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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
   
Location: Pacific Northwest | My parents just adopted a dog from the local animal shelter. He's about 2 years old, some type of retriever mix, maybe (I'll attach a pic at the end). He was supposedly "found" and "dropped off", but the people at the shelter think the people were actually his owners and either couldn't afford to keep him or didn't want him. The shelter had no info on him at all, and no name. We named him Jet because for the first few days he was home he would run hot laps for like 20 minutes straight.
The yard is fully fenced and huge, so he gets plenty of exercise that way. However, the 2nd day he was home he got into my horse's field. I didn't think he'd be able to get through the gate but he did. My red mare hates dogs so she went after him and he thought it was a game. I could NOT get him away from her, and he didn't seem to care at all that he was being kicked and struck out at.
So the next morning my dad put wire fencing across all the paneled gates so that he can't crawl through anywhere, until he settled down and learned his name, etc.
Yesterday he got past me when I was coming through a gate, darted right between my legs, and made a beeline to the cow field. We don't have any little babies yet, but we have 2 seventh month old calves that were bottle babies in a separate pen. And again, he wouldn't stop chasing them...and they were scared to death, bawling and running into the gate, etc.
We have a shock collar (haven't used it yet, but we have one) and if that doesn't work for when he goes after something, he'll have to go back. Today makes a week that he's been here, so of course my parents want to give him a chance. He gets along with our other dogs and is otherwise really friendly. But we're scared that if he got a calf cornered he'd actually bite it, and we've never seen him around cats yet. We're sure the trigger is if the animal runs, he wants to chase it.
I guess my question is, have any of you ever had a dog that REALLY wanted to chase the cows/horses and was able to break them of it? We've had many, many dogs over the years, including border collies, mini aussies, german shepherds, labs, etc. Most we got as puppies so they learned from the get go to not chase anything, but even the older dogs (the border collie was 2 when we got her, we adopted her from the same shelter this new dog came from) caught on very quickly and didn't seem to have a super strong "drive" to chase them.
I just feel bad because this dog is incredibly high energy and if it weren't for us having livestock our place would be perfect. It's fully fenced and the yard is huge so he never has to be cooped up. But it's not going to be fun if every time we're doing stuff down in the field or we go to the river we have to lock him up while the other dogs go with us, because we can't trust him with livestock. He's just so hyper that I'm scared it will be hard to find him a good home where he will get enough stimulation/exercise.
This is Jet. He knows how to sit on command and that's literally it.
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | he looks like a great dog.....and well maybe he just needs more exercise, take him swimming or get him in to fly ball.......and take him on a leash when your around the animals....sounds like he just needs a little more discipline.....good luck
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 738
Location: Anywhere my horses are ! Lost in Texas!!!!! | You are going to have to do some tough love with this dog. He needs to learn the rules of the ranch. Use the shock collar, obedience training. I have ten dogs, they all know the rules of the ranch. I have a new rescue and she is learning not to chase the horses or the neighbors cattle. It is going to take a little time for this to happen. good luck |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | He sees it as a fantastic game! So...make it not fun. Make it clear that he is NOT to chase anything.
To do that I would use the training collar. But FIRST...work with him in a controlled environment (yard) with Sit, Stay and a good recall to his name. You call him...he should come at a run. When he does well...make a big deal out of it. treat or praise. Then put the training collar on and take him on leash out to the pasture. When he tries to take off check him up and say NO...and move on. Keep doing that until he gets the idea. Praise good behavior. Then try it off leash and use that collar to reinforce if he doesn't recall to you are starts to go after something.
He looks like a sweet dog that deserves a chance to be trained. He just doesn't know any better. Give it some serious try if you can before you decide he needs to go back. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | I would go to the shock collar immediately. He's got to learn that he absolutely cannot go after things. Much better for him to learn the consequences of it now than waiting. I'm betting you can get him to mind. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | As another poster said, shock collar. We borrowed one from a neighbor who trains bird dogs. He showed me how to use it. We took the dog (also from the dog pound) out with us on the ranch as normal and when she bailed off the truck to chase the horses we hit her with it and said NO! A couple times and she was cured. Took the collar back to our neighbor the next week. She was a great dog and lived her life out with us on the ranch. |
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I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | Thank you everyone, that's how we feel too, that he deserves a chance. The chasing just has to stop instantly, and thankfully as long as we're careful he can't get to the horses or cows. It was my mistake that he was allowed to slip past me. Since then I've made sure to put him in his kennel until I'm 100% done going in and out of gates.
My dad doesn't work tomorrow and I only work 7:30am-noon, so I think I'm going to ask him to help me work with him with me. I'm going to bring one of our horses into the yard that I know doesn't usually kick and I'll lead the horse around at the walk, maybe trot, so that we can work on "disciplining" Jet in a controlled environment and just see how it goes from there.
