ducks and dogs

[new2ducks]

I noticed that there are alot of you who have dogs along with your poultry. Any tricks to getting them to get along? We have a chesapeake bay and lab mix.
Also my husband is worried that our ducklings (5weeks) get too stressed out when I try to handle them. They are very close to each other and cuddle together and I have to sort of corner them to pick them up for just a minute so they get used to me holding them but they cry for each other. Although they will eat out of my hands. They are in a dog kennel so I just sit out there with them and keep them company. Should I be concerned that they don't want to be held?

 

[FireTigeris]

Should I be concerned that they don't want to be held?

- no-

Any tricks to getting them to get along?

Leash training can help

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LncnJOuZfXEfUrMyf_G_OdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[uchytil]

I have a Blue Heeler (ACD) and I asked the same question. My dog does not play well with other dogs and chases every squirrel, chipmunk, rabbit, wild turkey, etc she sees. But, she senses the connection to my chickens, rabbits, and duck. Here's what I did: We brought the duck inside to brood and gradually let him run around the kitchen while we ate. Then we'd take them outside and stay between the duck and dog, more or less. After a few days the dog and duck coexist, althought the duck chases the dog sometimes. It's pretty funny. I also put the dog in one of my chicken runs while I cleaned the coop and she ignored the chickens. Like I said, she senses my attachment to certain animals but realizes she can chase all the wild critters. It pretty much follows the dog trainers I've listened to. They believe the dog looks to you for what is right and the more one on one, or duck on dog, the better the chances of a coexist.

 

[uchytil]

Most animals don't like to be held. Why would they? Better they trust you more than want to be held.

 

[uchytil]

Another thing, two, or more ducks will bond with each other rather than you. You can still get them to follow you around but that involves letting them out and some training with treats (like dog training).

 

[Nyowpotopop]

Ducks don't like being held. Don't worry about it and hold them anyway. Try bribing them with peas. It's good for them to get used to it and it's important for you to handle them regularly for health checkups. Chances are if you handle your ducks regularly you'll notice an illness or injury in one of these checkups that would take a long time to notice otherwise.

Ducks and dogs are tricky and you own retrievers... Which liike chasing moving things. A LOT. Chances are they wouldn't be trying to kill the ducks per say but more playing with them like they would a toy and retrieving them.... Which is just as bad for the ducks. Frankly if your dogs don't already have a certain amount of respect for the ducks (as in they just try to chase the ducks immediately and vigorously even when being distracted) then they will probably never be safe unrestrained around the ducks. I have a dog who is safe around almost anything and with some training with the particular animals could walk freely with ducks like she does with our rabbits. I have another dog that would attack them the moment my back is turned but she has no respect for other animals even the ones she was raised with.

Use a controlled situation to get the dogs used to the ducks. Either with a fence between the duck and dogs or one person holding the duck and another holding the dog on a leash. I don't know how well trained your dogs are but I would immediately teach (or reinforce) the command "leave it". Then teach them to leave the ducks at a decent distance. Just get close enough that they are focused on the ducks but can be distracted. Try using toys and givinig other commands (like sit or paw) to distract them. When they succesfully ignore the ducks and focus on something else (or sit/lay down and not try to move towards them at all) offer them a VERY motivating reward and TONS of praise. Tuna works well and so do the various forms of dried or jerked chicken breasts they have at pet stores. If you want something easier I find that Bil-Jac liver treats work pretty well. Then slowly up the ante, allowing the duck to get closer to the dog. Don't let the dog get closer to the duck because that would encourage the dog to think it can go after the ducks. The dog is NOT allowed to approach the ducks. Eventually with a lot of patience (and if your dogs are inclined towards it) you'll get a dog that will walk up close(ish) to the ducks and then generally hold still and wait for the ducks to come closer. I used this to train both my dogs... And the good one sees the rabbits and immediately lies down and waits for the rabbits to come closer. The other one is still a puppy but behaves similarly... As long as I'm watching!

 

[fowl farm]

I have a Blue Heeler (ACD) and I asked the same question. My dog does not play well with other dogs and chases every squirrel, chipmunk, rabbit, wild turkey, etc she sees. But, she senses the connection to my chickens, rabbits, and duck. Here's what I did: We brought the duck inside to brood and gradually let him run around the kitchen while we ate. Then we'd take them outside and stay between the duck and dog, more or less. After a few days the dog and duck coexist, althought the duck chases the dog sometimes. It's pretty funny. I also put the dog in one of my chicken runs while I cleaned the coop and she ignored the chickens. Like I said, she senses my attachment to certain animals but realizes she can chase all the wild critters. It pretty much follows the dog trainers I've listened to. They believe the dog looks to you for what is right and the more one on one, or duck on dog, the better the chances of a coexist.

My dog does the same thing. She realizes they are mine. Though she does try to herd them (she's a Border Collie), which, surprisingly, she's really good at considering she has never had any training.

 

[BigBlock]

I just spend a ton of time with my 2 ducklings, they didn't really like to be picked up when I got them but now they are fine with it. If I pick up one of them the other wants to come sit on my lap. I never thought they'd be this tame when I got them.

I thought my dachshund would be a problem too, but he has learned to live with the ducks. I let him spend lots of time looking at them in a cage, and made him stay calm around them. Now the duck likes to sit on top of the dog!

 

[LydiaB]

We have a herding breed mutt and he is fine with the chickens and ducks. He does like to chase flying birds, though. He does not kill them, just makes them fly away. We just call him off if he starts chasing a chicken or duck. He does chase the younger animals more, and this morning I caught him herding the ducks. He stopped when I told him to.

 

[Bronwyn]

So how old are your ducks when you introduce them? I have a Jack Russell and a Golden Retriever, but I'm only worried about the Jack (he chases things and kills gophers).