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Permalink Reply by Jolly Wahlstrom on August 19, 2014 at 10:32pm

All herding dogs can be trained to not prey on family animals. I grew up on a farm and I can tell you no farmer would have a dog if dogs couldn't be trained to not kill chickens or cows or sheep or rabbits, etc. In fact, once the dog learns that those animals aren't to be attacked, they will guard and protect them from other animals. 

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on August 19, 2014 at 10:50pm

Jolly W., you make an excellent point, however farmers with working dogs of whatever breeds have lots of experience with all those farm animals, know how to get them to interact properly, what they can expect under what circumstances and what not to expect, are usually clear and consistent in their rules and it all comes to them as second nature, without much thinking, because it is their way of life.  And some have been known to shoot the dog if it doesn't work!  We don't get many farmers asking questions here ...

This picture is a far cry from your average pet home.... just say'n  :-D

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Permalink Reply by Jolly Wahlstrom on August 20, 2014 at 1:51pm

My folks didn't grow up on a farm so didn't really know much about animal behavior. We kids, having grown up with animals were much better with the animals. When my folks got a young collie and it killed a chicken, I made a little fenced in area inside the chicken yard and put the dog in there for 10 minutes a day. The first few days the dog was really excited but by the second week could not care less about chickens. I didn't want the dog to be in the cage/pen for more than 10 minutes at a time so it didn't feel like it was being punished. After that the dog accepted that the chickens were part of the family and protected them from weasels and skunks at night. It really isn't some secret farmer knowledge, it is thinking about why the dog got excited enough to kill the chicken. 

My Cardigan Corgi I just got a year ago now and she was uncontrollable off leash as soon as she saw a deer or cat. I knew that Corgis are a herding breed so they were  capable of being trained to stop and accept new orders in the middle of herding. So now I can stop her in any part of the chase or at the beginning and she comes right back to me, all smiles. 

To the original question, my Cardigan Corgi is a barker of the highest caliber. I have her trained to not bark very much any more in my yard but I have a neighbor a few blocks away that is really frustrated with my Corgi when my Corgi stays in her yard. I am willing to run outside immediately to stop the barking but she is lazy so the dog just keeps barking. If I lived in an apartment I wouldn't have a Cardigan Corgi unless I found one that doesn't bark. I was spoiled by my last dog, a Corski (Corgi/Husky mix) because she never barked because of the Husky in her. 

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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on August 20, 2014 at 5:11pm

Good point...Wynn is my chicken dog and from the day we bring them home he is entitled to help me check them when I lift them out of their warm cattle tank. I did have an injured chick once when my rescue corgi chased him but the dog didn't "know" better. Today my 8 chickens are free range and none of my dogs or cats bother them. They can learn:)

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Permalink Reply by Esther on August 20, 2014 at 1:11pm

Everyone thanks a lot for your responses. I have become a lot wiser thanks to you and have decided to wait another year. Firstly because I expect to move within one year and that gives me te opportunity to keep rabbits and dog more separate.  At this point in time our rabbits, who are also dear to us, need their free space. I don't think it would be fair to cage them at night so we can have a dog. at night they are most active and we cannot supervise. 

I find it a nice challenge to get the animals to live together.  With the tips I read here I believe I can do it.

I will get a puppy from a certified breeder only. I inquired about the process and they said they have a waiting list,  meaning all puppies are already spoken for before birth. I wonder if there is any chance of matching and picking... I don't want to get any dog, I want to be able to pick it by character!

In the mean time ill keep reading posts and discussions in preparation.

THANKS A LOT :)

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