tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post4505754578094962422..comments2023-11-02T05:18:38.925-05:00Comments on Antiquity Oaks: Desperation and the DogDeborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-75136428257156039992010-04-27T13:17:49.397-05:002010-04-27T13:17:49.397-05:00That's going to be so tough...it would be grea...That's going to be so tough...it would be great if he had a home where his prey drive wasn't being sorely tested. Your commenters are right that genetics plays a huge role here, and he's doing what nature has programmed him to do. Such a hard decision Deborah. Maybe you were the one meant to save his life, and someone else is meant to be his forever home?<br /><br />I know you probably get this a lot out where you live. Joe and I have brought home 2 strays from just around the corner from you. We had to find new homes for both of them because of Joe's allergies, but they were such sweet dogs. If only people would be more responsible with their animals!pedalpowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06470754372766025694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-8104722103678082342010-04-25T15:55:42.296-05:002010-04-25T15:55:42.296-05:00Such tough decisions you have. I wish I could help...Such tough decisions you have. I wish I could help you make them. For what it's worth, I believe nothing really dies so I don't think it would be the worst thing if you had to put her down. You have to take care of yourself, your family, your commitment to your lifestyle and livelihood too.kpfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04806178117135198657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-10364303324367921372010-04-24T11:40:00.155-05:002010-04-24T11:40:00.155-05:00Muzzle?
He could still hurt critters by running t...Muzzle?<br /><br />He could still hurt critters by running them over, but at least his killing power would be lessened while you work on helping him learn the rules?I need orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16819543886910857718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-27765756103889862772010-04-23T19:43:40.487-05:002010-04-23T19:43:40.487-05:00Hi
Grabbing a goat by the neck and shaking it is ...Hi<br /><br />Grabbing a goat by the neck and shaking it is not play behavior. It is predatory behavior.<br /><br />I also adopted an older puppy who had not been well socialized and may have experienced some abuse, certainly neglect. We socialized her but she was never completely trust worthy. She had many run ins with other animals that we attributed to territorialism but when she killed a cat that she had lived with for a couple of years, we made the decision for humane euthanasia. We were heart broken by the loss of the cat and then the dog that we all dearly loved. In hind sight, I wish that we had made the decision to put her to sleep long before. We would have avoided a lot of worry and stress.<br /><br />I wish you the best.<br /><br />BoniBonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00353754078427514095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-78868719372828561472010-04-23T15:54:30.801-05:002010-04-23T15:54:30.801-05:00Our friends love their pit bulls. And their chicke...Our friends love their pit bulls. And their chickens. They told me they that if a dog goes after/kills a chicken, they fasten the bird to the dog's neck and leave it there for several days. And that the dog never goes for chickens again. <br /><br />Blessings!Ann Duncanhttp://www.SoupMagic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-82382217362285188842010-04-23T12:40:37.646-05:002010-04-23T12:40:37.646-05:00What about putting a muzzle on him whenever he'...What about putting a muzzle on him whenever he's outside? That way he hopefully couldn't grab anything WHILE you teach him right from wrong. Good luck.thecrazysheepladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10835269631172344336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-67502074365802556012010-04-23T12:29:58.500-05:002010-04-23T12:29:58.500-05:00Lots of good ideas from other posters - if anyone ...Lots of good ideas from other posters - if anyone can do this, you can.<br /><br />Our dog (the love of our life) was a Chicago-Brown-Dog-pitbull-mix. She had a strong prey drive. It did mellow as she got older and once she lived with us over the years. I think once she had a stable home it did help - it was a constant struggle though - and I was only trying to keep her from pouncing on the cats.<br /><br />Again, if anyone can do this, you can. However, if you do have to make the grim decision - I am sure most of your readers would understand and support you.angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580426976030683874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-48838246233107105442010-04-23T11:16:54.089-05:002010-04-23T11:16:54.089-05:00Hi Deborah,
I had no experience with bully breeds,...Hi Deborah,<br />I had no experience with bully breeds, until in a similar situation as yours, I came upon Boone,-- starved, wounded, mangy--by the side of the road. Could not say no. He is a Dogue de bordeux (think pit bull on steroids..ha). One of the first things I did was contact the DDB rescue and ask questions. I was very upset after the conversations--high prey drive being chief on the list. Anyway..to try to keep this short, there followed a year of me learning to handle a dog of such massive size who DID have a high prey drive. Cats were my chief concern, as I can pretty well keep him contained (fenced yard) from the sheep, chickens etc. One of the things I learned after awhile, was to divert his attention. Instead of screaming no, I would call to him to come (after teaching him about treats etc), or have him sit. It was hard for about a year. He would just totally blast off after the cats (thankfully they were never harmed). I thought about a shock collar--ALLOT, but couldn't afford