Elderly Dogs

My "baby" chickens are 9 weeks old now and I've been letting them out of their coop to free range in the yard a little bit. They're good size for baby chickens but I still try to keep an eye on them.

I let them out yesterday and when I went to close up the chicken coop I did a head count and 2 were missing. They have been going into the coop on their own when it starts to get dark but 2 weren't there. I went through the yard with the flashlight and didn't see them. This morning Gracie and I were walking in a different part of the yard and she was very interested in a woody area. I stood still for a minute and heard a peeping noise. It was dark but there was a little light from the security lamp. I told Gracie - go get the chickens- where are they- and she went into the woods and stood near a downed limb. I went into the woods where she was and sure enough, the chickens were sitting right there. Something must have chased them there because it's a good distance from the coop. Gracie was standing right next to them looking at me. It's so funny. It was like she was "fetching or herding" them. She tried to walk behind them so they'd come in my direction but one of them was very nervous and went the other way. I picked up the one who was calmer but the other one went into the briars so Gracie couldn't follow. Hopefully, she'll head to the coop on her own during the day while I'm at work.

I was so surprised that Gracie knew what I was talking about. She went right to the chickens and waited for me. I think a lot of dogs instinct kicks in sometimes. I know labradors who have to carry something (anything) when they walk and I'm sure instinct is strong in a lot of other breeds as well.

Has your dog ever done anything specific to his or her breed or mix of breeds?

 

 

Greta, that is so cute! What a good dog Gracie is! Hope you find the other chicken tonight.

Thanks Donna! The last chicken is very spooked so I really hope she either stays where she is or she goes back to the coop.

I was just so surprised that Gracie had an idea of what I wanted. I really think her instincts just led her to do what she did because I'm obviously not a herding dog trainer. LOL

Bud didn't understand what I wanted but he wouldn't have been able to go through the downed limbs anyhow. Maybe he just knew he couldn't do it? He's more interested in tasting the chickens. :)

I'm pretty sure the cockers would have found the chickens too. They might not have waited for someone to come get them though.

How funny! I guess Gracie is becoming quite the farm dog. I hope the other chick comes back.

We took ^Minnie^ out to a grass strip airport one time to see a friend. It was basically an empty field in the middle of nowhere. There were mole or gopher holes all over & boy did she go crazy. Good thing I had her on a leash or we would have lost her down a tunnel. She had most of her body down a hole throwing dirt out with her front paws. Her face was sooo full of dirt & she was so upset that we didn't let her finish her digging.

  

Gracie is really in her element now that we moved out to the country. I'm constantly picking burrs out of her coat. She does think she's a farm dog.

Wow! ^Minnie^ was a true earth dog! I'd have loved to see her going after the moles and/or gophers. And I bet she wouldn't have stopped until she got them all. I bet she had a blast!