I hate my dog, I want to kill him

[mr darcy]

well poor Violette didn't last long did she. I knew in my heart that I shouldn't let them free range without a cockerell,but I never thought one of my dogs would be the murderer. Neither dog has ever shown the remotest interest in the hens before but then today, whilst my back was turned cleaning out the horses he bit her head off. I am in a kind of shock, I feel like I am a complete idiot with my silly ideas of making a nice free range enviroment, I should never have let them out then she would still be alive. I know it's only a hen, but she'd only just started laying and she was so sweet, she actually used to stop for the kids to pick her up.So that was that, I've learnt a bitter lesson.

[rustylady]

What breed of dog, Mr Darcy?

[Bramble-Poultry]

its a lesson we all learn, usually the hard way. we had a dog, nicest one you could imagine, shred our ferret when we werent looking.

cure as the dogs may be, we must remember that lurking just beneath the surface is the wolf they are descended from.

I dont care how well they are trained, we all use the wolfs instinct in the dogs to train them, so it has never gone that far away/

I am very aware of our dogs "inner wolf", as they are a very pack based dog, as they are very very closly linked to the now extinct Japanese minature wolf. they are very higly strung, happy to follow the pack anywhere, but very defnsive, only one male in a pack etc.

Our dogs eat the BARF diet, and we give them raw chicken to eat, seeing how between the two of them they can eat an entire chicken - bones, innards and all within a few minutes, makes me realise that they are built to do this and therefore are well kept away from the chooks, no matter how cute and harmless he looks................

[mr darcy]

just a little mongrel. I've made it up with him now sort of, grr, well at the end of the day he's a dog and she was a chicken, classic.But doesn't stop the weeping kids does it, or the fact that it's pretty heartbreaking to have to retreive bits of a really sweet kind chicken who wasn't scared of anything,and bury them, before home from school time. Well at least she didn't suffer and her short life was very happy. Just feel like I was a bit of naive person, won't make the same mistake again.

[OverWyreGrower]

That's why we have a fenced, roofed run - I love my dogs to bits, but wouldn't trust them even looking at the chickens....

Sorry for your loss... but don't be too hard on your dog - he's only doing what comes naturally...

[mr darcy]

That's why we have a fenced, roofed run - I love my dogs to bits, but wouldn't trust them even looking at the chickens....

Sorry for your loss... but don't be too hard on your dog - he's only doing what comes naturally...

yeah don't worry he's not been killed but I please don't do the thatswhy business, i feel bad enough as it is

[Glutton4...]

Sorry to hear your sad news. Unfortunately, it's totally natural behaviour, and you're not the first and won't be the last. Take some comfort in the fact that she died quickly.

[rustylady]

just a little mongrel. I've made it up with him now sort of, grr, well at the end of the day he's a dog and she was a chicken, classic.But doesn't stop the weeping kids does it, or the fact that it's pretty heartbreaking to have to retreive bits of a really sweet kind chicken who wasn't scared of anything,and bury them, before home from school time. Well at least she didn't suffer and her short life was very happy. Just feel like I was a bit of naive person, won't make the same mistake again.

Don't beat yourself up Mr D. We have to realise that animals have inherent behaviour patterns, and you can't talk to them like you do to children and make them change the behaviour that is bred into them (not that children take any notice anyway). It's all part of a very hard learning curve. Constant supervision needed for children and animals unless securely separated from each other. Console yourself if you can with the fact that her death was quick and hopefully painless.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Sorry to hear your news Mr D. As you say a hard lesson learned.

[mr darcy]

Thankyou everyone. Have given the dog a cuddle now and told him he won't be going to the vet to be put down in the morning nor to the bad dogs home. Oh dear I'm certainly learning this hen milarky the hard way arn't I? first indie with her egg bind but at least then the advice here permitted me to save scarlet later on, now poor Violette but then that's a lesson too, but why is it always the little poppets?

[Jeanied]

but why is it always the little poppets?

Just remember that one little poppet had a good life with you while it lasted and there will be plenty more poppets coming into your life if you leave the space for them!

[RichmondHens]

well poor Violette didn't last long did she. I knew in my heart that I shouldn't let them free range without a cockerell,but I never thought one of my dogs would be the murderer. Neither dog has ever shown the remotest interest in the hens before but then today, whilst my back was turned cleaning out the horses he bit her head off. I am in a kind of shock, I feel like I am a complete idiot with my silly ideas of making a nice free range enviroment, I should never have let them out then she would still be alive. I know it's only a hen, but she'd only just started laying and she was so sweet, she actually used to stop for the kids to pick her up.So that was that, I've learnt a bitter lesson.

You are not silly, it could happen to anyone. Don't beat yourself up about it. I feel bad for telling you it would be ok for you to let them out! Get Scarlet another pal and perhaps rig a larger enclosure that they can both be safe in. Or let them out and put your dog in a pen!!!

[stella]

A hard lesson, we had the same problem last year. Our chickens got out a couple of times and both times the male dog we have got one of them round the neck and hung on for dear life. The only way I could make him let go as he was slowly throtteling the poor bird was to squeeze his b...s. The hen turned round and went and laid an egg.

[mr darcy]

don't feel bad Richmond hens am ok now,off out in morning to get another hen so that scarlet will be ok,she must a bit chilly tonight!

[mr darcy]

A hard lesson, we had the same problem last year. Our chickens got out a couple of times and both times the male dog we have got one of them round the neck and hung on for dear life. The only way I could make him let go as he was slowly throtteling the poor bird was to squeeze his b...s. The hen turned round and went and laid an egg.

blimey, i bet she did!