Introducing Your Dog to Chickens Safely: A Success Story and a Question

[Tricia171]

G'day everyone,

I'm new to posting here, but I've been a long-time owner of both dogs and chickens, and I'm always trying to find that perfect harmony between them. I wanted to share a recent success story and then ask for your wisdom, because I know every dog is different.

We have a young Kelpie named Pip, and she is everything you'd expect: smart, energetic, and intensely focused. When we first let her into the backyard near our chicken run, her reaction was pure instinct. She dropped into a low stalk, her eyes were like lasers, and every muscle in her body was tensed and ready to herd (or worse). My heart was in my throat, and I knew a simple "No!" wasn't going to cut it.

The one technique that truly turned the tide for us was something I call the "look away game."

Instead of just correcting her for staring at the chickens, I started rewarding her for choosing to look away. We'd be on leash near the coop, and the moment her eyes flicked away from the chickens—even for a split second—I'd mark it with an enthusiastic "Yes!" and give her a super high-value treat.

At first, she'd look away by accident, but she quickly learned that ignoring the chickens was the most profitable thing she could do. We practiced this for a few minutes every day. It took a lot of patience, and it wasn't a one-day fix, but now she can relax in the yard while the chickens are out, without that obsessive focus. It's a supervised peace, but it's peace nonetheless!

I know this is a common challenge for those of us with a foot in both worlds. So, for those of you who have both dogs and poultry:

What were your biggest challenges or best tricks for getting them to coexist peacefully?

I'd love to hear your stories—the successes, the failures, and those "aha!" moments that finally made things click.

Looking forward to hearing your experiences!