My 11th old Lab Emma likes to chase my hens, how do I get her to accept them? Owned several Labradors never had this problem before. I have introduced them to her by having a hen on my lap and allowing her to sniff the hen. Can you help? She is very well behaved apart from this problem but can also get excited when she meets people.
Hi Shirley and welcome to the forum Eleven months is an in between age , not really a puppy but neither an adult, more of a teenager . Have you tried any de sensitising exercises with her ? Walking her through the hens, on a lead , watching for a reaction and then getting her attention to you and treating her when she looks at you instead of the chickens ? I haven't ever used clicker training but in your case, it might be a jolly good tool , there are articles in the training section on here as to how to correctly apply clicker training , so do have a look and let us know if it helps .
Hi Shirley and welcome There's some advice in this thread that you might find helpful: http://thelabradorforum.com/threads/my-spaniel-chased-one-of-our-chickens-tonight.5748/#post-79257 I'd start with your chickens in their pen or behind a puppy proof fence, then use the gradual desensitisation approach described in that thread I linked to. I think you can definitely have success with this, but it will most likely need a very slow and steady approach.
