when she goes for the deer let her get a little way then click the stop button, say no/stop firmly and get her to come back, give reward on stop and return. Keep at it every time, but you would have to be careful that she hasn't got up too much speed before you press stop so you don't hurt her neck too much. My friends said it took them a couple of months, and they were actively taking the dog to where sheep were so in the end the dog seemed to get bored of them (it was on the lead at all times). Constant repetition might just do it.

Be awareat munjacs can kill dogs. They stand their ground and headbut aiming for the chest and so puncturing the dogs' lungs. We lost our greyhound this way. She lapped the deer who attacked and killed her.

I am ashamed to say that as a result I have no sympathy for this imported interloper, if it meets a more aggressive animal let it take its chance!. Our greyhound knew how to chase but not what to do next. The deer had no such hesitation.