He's pretty good about coming when you call in the yard, but right now it's not good enough for him to listen when his brain is focused on something else entirely. And I'm almost 100% sure he'd never seen a horse or cow until he came to our place.
ETA the only reason there was a debate on him going back is because the cows will start calving in a few months and my dad, while he is a HUGE animal lover and really likes this dog, will do a complete 180 if a dog causes harm to the livestock. That's always been the #1 rule for dogs at our house, they cannot chase or show any aggression whatsoever towards the cows/horses. I'm going to work really hard with him though and see if I can get a better handle on his training because we've never in our entire lives rehomed a dog.
Edited by livexlovexrodeo 2015-01-15 1:57 PM
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I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | ALSO, just for fun, what do you guys think he is? The shelter had him down as a lab mix, but the vet that neutered him (oh thats the other thing, he just got neutered...hopefully after all his hormones calm down he will too) thought he looked like a retriever. She said he reminded her of a duck tolling retriever, just with shorter hair.
Edited by livexlovexrodeo 2015-01-15 2:01 PM
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Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | I don't know what he is, but he looks like a total sweetheart. Do lots and LOTS of positive work rewarding him when he comes to you. Make it a big deal. My dogs come when I whistle and especially if they'll come instead of continuing to investigate whatever they're currently into...I'll love on them for a min so they know it's a good thing when they come to me. We've wound up with lots of strays and rescues over the years and been really successful in teaching them that cattle/horses are to be left alone. I like the shock collar better than the leash because you can let them go ahead and get in trouble and then zap them. It sounds mean, but it's for their own good. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Shock collar him and be very consistent with the "no" word, whatever you choose to use, we use "AH-AH" because that comes out of my mouth faster than no!
Warn him with a firm "no" when he takes of to chase something, reinforce with the shock collar. I bet he learns really quickly! That or he gets kicked real hard and he learns then! The reality with a dog like that he probably won't have a lot of hope with many other adopters considering his energy level. He's in his "terrible twos" stage and he's probably been through a lot in his short time on earth. Be patient, do your best to exhaust him in the backyard then approach the horses and calves on leash so he starts to understand that's a no-no to chase them!
My dog did have a strong herding drive, it's definitely the animal running away from him quickly. A freak accident and a horse clipped the side of his face so he's very cautious of everything now. For us it's learning to yell the command to get him to stop and stay. Not doing an impulsive "NO.. WINNIE.. STOP..DON"T DO THAT!" If I yell, "AH-AH, STAY!" he'll roll back to me and wait. (very much to my surprise that he actually responds to me when he's that dialed in)
ETA: I totally agree with MS2011. Overwhelming positive reinforcement when he returns to you or does what you ask. make him understand bad things happen when I do bad things, good things happen when I do good things. He'll probably learn pretty quickly how to differentiate between good and bad!
Edited by Crowned Image 2015-01-15 2:12 PM
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 Chatty Kathy
Posts: 6634
Location: In Ky following Barrel Races & Walker hounds. | My Doberman has a VERY high prey drive, if it runs, hes on it. Use the shock collar. Eventually the buzz setting or the tone will make him say "Oh shoot, can't do that". I work with him a LOT on "leave it alone". It is working, a couple of weeks ago one of my moms chickens was less than 10ft from him. I had him on a long line and made him sit, then lie down, reinforcing good behavior with treats, eventually he was laying by me with no line on(I put his shock collar on JUST in case), leaving them alone. I would'nt trust him loose in a pen full of them or anything, but repetition works. Hopefully it works for your boy! Hes cute!! |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | livexlovexrodeo - 2015-01-15 2:52 PM Thank you everyone, that's how we feel too, that he deserves a chance. The chasing just has to stop instantly, and thankfully as long as we're careful he can't get to the horses or cows. It was my mistake that he was allowed to slip past me. Since then I've made sure to put him in his kennel until I'm 100% done going in and out of gates. My dad doesn't work tomorrow and I only work 7:30am-noon, so I think I'm going to ask him to help me work with him with me. I'm going to bring one of our horses into the yard that I know doesn't usually kick and I'll lead the horse around at the walk, maybe trot, so that we can work on "disciplining" Jet in a controlled environment and just see how it goes from there. He's pretty good about coming when you call in the yard, but right now it's not good enough for him to listen when his brain is focused on something else entirely. And I'm almost 100% sure he'd never seen a horse or cow until he came to our place. ETA the only reason there was a debate on him going back is because the cows will start calving in a few months and my dad, while he is a HUGE animal lover and really likes this dog, will do a complete 180 if a dog causes harm to the livestock. That's always been the #1 rule for dogs at our house, they cannot chase or show any aggression whatsoever towards the cows/horses. I'm going to work really hard with him though and see if I can get a better handle on his training because we've never in our entire lives rehomed a dog.
