I am staying at a cabin on a Gulf Island with my dogs. The island is over run with deer, they are very bold, even coming up onto our back porch to steal apples.

Skipper, 11 year old fox terrier, seems pretty oblivious, although he hasn't confronted a deer face to face. The yard around the cabin is covered in deer droppings and the deer use a hole in the fence nearby as a regular path. Skipper hasn't shown any undue interest.

Jethro, 21 month old shepherd x, is very excited by the scent of the deer and is avidly eating the droppings whenever he can. When there were deer in the yard one evening, he went ballistic trying to get at them.

My strategy so far has been to keep Jethro on lead at all times outside. I do not want him to get a taste of deer chasing. I found a 20' cable tie out and it is working until I can get my hands on a long training lead (I forgot mine at home).

We have started training for venue and distraction, just basic commands: Sit, Down, Come, This Way, Leave It, Wait, and Watch. I am treating the situation as new training, with treats and "Yes" marker word. I am using some corrections because Jethro does know the commands, when the distraction level is low enough and he is just not paying attention. We have never been in such a stimulating, distracting situation with wildlife before. At home, at least we have a gated porch and fenced yard.

I am wondering how other forum members would handle this situation. What kinds of strategies, training goals, etc. would you set for yourself and your dog? I don't use an e-collar, I do have Jethro on a prong collar whenever he is outside. My biggest concern is training Jethro to not chase deer.

I don't have anything to offer except that I have recently tried an e-collar for recalls when Mitzi decided that she could bolt through the gate when we open it and run around the neighbourhood, completely ignoring me.
Within a day, she got the idea and now (7 days later) I can leave the gate wide open, with confidence. I used a combination of Leerburg and Lou Castle protocals. Granted, I have to wear a transmiter around my neck, maybe for the rest of my life, lol!

But mostly, I'd like to know what Gulf Is. you're on? I lived for 20 yrs. on Gabriola, till I moved to Nanimo last Dec..

Cheers,
Ci

Can you get a portable electric fence or the e-collar.

Also some one told me that if you spread parfum it act as a repulsive for deers. I have not tryed that but was thinking about when we had unwanted hunters on the farm