[dajo]

Hello,
I have read the various posts about clicker training and shock collar training and am still very confused about training my bassets hounds. I have two bassets that are 18 months old. we really love the little girls and they are basically well behaved except when they get in hunting mode.

We live on 15 acres and have a small pond with ducks. Last night one of the Bassets grabbed a duck and carted him off. Unfortunately by the time we realized what was going on it was too late. The dogs knew it was wrong and knew we were upset with them, however, I think that their instinct to chase prey is too strong for them to resist the ducks.

My question is; is there a way to train them to not chase the ducks? We have a fence surrounding our property but they are very good at digging under it to get where they want to go. so I do not think that putting a fence around the area will work. The girls will come when called except when they are chasing something and then it is as if they do not hear me at all.

I love my ducks and the dogs and would like for us all to live in harmony without being tied up or restricted to a small area but I am unsure how to accomplish this. I am hoping that someone will have an idea that will make it possible. Thank you so much for your help.

 

[Mikey T]

The dogs knew it was wrong and knew we were upset with them, however, I think that their instinct to chase prey is too strong for them to resist the ducks.

Quite the contratry they do not not it is wrong but they do know you are upset with them but not why. What humans interpret as a guilty look by the dog is actually apeasement gestures by the dog in reaction the the behavior of the human

see What Really Prompts The Dog's 'Guilty Look'

We have a fence surrounding our property but they are very good at digging under it to get where they want to go. so I do not think that putting a fence around the area will work.

Dogs dig under fences at the point the fence meets the ground there effors can be twarted with an under ground parrier that extend a few feet from the fence line. Dog do not attempt to tunnel back from the fence. So burring an epoxy coated fencing 3 ft Wide minimum attatached at the bootom of the original fences and laying flat on the ground burried or covered an inch or two in the soil is ever effectice at stopping diggers. Other alternative includ a low electric fence in side the security fence preventing the dog getting close to the security fence and borrowing under


The closure a dogs behavior is to instincual behavior the harder it is to stop. Inctive Drift

trying to simply rely on behahoir modification in these cases is dangerious and resonable plan must include management to prevent dog - duck interactions when they are not strictly supervise. Can the dogs be trained not to chase the ducks. Yes but is is a very long and slow process.

Punishment like a shock collar could be effect if the dogs were only chasing the ducks. The fact that they caught them etc show more preditory drive. Preditory drive is more reslient to punishment. Preditors get injured and face adverse all the time in hunting activites but it does not do much to slow the activity, The only proven way to accomplish what you want to do is by teach a more appropriate behavior.

ths is going to require dog and duck interaction but the both must be safe. The dogs need to be restrained during such thraing. see desennsitizing to Squirrels


The techniques used is one called densititation and counter conditioning. One good reference on the technique is patrica Mconnells CAUTIOUS CANINE - HOW TO HELP DOGS CONQUER THEIR FEARS
granted the dogs are not fearful but the technique work for a number of behaviors

A google search "desentization counter-conditioning" will provide numerious articles as well. However to be successful the practionioner need to be able to read their dogs body language really well and understand subtle gesters. I skill realitivelhy few have unless trained to do so. If you look at the links in some of the other thread on finding a behaviorist ect they shuold help you find someone to asist you in this type of enderavor. But in the meant time interaction between the dogs and ducks must be minimised. Say for instance that the fence is fixed so the dogs can't get through, but the fence is a wire mesh chain link etc that the dogs can see through and dailhy the dogs run the fence line next to the ducks. Allowing this behavior undoes any training you are attempting to accomplish.