Its not your fault.. its not his fault.. its all new to both of you but you need to do it now.. shock collar him .. longer you wait the worse it will get.. discipline him with it and teach him commands.. I dont think more exercise will help.. at all.. and no it wont just stop if hes tired.. be proactive and get the collar on him now..hes so cute.. God bless you for adopting him |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Get him a cat to chase...
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Bibliafarm - 2015-01-15 3:18 PM livexlovexrodeo - 2015-01-15 2:52 PM Thank you everyone, that's how we feel too, that he deserves a chance. The chasing just has to stop instantly, and thankfully as long as we're careful he can't get to the horses or cows. It was my mistake that he was allowed to slip past me. Since then I've made sure to put him in his kennel until I'm 100% done going in and out of gates. My dad doesn't work tomorrow and I only work 7:30am-noon, so I think I'm going to ask him to help me work with him with me. I'm going to bring one of our horses into the yard that I know doesn't usually kick and I'll lead the horse around at the walk, maybe trot, so that we can work on "disciplining" Jet in a controlled environment and just see how it goes from there. He's pretty good about coming when you call in the yard, but right now it's not good enough for him to listen when his brain is focused on something else entirely. And I'm almost 100% sure he'd never seen a horse or cow until he came to our place. ETA the only reason there was a debate on him going back is because the cows will start calving in a few months and my dad, while he is a HUGE animal lover and really likes this dog, will do a complete 180 if a dog causes harm to the livestock. That's always been the #1 rule for dogs at our house, they cannot chase or show any aggression whatsoever towards the cows/horses. I'm going to work really hard with him though and see if I can get a better handle on his training because we've never in our entire lives rehomed a dog. Its not your fault.. its not his fault.. its all new to both of you but you need to do it now.. shock collar him .. longer you wait the worse it will get.. discipline him with it and teach him commands.. I dont think more exercise will help.. at all.. and no it wont just stop if hes tired.. be proactive and get the collar on him now..hes so cute.. God bless you for adopting him
I agree... |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | Not to be the mean one but I had one and the shock collar never fazed him. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: WA | not sure if this was said already but make sure that the prongs on the shock collar are long enough to get through to touch his skin. If he has a fluffy coat the hair will make it harder for the prongs to get to him and then the shock you think he is getting will not happen. Most shock collars you can take the prongs off to have shorter or longer ones screwed on.
Edited by Roxie 2015-01-15 5:01 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: The barn...where else? SW Missouri | luvropin - 2015-01-15 1:50 PM As another poster said, shock collar. We borrowed one from a neighbor who trains bird dogs. He showed me how to use it. We took the dog (also from the dog pound) out with us on the ranch as normal and when she bailed off the truck to chase the horses we hit her with it and said NO! A couple times and she was cured. Took the collar back to our neighbor the next week. She was a great dog and lived her life out with us on the ranch.
My mom had to do this with her dog. She is a very high energy Aussie she bought as a puppy that is as sweet as can be, but would lose her mind when something moved or ran. We've never had trouble training our dogs to have good farm behavior, but this dog was just so high energy she would run and not listen or mind you at all. Mom bought a shock collar and would say no firmly and hit it. Doesn't take too many times and they figure it out. She's 2 now and doesn't need it. She's still a spaz but we love her. Lol |
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 Banjo and Baby
Posts: 7259
Location: South of Canada and North of Mexico | Chesapeake and chow chow or lab and chow chow. |
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Banjo and Baby
Posts: 7259
Location: South of Canada and North of Mexico | sorrel horse ranch - 2015-01-15 4:06 PM Not to be the mean one but I had one and the shock collar never fazed him.
They make shock collars for hardheaded/stubborn dogs. Used one on my 115lb chesapeake x lab. I think he got zapped 20 times that day on the highest setting and that was all he needed to stay off the road. Well worth the investment. Its a SportDog brand, bought it at Cabelas. |
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I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | watchpeppydoc - 2015-01-15 4:28 PM
sorrel horse ranch - 2015-01-15 4:06 PM Not to be the mean one but I had one and the shock collar never fazed him.
They make shock collars for hardheaded/stubborn dogs. Used one on my 115lb chesapeake x lab. I think he got zapped 20 times that day on the highest setting and that was all he needed to stay off the road. Well worth the investment. Its a SportDog brand, bought it at Cabelas.
Thats what we have. I work at Del's (a little chain of feed stores owned by Tractor Supply) and we had them there. |
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