Hmmm, You don't want the dogs in the house, and you aren't seperating the livestock and the dogs. Eh, mind if I ask what your goals are for the dogs?
Besides not eating the chickens that is.
They understand come and they understand "No." Thanks for your advice. So you are saying it will take several weeks before I can use it?
I honestly don't remember how long the dvd recommends putting the collar off and on before using it, but I think it suggested at least a week. My suggestion on it taking a few weeks was in hopes that you could round up the funds to order the dvd and watch it a few times prior to using the collars on your dogs. The dvd goes into detail on how to fit the collars correctly, how to establish the lowest setting which your dog feels, etc... as well as how it should be used in different circumstances.
BTW... we put up an electric fence around our chicken yard so that we knew the birds would be safe from not only our dogs but other predators as well. It took each dog testing the fence two times to decide chickens just aren't worth the effort (until they are placed in their dinner bowls that is.)
I read a really neat article recently on Maremmas, another livestock protecting breed. It was talking about how the dogs need to be raised with the animals they are to guard in order to develop a protective nature for them... Was the recent encounter at your friend's house the first time your dogs have been around livestock? (I am NOT experienced with livestock guardians however we do have a forum member, Willie Tilton, who is. She might be a good resource.)
We've all made mistakes in training our dogs at one point or another. (You are going to find it is much harder to UNTRAIN something however...) David, if these dogs are supposed to be used for guarding the flock, I'm not sure using an ecollar to keep them off of them is the wise way to go, but I could be way off. It just seems to me if they are supposed to be guarding them - they shouldn't have an aversion to being around them....
Have you had livestock guardians before or are these two guys your first?
Right now you are essentially putting two puppies in with your other critters and expecting them not to bother them. Puppies (of most breeds) see small flighty noisy animals as toys. just because they are a guardian breed does not mean they are exempt from this normal puppy behavior. Puppies play, puppies chase. I'd keep them away from the small animals when you're not around until they are a bit more mature.
You also have two of them together - which can be another big no-no for guardian work. Two of them together tend to get into mischief together and bond to each other instead of the flock/herd.
I don't have very much personal experience with guardian dogs, but I have sheep so I am a bit familiar with them. Right now the very least I'd be doing is keeping them away from the chickens when you're not around and putting them with the goats on a rotating basis. One of them goes in the goat pen while the other goes in the kennel. The herd needs to be their "family" not each other. After they mature a bit and understand their job (could be another year +) then you they'll be at a place where you can have them together with the goats and expect them to be able to guard your livestock without harassing them.
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