German Shepherds are commonly recognized for their fidelity and working capabilities; nevertheless, these German Shepherds from Gold Coast, Queensland, garnered attention for something rather extraordinary.
Jax, Chewie, and Flint are long-haired German Shepherds. They successfully befriended newly-hatched chicks, which is atypical for their species.
If you have ever raised chickens, you are aware that it is essential to safeguard them from various predators, particularly foxes and large dogs.
However, these pups aren’t your standard large dogs with a pronounced prey instinct – on the contrary, they assume the role of fathers to these baby chicks.
Parenthood Comes In Many Forms
There is a proverb stating that parenthood manifests in various forms, and in this instance, it couldn’t be more accurate.
When the dog’s owners purchased 10 tiny chicks, they were initially anxious about how their dogs would respond.
They shared a short video of the dogs interacting with the chicks on their Instagram account and remarked, “Just attempting to acclimate the dogs to them every day, so hopefully they become their friends & not their dinner.”
To their astonishment, both dogs (Flint joined the family a bit later) instantly took a liking to the baby chicks.
Typically, a German Shepherd may experience an initial inclination to hunt or harm smaller animals, but with adequate exposure, socialization, and appropriate training, it’s feasible for the two species to coexist peacefully.
Everyone was surprised to see that nearly all the chicks were very curious about the dogs and snuggled with them almost immediately.
The dogs took on their role earnestly and began rearing the baby chicks as if they were their offspring.
They ensured their little ones were always healthy, joyful, and clean by giving them baths with plenty of affectionate licks.
“Jax is undoubtedly the gentlest dog! I glanced over today and noticed the chicks all over Jax’s paws, I began recording it, but it wasn’t until I got closer that I discovered Jax had his bone from this morning and was allowing the chickens to share it. Just incredible!”, the owners stated on the Instagram post.
The dogs quickly grasped the importance of being gentle with the little ones and consistently watched over their babies, just like devoted fathers.
The owners also excelled by effectively introducing the chicks to their dogs and instructing them on proper behavior.