Seems to me it is normal for a dog to want to "play" with the chickens, but I think you should take time for a little training NOW because once she kills one it will be much more difficult to change her ways. Next time you are out in the yard with dog and chickens, put Zora on a leash. If she is not accustomed to this you may need to reassure her that she is a good dog. The last thing you want is for her to feel she is being punished. When a chicken approaches and Zora shows signs of wanting to "play" with it, take up the slack in the leash and say-very calmly and firmly: "No, Zora, those are Mariah's chickens." If she backs off, praise her. If she continues to try going toward the chickens, let her feel the pressure of the leash (don't yank it... you are trying to communicate, not punish) and repeat "No, Zora, those are Mariah's chickens." Over and over until she gets it. Lots of praise for not moving towards the chickens. No punishment or anger when she does, just a calm, matter-of-fact reminder that the chickens are yours. Say "Mariah's chickens", not "my chickens" because dogs are not good with pronouns. Believe it or not, my friend Brian trained our CAT not to bother the chickens or frighten the caged rabbits in just this way. She's a smart moggie and it only took about an hour before she began to ignore even the most provocative of invasions of her space by some half-grown chicks. There are limits though. Marilla is a clever cat and she refuses to believe that wild young cottontails or chipmunks are "Maggie's". We tried, but she knows better. She is never outside except when wearing her harness and leash, but she still manages to catch them now and again if we leave her unattended long enough to make a cup of coffee. But the domestic rabbits and the chickens are safe from harassment.

I have to agree with the majority of the previous comments. I raised Chows for years and heard how awful their disposition was and that many were afraid of them.... not mine, they were raised to be docile and loving pets and not once did I have one of the ones I kept or those placed in homes ever turn on anyone. I have had two pit bulls, notorious for their evil ways, and mine would fall over and wet themselves if anyone would even look in their direction, lol. I currently have a beagle, a lab mix , a yorkie and a heinz 57...only the heinz is allowed near the livestock.... he goes in the chicken coop with me, alerts me when one has left their 'pasture' and even totally ignores the dozen guineas that roam the land. All the others although raised the same as he, are terrible about wanting to chase and conquer... but I did not raise them from pups, they were rescues. My son recently gave me a Mastiff that is now 4 months old and she has wanted to chase the birds, but in a puppy play manner... we have taken a stern hand at making sure she is exposed to them and reprimanded when she becomes 'aggressive'.... she is allowed free roam of the land now and does not show any aggression.... and it has only been 4 weeks.... she still gets excited when she sees guineas squawk by but looks at us for her reprimand, lol..... any breed, if handled well, can become docile, it does not have nearly as much to do with breed as it does training..... know your breeder.... visit their set up and see how they raise their animals... meet the pups parents... and start early with a strong hand in discipline...... that is my 2cents, lol......

Thank you...you are so so right! There was so much mis-information there! The nursery sold the Harry Lauder...it is on hold status for a customer of theirs. They will call me if the person doesn't come in and pick it up. My husband thinks we should wait for our sand cherry to fade out and die and then plant it in its place...since we learned they are a temporary shrub...and it was struggling to survive a good 7 years or so by the walnut...transplanted to where it should have been planted years ago...and we thought it died last year. And talked of putting a Harry Lauder in its place this year. Then...the sand cherry showed signs of life... It would put it in full sun. Verses...under the edge of a shaded oak tree...a good distance from the actual tree,but an old tree...unless we hear from them. I think he is tired of planting this year.

I'm Irish and Native American; hubby is genetically Scottish raised by German/Irish adoptive parents. We're a mess! LOL The dogs' breed, Deutsh Drahthaar, is a German registered vesatile hunting mix from the late 1800s. Some of the ancestors included wirehairs, pointers, Poodle Pointers, and other birdy type dogs no longer available. My half of the dogs are Celtic! LOL (and both halves are mine!) Patti - They were out about three hours that day and Sam ran like that the entire time. You can see tree lines off in the distance; they are near the farm access roads, which are each one mile apart. That gives a little scope of the vastness. Sam will run until he's completely out of sight and, eventually, come zooming back by. He's a nut. Harry stays "close," he ventures out about 1/2 mile and keeps circling back in.