My dogs are attacking my goats!

run a hot wire on the top and bottom on both sides of the fence. keeps the goats in better and keeps the dogs out.

personally, any dog that can't be trusted around livestock needs a new home, even if it's doggie heaven.

Shock collar and a good hot electric fence. Put some tin foil smeared with peanut butter on the wire to train the dogs. Then encourage them to try it. Do the same with the collar. Set them up to be near the goats and when they start to hunt zap them.

The dogs can be trained to leave your goats alone.

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"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin

LOL! My Boer doe does that to my big shepard/rott mix-- not so long ago she gave herself one heck of a nosebleed 'getting' the dog.

Michelle

how bad do you want the dogs? I have three dogs that I would n't trust around the goats. they have no problem eating chickens when they fly inthe back yard and one has "plucked" a baby goat. I have hot wire to keep them contained. I think it's a little overboard to say they will go from hurting livestock to hurting people. most dogs know the difference between people and animals. they will chase livestock just as they would chase squirrels. hunting dogs hunt animals. hounds and spaniels are hunting dogs. they are both known for being good with kids so.......

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A mystery is not an explanation..... on the contrary....no sooner is a myth forged than, in order to stand it needs another myth to support it.

A dog that killed my goats would not last an hour on this property. Period.

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Beth ~ Old Church, VA
3 Nigerian Dwarf goats, 4 cats, 3 Pekin ducks and 7 chickens. One very patient husband~

We had a similar problem...poor dog...the goat flipped him up in the air and then butted him again on the way down for good measure. He was so scared of that goat field after that, I knew he wouldn't harm the goats (too old and blind) but I didn't realize the goats may go after him!

I too would find new homes for the dogs if you can. Someone that doesn't have livestock. You have to keep dogs and goats seperate but once you start having problems like you are having there is on going back, sorry. Unless you'd rather get rid of the goats but then you really have to worry about them getting out to your neighbors and killing their livestock. The neighbor probably won't be as understanding as you are about baby goats/sheep/chickens being torn to bits.

Thanks to everyone for so much thoughtful and diverse feedback. I will discuss the shock collar with my husband. We have neighbors that use the electric fence, and they don't seem to be reliable enough, but the specific training with the collar could work. When I wasn't working during the day and I spent a lot of time with my dogs, they stuck right by the house. But now that we both work all day, they wander off and look for trouble. They are used to being around my 6 yr old stepson, and a variety of children that come over to the house often. They have never bitten anyone and are incredibly friendly. It is comforting to see that some people agree they won't likely go from hunting animals to biting people. However, I think I will work with them on training and try to find them new homes (without livestock) as well. I grew up with dogs living inside the house, and being part of the family. I don't think every dog is appropriate for living outside on so much land... but we thought we'd rescue some pups when we bought this house, and then the goats came later. I can't bear the thought of putting the dogs down, because I feel like it is our fault they had the opportunity to behave badly. I hope it works out - thanks again to everyone for so much great feedback.