How do you break a dog from killing chickens?

Answer

Aha! Taste of "first blood." There are several ways to stop your dog from doing this. It may sound cruel and gross, but if you want a quick step to getting your dog out of this behavior, take the dead chicken, put it in a gunny sack or an old pillow case until it stinks to high heaven (keep the dog outside in a well-fenced in yard) and tie the pillow case with chicken inside around his neck so he can't get at it. Then everytime you see the dog, in a stern voice, say "Shame!" Dogs are bright creatures and between the smell of that dead chicken rotting and your scolding the dog will get the message. Do this for 2 days and then put a clothes pin on your nose (just kidding) and give your dog a good bath. I would start out with a paste of baking soda and warm water (about 2 cups full of it) and lather it on your dog (be sure it doesn't get in the dogs eyes) then rinse off and shampoo as usual.

Another way you can do this is when the dog has the dead chicken, use an empty roll from aluminum foil or wax paper, put a medium sized short chain inside and attached it to the inside. Then go up to the dog and hit the ground very close to the dog (NEVER HIT THE DOG) with the roll (chain inside.) They hate the noise!

If your dog doesn't like water (most dogs don't like it in their face) get a clean squirt bottle with cold water, and when you see the dog with that chicken, give him several good skirts of cold water in the face and again in a stern voice say "Shame. Bad dog!" Dogs understand more than people give them credit for.

If you find your dog with a fresh kill, then put the dog somewhere else away from the chicken. Sprinkle quite a bit of cayenne pepper or black pepper all over the chicken and turn the dog loose! One snort of that and he'll get the message. Also be sure you have fresh water nearby in case he gets any in his mouth. He may end up with a hot mouth, and even possibly an upset tummy, it won't kill him, but I can guarantee you he won't do it again.

Good luck Marcy

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Whenever a dog kills another animal be it a chicken, a cat, or another dog, it is acting in it's natural predatory mindset. Dogs with a strong prey drive will chase things weather it is a tug toy that you're pulling by a string or a chicken running for its life. Your job as the pet owner is to teach the dog the things that it can chase and catch and the things that it can't. One way of doing this is by taking a live chicken and putting it into a wire cage so that the dog can see it, smell it and hear it. Take the dog to the cage on a leash with a choker chain or a pinch collar and as soon as the dog begins to show any interest in the chicken, give the dogs leash a sharp quick jerk and say "no" in a firm voice. This should distract the dog and cause it to look at you. as soon as it does give it another command such as sit or lay down and praise it when it obeys. This will teach the dog that looking at the chickens earns him a correction but sitting and laying down on command earns him praise. Continue this for several minutes (4-5 min. for puppies, 5-10 min. for adult dogs) 2 - 3 times a day. By the beginning of the 3rd day the dog should not even look in the direction of the chickens. Eventually the dog will completely ignor the chickens even while they are running free around him.

My parents raised chickens. The first time our dog killed one, Mother put the dog on his lead and put the chicken just beyond his reach. Every time she passed by, she would pick up the chicken and wap him lightly [or maybe not so lightly] on the nose with it and say BAD DOG. This went on for a couple of days. He never touched another chicken all though they were free range and were never caged. He was otherwise a very good and friendly dog.