one with all his medical bills too. Here three years later, he is much more mellow. Listens most of the time when I call him or tell him no. The cats can walk around him and near him and even the house cats waller on him. NOT something I ever imagined would happen. However, I don't think I would ever leave him alone with chickens or sheep. One thing I did find extremely helpful and what probably turned the corner for us, was the clicker. He really tuned into that noise, and with special treats, I was able to work with him on the prey drive issues. When he would look at a cat, I would get his attention, click, treat. Pretty soon the minute he put his eye off the cat, click, treat etc etc. It sounds as if Trouper does not have an overwhelming prey drive,(like the sad story of the boxer) but perhaps one that needs redirection. Good luck in whatever you do. It does take more vigilance and work for awhile though, and sometimes it seems more trouble than it's worth, but that is only something you can decide. <br />TammyTammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02131066591477169851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-52772862945731410982010-04-23T11:01:41.843-05:002010-04-23T11:01:41.843-05:00loose muzzleloose muzzlegini lesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12557030550210302977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-21156904732721559362010-04-23T10:55:09.254-05:002010-04-23T10:55:09.254-05:00Oh no again? I have heard once a dog taste blood y...Oh no again? I have heard once a dog taste blood you cannot go back on their training, especially pits- almost instinct I have heard, trying a shock collar may be worth the effort, but if they roam about it might be too late.Chef Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11198603107302675448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-76466088520351075592010-04-23T10:47:00.492-05:002010-04-23T10:47:00.492-05:00Good luck with this. We had a male boxer once tha...Good luck with this. We had a male boxer once that we raised from a puppy. This dog lived in the house with us and we loved him very much. He started running the neighbor's cows. We penned him up, he got out, ran them some more. We made the pen stronger. He got out and took one of the cows down, hamstringed it just like on National Geographic. He was chewing on it's ear by the time we got to him. We penned him up again. He got out again and went back to the cows. Needless to say we took him to the vet and had him put down. It was a hard decision but the only one that could be made. He had no life living in a pen and couldn't be let loose. I hope you can break Trooper of this, but I think you are setting yourself up for heartbreak. Pit Bulls are a whole different animal. Did you read that when Pit Bulls were used as cattle dogs they were bred to handle bulls, not "cattle"? If a very large 2000lb bull got out of line, the dog would clamp down onto the bulls nose and hang there until the handler got there. Bullies are wonderful dogs, but they are bred to be very gamey, to not let go, and by trying to acclimate Trooper to your farm as an adult dog not a puppy you are swimming upstream. I admire your determination and hope it works out for you. For your sake, I hope you don't have to watch this dog kill a goat kid or take your llama down in play. It has nothing to do with his breed, it has to do with his age and the fact that he wasn't socialized around farm animals from puppyhood. I love dogs and have four of my own. They get a one shot deal around here. You kill one chicken, you get the benefit of the doubt. You kill the second one and you go away. Harsh? Maybe, but that's the way it goes around here. If they ever killed a goat or a goat kid, there would be no second chances. Again, good luck.Mama Messhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09541998872594946053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-45387621986920838352010-04-23T10:35:44.359-05:002010-04-23T10:35:44.359-05:00I applaud you for trying. I hate to be a naysayer,...I applaud you for trying. I hate to be a naysayer, but I have serious doubts all your efforts will prevail though. Pits can be beautiful companion animals, and can be well trained. But something in their nerotransmitters goes berzerk every once in awhile. It's just the way they are and why they have such a bad reputation. It might be better to keep your feelers out for a home without livestock for him. Sounds like a farm is just too tempting, like an alcoholic living above a bar.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17995851593213427196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-31306669999475799042010-04-23T10:25:58.586-05:002010-04-23T10:25:58.586-05:00Thanks so much for that suggestion. When I read yo...Thanks so much for that suggestion. When I read your response to Katherine, she reminded me that when we first moved out here we bought an ultrasonic trainer to stop our standard poodle from killing chickens. She's already found it, so all we have to do it put in fresh batteries, and we can try this! It emits a sound that is supposedly very unpleasing to them. We can't even hear it, but it worked with that dog, as well as the barn cats, which it wasn't even advertised to do. It's worth a try.Deborah Niemannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-35643100745730406142010-04-23T10:15:13.418-05:002010-04-23T10:15:13.418-05:00My farmer friend has successfully used a shock col...My farmer friend has successfully used a shock collar to train her dogs not to kill chickens. Regardless of your feelings on shock collars, her stance was this: I want this dog to remain on my farm and as part of my family. Therefore it is NOT allowed to kill chickens, and we must figure out how to instill this in the dog. It worked for her. So, there's an idea.girlwithaswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00294854961137150041noreply@blogger.com