[orchardlady]

Butter wouldn't melt......

[orchardlady]

and the other one...bad dogs...

[joyfull]

but very pretty all the same 

[orchardlady]

They work as a team if a hen flaps over the gate. The boy (top photo) runs the bird down and the girl does the killing but I've sorted them now...ha ha ha. They've not had a hen for over 4 month thank goodness.

[Aunt Sally]

It's a story we've heard many times before. 

Butter wouldn't melt in their mouth but chickens fit in very well.

How have you stoped them killing your chooks ?

[orchardlady]

At the bottom of my garden is a five bared gate that leads into the field where the hens free range. I've put spikes that are used on municipal buildings to stop pigeons from landing on window sills. The look like a line of 'Vs'. The hens don't like them as they need a landing spot before coming into the garden.

[Aunt Sally]

... but can the dogs jump over the gate ?

[orchardlady]

No they have never been able to jump over or get under the gate. The gate is covered in galvanised mesh wire to so they and the chickens cannot get under or through. The only way they can get to the hens is either someone letting them through or a hen flapping over the gate. I am extremely strict about access as you can imagine and they always move away from the gate way when told. The dogs patrol the area in front of the gate and the hens hang around the other side when it comes somewhere near afternoon food time. Just like the IRA they only need to be lucky once....

[jinty1911]

Suppose Terriers will always be Terriers and that is what they are bred for.  I have a pomeranian and she has no chance against the 3 chicks.  They go heads down, elbows out
 and tails up and chase her back into the house.    Some times they are on the top step at back door and dont let her back in. She just sits there and howls.  Even the rabbits chase her.  Poor wee bullied soul.
Jinty   

[alancane]

Beautiful dogs orchardlady, what kind of terrier are they?

[Thrift]

It used to be common practice to tie the dead bird around the offending dog's neck for a day or so. I wonder does it work ?

[orchardlady]

They are Welsh Terriers. I was told by the breeder that they are the father of all terriers. Also that the Airedale comes from the Welsh Terrier not the other way round. The Welsh was breed with other bigger dogs to get the size. They are fantastic family pets. Quite feisty when needed and the breed is sound, no known problems. The boy dog is allowed in the chickens field with no collar lead etc with Peter and behaves perfectly. However he sits there quivering with anticipation. You can almost hear him saying. "Just give me the nod boss and I'll sort these pesky chickens for you". The girl is just too head strong when it comes to death and my hens so she does not get to ever go in the field.

[jinty1911]

My mum trains guide dogs for the blind and disabled.  The last one she had (a Lab) for a year and trained it to open doors even take washing in and out of the machine.  He passed all his tests with flying colours and went on to his final part of training, ripped a pheasant to pieces while on a walk on his first day and was immediately bombed out. What a shame. 
Jinty

[8doubles]

My mum trains guide dogs for the blind and disabled.  The last one she had (a Lab) for a year and trained it to open doors even take washing in and out of the machine.  He passed all his tests with flying colours and went on to his final part of training, ripped a pheasant to pieces while on a walk on his first day and was immediately bombed out. What a shame. 
Jinty

Years of breeding to chase and retrieve game are not easily trained out, it is ingrained into their genes. Does guide dog schooling actually include training steadyness to small animals?

[Thrift]

What a shame after all that training ..... I hoe the dog went to a nice home. Unusual surely for a lab to do the 'ripping' bit, they are usually soft mouthed.