Sprocker spaniel on a killing mission - HELP !!!

[jvoyce]

We are looking after a sprocker spaniel. She has been with us for 3 weeks and has settled in reasonably well. Gets on fine with our other dogs (2 labs and 2 springers).

SHe chases cats but they keep her in line fairly well. We are due to have her for another month yet, but we are losing our chickens at an alarming rate !! ~ She clears all our fences and is totally focussed on killing whatever she can catch. Today was our huge Appenzeller cockerel that was as big as her.

She's always been a pet and never trained as a working dog, but her instincts are very keen.

Can anyone suggest any way we can try to control the killing fest other than keeping her confined / on a lead.

Thanks on behalf of our remaining chicks

 

[mattilda]

I don't know an awful lot about hunting dogs. Cayla may be your best bet. Maybe put her on a lead and take her to the chickens, if she goes for them a swift tug on the lead and a sharp no. Praise if she is quiet and non aggressive towards them.
It may be that she has never had experienced of feathery, exciting, clucking things and can't contain herself. Definitely better nipped in the bud before she starts on bigger things like neighbours cats!!

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

As Mattilda says! Although it does depend how much effort you really want to make bearing in mind she isn't your dog - probably a happy medium is to use an extendable lead?

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Must say the only way I have found to control my VERY keen greyhound is to keep her on a lead

Cayla will have better advice about spaniel types I am sure though

 

[CAYLA]

As you have suggested yourself this is a natural and very strong instinct, made worse by the fact that she has killed and she clearly wants more, there is no quick fix here and it will take many hours of one on one with her before she is maybe no even 100%, but atleast obeying some basic commands when around livestock, and I don't think a month will do it, unless you want a solution quick and u call in a trainer or even consier an electric collar.
I deal more so with training sight hounds not to kill/chase in order to place them in homes than crazy spaniels

but I did cure my wire haired pointer after he killed 1 chicken

There is no way you have a hope in hell if you do not control the dog via a lead initially, the dog has to be restrained and not let to chase, as the chase instinct is strong and in turn will make those lovely fluffy beasties he seeks flap and run

which he in turn finds irrisistible

if he was restrained and used to being a little calmer and seeing the animals not so flappy and panicky u will beable to get his attention or atleast reprimand his over sellous behaviour, by introducting a reprimand(mine is usually a check on a check chain and a LEAVE IT, but u must be firm and patient, if he responds to treats which is unlikely when his treat is a big feathered chicken then use it to your advantage, if not then try being firm.
You could also try a splash collar, but I would recommend u atleast speak to someone who has used them or read up on them.

The more the dog is around the animals when they are calm the more chance u have to get some basic commands in place, rather than opening the door and releasing hell, and watching as the masacre begins

A dog on a lead/long line can be stopped in his tracks at the same break neck speed he chooses to run at that fence(u know the lead has an end)

, and it's a rather good first reprimand, and denies him his access

if my dog leaped over a fence to get into the pen, I would be hot on his heels and he would be the one that got masacred

I would also try and burn some energy off the dog before trying these on lead training sessions, a spaniel will killing on the brain and full energy to boot is a bad mix

If the cats are managing to control him, there must be hope for you

any unwanted behaviour he shows the cats should also be nipped in the bud by you, he must know there is consiquence for his actions.

 

[jvoyce]

Thank you very much for the advice..... Cayla I'll try her on the lead near the birds and see what her reaction is to start with. I'm not into gadgets really and would much prefer to use time and effort. It's interesting that your experience is that is is possible to curb the killing instinct so we'll follow your advice and give it a go.

We're well on the case with the cats as it's much easier - they're used to dogs and don't run so the whole situation is altogether calmer.

I would have happily throttled her yesterday, but I've lost my voice so couldn't shout at her - really

and then I spent a happy ? half hour prepping the dead cockerel to go in the freezer !

Frankly we could do without the hassle - our own dogs are trained and under control - but as she's here for a month we're going to have to do something !

Thanks again, I'll let you know how we get on