Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wendy is back,
Leydi and Ayla love to get some attention
Wendy checking out Ayla
Wendy checking out Leydi, note the rawhide bone, Wendy found lots of rawhides and beef bones this afternoon, nobody paid any particular attention to those treasures, everybody took turns chewing on something every once in a while, but it seemed they had better things to do.
Wendy and Kobi played for a long time, what can I say, typical terrier, almost endless energy.
Wendy, the little Airedale puppy came to visit again today, she is 5 months old and what a fun afternoon it was. 
Wendy had a blast having the big dogs chase her around.
Leydi and Ayla love to get some attention Wendy checking out Ayla Wendy checking out Leydi, note the rawhide bone, Wendy found lots of rawhides and beef bones this afternoon, nobody paid any particular attention to those treasures, everybody took turns chewing on something every once in a while, but it seemed they had better things to do. Wendy and Kobi played for a long time, what can I say, typical terrier, almost endless energy.Ayla and Leydi took to observing for much of the time. Interestingly, Leydi kept an eye on the gate that leads to the chicken coop. Anytime our two visitors headed over to the gate by themselves, she sprinted over there and wouldn't let them hang out there. Gotta love those livestock guardian dogs, they sure know what their job is.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Leydi's first trip to the chicken yard,
Leydi was very calm when I brought her for the first time into the chicken yard.
Here she really wanted to turn around to see all the activity behind her
Here she observes Sophie coming her way, note that Sophie isn't walking directly towards her and busies herself scanning the ground for goodies, it's quite possible the Leydi sees this as a Calming Signal. I clicked Leydi for staying calm.
Then, when the chick looks up and comes towards her, Leydi turns her head, another Calming Signal. I clicked for that also. Clicker training is really helpful when working on this, as I can reinforce every right move. I find that my dogs are trying very hard to figure out how they should act around the chicks, getting constant feedback from me every time they take a calm look, don't get up, show Calming Signals, sitting etc. makes it a lot easier for them to understand what is expected. This is very different from traditional training, where the trainer usually waits until the dog makes a wrong move and then corrects the dog for it. I do hold my dogs back if they try to make a quick move, so they do get feedback on what not to do also, but I don't use any major punishment, I use lots of positive reinforcement, really good treats, to give them lots of timely feedback about behavior that is acceptable. I want them to enjoy their time around the chickens, because I want them to become their guardians. For more info on clicker training see www.clickersolutions.com
Leydi was very calm when I brought her for the first time into the chicken yard.
Here she really wanted to turn around to see all the activity behind herHere she observes Sophie coming her way, note that Sophie isn't walking directly towards her and busies herself scanning the ground for goodies, it's quite possible the Leydi sees this as a Calming Signal. I clicked Leydi for staying calm.
Then, when the chick looks up and comes towards her, Leydi turns her head, another Calming Signal. I clicked for that also. Clicker training is really helpful when working on this, as I can reinforce every right move. I find that my dogs are trying very hard to figure out how they should act around the chicks, getting constant feedback from me every time they take a calm look, don't get up, show Calming Signals, sitting etc. makes it a lot easier for them to understand what is expected. This is very different from traditional training, where the trainer usually waits until the dog makes a wrong move and then corrects the dog for it. I do hold my dogs back if they try to make a quick move, so they do get feedback on what not to do also, but I don't use any major punishment, I use lots of positive reinforcement, really good treats, to give them lots of timely feedback about behavior that is acceptable. I want them to enjoy their time around the chickens, because I want them to become their guardians. For more info on clicker training see www.clickersolutions.com Friday, May 18, 2007
Ayla and the chicks,
Ayla has been very calm and gentle when meeting our chicks, since it has been rather hot lately, we haven't spent a lot of time outside, just once a day I try to work for a little bit with each dog on being close to the chicks, otherwise they can see them through a double fence from a few feet away to make sure the chicks remain safe.
picture of Sophie both below and above, she is by far the biggest chick and she is having her feathers growing in around the ears and neck, it looks pretty cute.
The chicks are very much unconcerned about Ayla's presence, and I am glad that so far none of them have decided to hop on her to check her out, since she is still new to this.
Miss Lucy, she is the same breed as Sophie, but they look very different.
