How to Acclimate Your Labrador to Chickens

Animals will always be a bit curious when they are introduced to other animals, especially animals of a different breed. Labradors are predators instinctively, and their first reaction when seeing a chicken will be to chase and possibly kill it. Although this is their carnivorous nature, you can break your Labrador of the habit. To prevent your dog from killing chickens, acclimate it gradually and use some basic training techniques.

Things You'll Need

  • Training collar
  • Leash
  • Treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fit the training collar around your dog's neck properly. Have treats in your pockets. Put a leash on the collar, and head outside with your dog toward the chickens. Take a walk with the dog, passing the chickens on a few different occasions.

    • 2

      Firmly pull on the leash and say "no" whenever the dog gets excited or barks at the chickens. Tell the dog to "sit." If the dog sits and stops barking, give it a treat. If not, pull on the leash and walk away.

    • 3

      Continue walking the dog until it has the concept not to bark at the chickens and not to run at them. Then you can return the dog to its normal activities.

    • 4

      Walk your dog on a leash by the chickens a few times a day, rewarding the dog and punishing it when needed. Once you are able to walk your dog by the chickens with little to no reaction more than three times in a row, you are ready to let the dog off the leash.

    • 5

      Let your Labrador off its leash and examine its reaction. If the dog has little to no reaction, it should be fine. If the dog barks or runs at the chickens, return it to the leash.