Hey everyone, I could really use some help or book recommendations about handling and training dogs. About two months ago, I rescued two mixed-breed dogs (around one year old) that had been abandoned together. We brought them both into our home on a farm. It took them a little while to adjust, but now they get along really well with our other two dogs. The taller one, Natan, has a ton of energy. He loves to play and often engages in harmless play-biting with the others—never any real aggression. Our main issue is with our farm animals. We also raise chickens and ducks, and at first, Natan would “play” by chasing the ducks. They got so scared they stopped coming to eat. We corrected him, and after a while, he seemed to stop. He also used to bark at the cat but eventually calmed down with that too. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, he killed one of the ducks. We were really upset and started keeping him in a closed area at night (it’s spacious, but he can’t roam freely). Things seemed fine for a bit, but a few days ago, another duck was killed—this time during the day. I can’t help thinking he might have made a connection between us eating ducks or chickens (we sometimes feed the dogs the cooked bones afterward) and the animals he sees alive around the farm. The other dogs have never done anything like this, so I’m wondering if we made a mistake somewhere—maybe in how we feed or handle the animals around him. Both rescued dogs are in good health, they were checked, so it doesn’t seem like a medical issue behind the behavior. I really don’t want to give up on him, but we’re also considering finding him a home without farm animals if nothing works. Still, I’d like to try to help him learn first. So—does anyone have good books, guides, or training resources for situations like this? We can’t afford a professional trainer right now, but I’d really appreciate any practical advice or reading recommendations. Thanks in advance for any help.
submitted by /u/PurposePractical8103
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