Bianca and Buffy hanging out
Ayla checking out Pearl// posted by ZaltanaAnatolians @ 10:21 PM
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Livestock Guardian Dogs in training,
My chicks are now 5 1/2 weeks old and are spending their days outside where they have room to run and do the things chicks do, scratch, eat, poop and nap, oh, almost forgot the dust baths. Ayla my 21 months old Anatolian seems to have a pretty good idea what's expected. The first picture shows her next to the chicken pen. 
Before the chicks moved outside during the day Ayla never sat in that spot, and neither did Leydi, now they both take up post there on and off in the morning until there is no more shade. The second picture shows Ayla inside the chicken coop.
The chicks are very unconcerned about Ayla, when I took her into the coop the next time, she laid down and the chicks were all around her, running by and just generally staying close by and checking her out. It is quite amazing to me how she is so calm around them. I do keep her on leash, since I have little control over what these 10 chicks do, I need to make sure that Ayla is under my control until I feel that I can trust her. I already know she isn't trying to hurt them, but I also need to be able to trust her that she will not hurt them in play or by accidentally stepping on them or such.
This is Goldie, my Golden Campine cockerel, he was supposed to be a she, oh well.
Tobi is a Barred Leghorn, she always seeks me out, and will fly up and sit on my hand/arm any chance she gets, she is also the most curious.
Nanuk, my Great Pyrenees, starting to get a little more relaxed about the chicks, so he only gets fence time with them, he has seen our neighbor's grown chickens and never seemed to be interested, so I think his heightened interest is due to the fact that these chicks are very small, noisy and move fast. I am pretty sure he will be okay with them once they get to be adult size. He has never shown any interest in poultry or fowl before.
Leydi has not graduated yet to inside the coop, she has been pretty good with the chicks so far and really shows a lot of interest in them, always wants to come along when I visit the coop. I will probably wait with taking her inside, because she likes to paw at things and if she paws at a baby chick she could hurt it. When they get a little bigger they should be more sturdy.
Sophie, an Ameraucana, she is the biggest chick, I am still holding out hope that she is not a HE.
Ayla looking smart.
Ayla taking a peek at the chicks trying to take a nap.
My chicks are now 5 1/2 weeks old and are spending their days outside where they have room to run and do the things chicks do, scratch, eat, poop and nap, oh, almost forgot the dust baths. Ayla my 21 months old Anatolian seems to have a pretty good idea what's expected. The first picture shows her next to the chicken pen. Before the chicks moved outside during the day Ayla never sat in that spot, and neither did Leydi, now they both take up post there on and off in the morning until there is no more shade. The second picture shows Ayla inside the chicken coop. The chicks are very unconcerned about Ayla, when I took her into the coop the next time, she laid down and the chicks were all around her, running by and just generally staying close by and checking her out. It is quite amazing to me how she is so calm around them. I do keep her on leash, since I have little control over what these 10 chicks do, I need to make sure that Ayla is under my control until I feel that I can trust her. I already know she isn't trying to hurt them, but I also need to be able to trust her that she will not hurt them in play or by accidentally stepping on them or such.
This is Goldie, my Golden Campine cockerel, he was supposed to be a she, oh well.
Tobi is a Barred Leghorn, she always seeks me out, and will fly up and sit on my hand/arm any chance she gets, she is also the most curious.
Nanuk, my Great Pyrenees, starting to get a little more relaxed about the chicks, so he only gets fence time with them, he has seen our neighbor's grown chickens and never seemed to be interested, so I think his heightened interest is due to the fact that these chicks are very small, noisy and move fast. I am pretty sure he will be okay with them once they get to be adult size. He has never shown any interest in poultry or fowl before.
Leydi has not graduated yet to inside the coop, she has been pretty good with the chicks so far and really shows a lot of interest in them, always wants to come along when I visit the coop. I will probably wait with taking her inside, because she likes to paw at things and if she paws at a baby chick she could hurt it. When they get a little bigger they should be more sturdy.
Sophie, an Ameraucana, she is the biggest chick, I am still holding out hope that she is not a HE.
Ayla looking smart.
Ayla taking a peek at the chicks trying to take a nap.