Fire someone for doing their job?!?!

Wow, I think I'd have snapped a prong collar on that guy and taken him for a walk.

I would like to put a very strong shock collar on him and every time he tries to do something right, shock him!

Very sad.

Dang!  E-Collar and a real short leash.[:@]

Joyce

When properly socialized and with a job to do you can keep a cattle dog on a farm without the dog chasing your horses...it's done all the time.  Same goes for a terrier, just because you have a terrier does not mean it will or should automatically kill your chickens or other livestock.  Once they do start doing this it's hard to break. It's all a matter of having the dog focus on the proper job and socialization.  Most dogs cannot hold eye on an animal they are social with.  Terriers have lived on farms killing rodents and other varmin to keep the chickens etc safe for the farmers.  It should never be thought to be expected for a terrier to kill your livestock...an unsocialized one or one with exceptionally abnormal enhanced drives may.
I know many farmers, horse people etc who have Australian Cattle Dog's, border collies, Rottweilers, terriers etc and have zero problems with predatory drift towards the animals they should not have predatory drift.  Then there are some who have a dog that will show or has learned predatory drift towards the wrong animal and it is very difficult to break and desensitize.
 
I'm not sticking up for these people, I'm just mentioning that these breeds of dogs have been social with horses and farm animals and lived in harmony.  Some you loose with as it only takes one chase to get the dog turned on.  

ORIGINAL: Cally01

When properly socialized and with a job to do you can keep a cattle dog on a farm without the dog chasing your horses...it's done all the time.  Same goes for a terrier, just because you have a terrier does not mean it will or should automatically kill your chickens or other livestock.  Once they do start doing this it's hard to break. It's all a matter of having the dog focus on the proper job and socialization.  Most dogs cannot hold eye on an animal they are social with.  Terriers have lived on farms killing rodents and other varmin to keep the chickens etc safe for the farmers.  It should never be thought to be expected for a terrier to kill your livestock...an unsocialized one or one with exceptionally abnormal enhanced drives may.
I know many farmers, horse people etc who have Australian Cattle Dog's, border collies, Rottweilers, terriers etc and have zero problems with predatory drift towards the animals they should not have predatory drift.  Then there are some who have a dog that will show or has learned predatory drift towards the wrong animal and it is very difficult to break and desensitize.

I'm not sticking up for these people, I'm just mentioning that these breeds of dogs have been social with horses and farm animals and lived in harmony.  Some you loose with as it only takes one chase to get the dog turned on.  

I'm not saying it can't be done.  In fact, I have two Parson Russell Terriers along with rabbits, snakes, sugar gliders, and hamsters.  However, that does not mean I would EVER trust them around them alone.  I have one that loves my rabbits and I don't think she would ever hurt them, but I would not trust her just in case.  If she did hurt him when I left her alone, it would be completely my fault.  Same thing with the cattle dog.  Unless I spent a lot of time training the dog and working with it, I could not blame it for herding the horses.  It is doing what is natural to it.  When I was younger, I had a border collie and an aussie and we had horses.  Occassionally, they would try to herd the horses, but we never just dumped them because they followed their instincts.  People really should do their research on a breed before they get it.  If they don't have the proper time to put into training it, then they should not get it.  Same goes for any breed.

Agreed. My hounds do fine with my cats, but I'd never leave them all alone together without the cats having a clear escape route. When you get a dog of a certain breed, you have to know what to expect to take training and what will come naturally to it. I knew I'd have to work on leash-training Marlowe for when he saw small animals because naturally, he wants desperately to chase them and kill them. I'm not going to begrudge him that desire and we've spent a lot of time training him out of it.
 
Even dogs that have a traditional quarry have to be trained to not go after other things too. Coonhounds, despite their name, will hunt *insert any forest creature that has a scent and runs* if you let them because it's all the same to them. They have to be trained not to, and if you don't train them not to you'll have to expect that they will and be okay with that.
 
But I encounter people nearly every day who actually seem to believe that dogs can read human minds and speak English, from the moment their born. [8|]

ORIGINAL: houndlove
But I encounter people nearly every day who actually seem to believe that dogs can read human minds and speak English, from the moment their born. [8|]

Me too. Not only that, but when I was teaching computers I constantly ran into people who expect the COMPUTER to read their mind and just "know" what they were thinking. More people than you'd think.

[:@]

very sad to here of this.
 
off topic but do u belong to a sugar glider forum cause ive been thiniking of gettign 2

Yes, I belong to a glider forum and I also breed sugar gliders.  Send me a PM and I can answer any questions you have.  They definitely are something to research before you buy as they are a lot of work.

I've only ever met wild sugargliders, and those buggers bite! People keep telling me captive bred gliders are fine, but it's difficult to believe when you've seen a glider very deliberately seek out an unprotected finger and clamp down as hard as possible. []

Anyway, I agree that you have to be a little understanding with dogs. I have a rabbit and a hare and I know my corgi is totally reliable around them, but I still don't really leave them unsupervised. I'm planning on getting a large breed soon and I was very aware that pretty much any large breed that I should happen to want is not going to be trustworthy around the bunnies. I don't think it's fair to expect a dog to remain lying down calmly when a panicky hare or a dumpy house rabbit tear past. They're oportunistic carnivores and that's part of what I love about dogs. I could get a dog with zero prey drive, but in my mind, it wouldn't be a dog. [] So anyway, there'll be lots of training and careful introductions, but there's no way I'm going to trust a large dog with a wild hare or domestic rabbit. Ever. It's not worth the risk and I wouldn't blame a dog for automatically dashing after my buns if they run by. And I'm leaving the hound group alone for the time being. []

It's just common sense to choose a breed that's going to fit in best with your family and lifestyle. I'd love a sight hound, but I can wait until I don't have bunnies to take care of anymore.

As a horse owner, with a herder who might chase if given the chance, I can sympathize with the desire to avoid having the dog chase horses.  It's plain dangerous.  But, to get rid of the dog just shows that the person had little inclination to find a solution that would keep both the dog and the horse happy and safe.  I keep Sequoyah away from the barn, and my horse, because I've been told that if she is going to work stock, it would be counterproductive to train her not to chase horses, until she knows what she should be herding.  But, I would rather fence the whole dang place than give up my little speckled dog.
BTW, when we go places, she trots to the truck off lead, and if she spots him out there, will take a few steps, and "ask permission", which is always denied LOL.  "Leave it - go truck" is all I have to say.

Gypsy lives inperfect harmony with our cats AND Guinea Pigs.  It CAN be done, but requires work on the owner's part.  Imagine that!

No one would think twice about firing someone if they are doing their job very well! You wouldn't fire a teacher who has an excellent track record! Why get rid of a dog who is doing a great job?!?! I was at Animal Control today and a man brought in his Blue Heeler(Australian Cattle Dog) and turned it in because it was "chasing his horses." DUH!!! He said "I tried to break it of chasing the horses, but it didn't work."

I have been taking of this on this site under  Anything & Everything , New Dog Owners, Once more I read of Dum folks that have not got the first understanding of a dog and it's history, blood, wilds side.  Yes DUH!!! is a good one, I first ask folks that are thinking of having a dog to first tell me about the history of the breed and how it came to live with man, and to tell me some things about how a dogs mind works in the wilds. them I may think of letting a dog go. I send them of to find books and read first and if stuck I will help them understand. In the UK we would call that person a Prat!!! and sent him home with a size 9 up his read.  Anyway Kind Regards  Graham