Dogs and ducks living together and coexisting peacefully may sound impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. With a duck-friendly dog breed, careful training, and the right dog, your canine companion can learn to live in harmony with your webbed-footed friends.
Choosing Dog Breeds for Ducks
If owning both ducks and dogs is on your bucket list, a good place to start is by choosing a duck-friendly dog breed, such as a livestock guardian dog. There are many breeds available that can coexist with ducks, but before acquiring a dog, do your research to learn what breed best fits your needs.
Even when choosing a duck-friendly breed, dogs are individuals, and some may possess a higher prey drive than others. To prevent accidental injuries or fatalities, always supervise dogs and ducks living together. Even the most behaved canine can accidentally injure ducks.
Good dog breeds to raise with ducks include:
Australian Shepherd
Border Collie
English Shepherd
Great Pyrenees
Rough Collie
Shetland Sheepdog
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Dogs and Ducks That Don’t Mix
To help dogs and ducks living together coexist peacefully, avoid dogs with high prey drives. However, some individuals of the breeds below may still get along well with ducks.
Some dog breeds to avoid include:
Alaskion Malamutes
Dachshunds
Golden Retriever
Greyhounds
Huskies
Jack Russell Terriers
Pitbulls
TerriersWhippets
Whippets
Yorkshire Terriers
A Word on Retrievers
Some Labrador Retrievers and Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retrievers can get along well with ducks, while others have a higher prey drive due to their purpose as waterfowl retrievers.
If you are considering owning one of these two breeds and want your dogs and ducks living together in harmony, stay clear of individuals with hunting bloodlines.
Helping Dogs and Ducks Get Comfortable
Ducks will be more relaxed if they are allowed to build an awareness of your dog before any introductions are made. Not only will this first step benefit the ducks, but it will give you a chance to see how your dog reacts to seeing ducks from a distance.
Chain your dog for a few minutes at a time close to the duck run, making sure to choose a spot where he will be safe and can easily see the ducks, but can’t reach them.
Give the dog a distraction, such as a chew toy or dog bone to chew on while he watches the ducks. Discourage your dog from barking, as barking can make ducks act nervous.
With your dog in plain sight, offer the ducks a treat to keep them calm and relaxed. Keeping ducks calm is important, as excited, nervous ducks will perk up your canine’s prey drive.
Wait to take the next step of the introductions until the ducks remain consistently calm, and the dogs are calm and not showing any aggressive behaviors such as lunging or barking.
Training Dogs and Ducks to Coexist
For dogs and ducks living together to work, you must train your dog to behave around waterfowl. Ducks are prone to being nervous, especially around things they view as threats. If your flock isn’t used to interacting with your dog, or when you bring a new dog home, their first reaction is to become nervous.
Start by introducing your dog to the ducks on opposite sides of a completely predator-proofed run. Allow your dog to approach the enclosure. Keep the dog on a leash and speak in a gentle, but firm voice. Remind your dog to be gentle (a command he should master before being introduced to waterfowl).
In most cases, the ducks will panic as the dog approaches, causing the dog to react. Keep a firm hold of the leash so the dog can not keep approaching the scared ducks. Use the commands “no” and “gentle” to remind your canine to settle down.
Once the dog has calmed down, lead him away from the ducks. Repeat these steps daily until all members involved have calmed down around each other and no longer react. While it may seem impossible at first, ideally, your dog should be able to walk right past the duck pen without the dog or ducks reacting, before being introduced face-to-face.
Always keep introductions to one dog at a time, even if you have a multi-dog household.
Knowing Your Dog Around Ducks
Knowing your dog’s personality can go a long way to help dogs and ducks living together. Does your dog remain calm when he sees ducks? Does he show signs of aggression or become overly excited when visiting the flock?
Watching a dog’s behavior before introducing him to ducks face-to-face can tell you whether or not your dog is up for the challenge.
Introducing Dogs and Ducks Safely
Dogs and ducks living together will only work if they respond to each other in a positive manner.
If both ducks and dogs are responding well to seeing each other on opposite sides of the fence, the face-to-face introductions are usually smooth.
Always keep your dog on a short leash during the introduction so you can control him if needed.
Use the same commands as when introducing ducks to dogs with a fence between them. Never allow your dog to chase or harass your ducks in any way. Keep meet and greets short and frequent to prevent stressing ducks and dogs. With time, some dogs are able to safely be around ducks without needing a leash restraint.
During these times, a careful eye should be kept on both webbed-footed and four-footed friends at all times.
Never allow dogs access to your ducks’ coop or pen in the barn. This is critical as ducks should always have a place they can go to feel safe and secure, should they become spooked by a dog or other predator.
Raising Puppies With Ducks
Dogs and ducks living together is certainly possible; however, most puppies are not the best mix with ducks. Puppies become very excitable and may accidentally injure or kill a duck.
Protect your puppy and your flock by waiting until puppies have matured before being introduced to your ducks.
When Dogs Show Aggression to Ducks
If your dog shows signs of aggression toward ducks, it does not always mean that they can’t live together. Some signs of aggression include:
Baring teeth
Biting ducks
Growling
Killing ducks
Snapping at ducks (Snapping at the air when herding, not included)
If you notice your dog displaying any of these behaviors towards your ducks, permanently remove him from the flock and avoid flock interactions.
Important Note: Even if a dog shows aggression to ducks, it does not mean that you can not own ducks. Protecting your ducks from an aggressive dog is possible with a completely predator-proofed pen and by avoiding confrontations.
Protecting Ducks From Dogs
Accidents can happen, so it’s important to be prepared. The best way to do this is to have a secure run and coop for your ducks to live in. Never allow ducks to free range to minimize ducks and dogs meeting face to face without supervision (this is especially critical when dealing with a dog with a high prey drive. When allowing dogs to interact with ducks, keep a close eye out for problems that may arise to prevent accidents from happening.
Protecting Dogs From Ducks
It may sound strange when discussing dogs and ducks living together to discuss dog protection, but some ducks love nothing more than terrorizing their canine companions.
Ducks that are confident around dogs have no problems biting a dog’s legs, neck, and any other body parts they can grab hold of. This is especially important when working with a toy or small breed or an elderly dog.
Even when non-intentionally bullying dogs, confident ducks have no problems walking right up to a dog, walking in between your dog’s front and hind legs, and even climbing on a resting dog. If these behaviors make your dog uncomfortable, be sure to keep a watchful eye on your flock and discourage unwanted behaviors.
Dogs and Ducks Living in Harmony
With time, patience, and the right canine companion, dogs and ducks living together is possible. Learning how to train your dog, and recognize signs of aggression will also help your ducks and dogs live together in harmony.
This article was written for Hobby Farms and Chickens magazines. Click here to subscribe.
