Small guard dog?

Date sort Score sort
Bitemynekk

Bitemynekk

In the Brooder
5 Years
Apr 1, 2014
34
1
31
Victoria, Australia
I'm wondering if there's any dogs on the smaller side that will protect my flock from foxes? My hubby isnt a dog person and I'm trying to find ways to convince him to get q guard dog after a recent fox attack. Any recommendations on dogs and how to convince my ridiculously stubborn husband are appreciated.
 
Bitemynekk said:
I'm wondering if there's any dogs on the smaller side that will protect my flock from foxes? My hubby isnt a dog person and I'm trying to find ways to convince him to get q guard dog after a recent fox attack. Any recommendations on dogs and how to convince my ridiculously stubborn husband are appreciated.
Click to expand...
I'm assuming that you are free-ranging? I'm not an advocate of free-ranging for the simple reason of what you have gone through with fox attacks.

I'd like to see some pictures of your coop/run setup if possible. What you really need to do is build/re-build your coop/run like it was Ft. Knox. What type of wire are you using?
 
Last edited:
Any breed of dog can be a guardian for your chickens. No matter which breed you choose, they'll all require training. I have a Bulldog and a Doberman, breeds not known for being livestock guardians, but they do a good job of patrolling our yard for uninvited guests and they're safe to roam around all of our poultry, but it took a good bit of training to make them bird safe.
However, just because you get a dog and train it doesn't mean you'll never loose another bird. When you free range, you just have to accept that there's going to be some loss. Everything out there likes to each chicken, as much as it stinks for us.

Sorry about your loss and good luck convincing your husband to go along with the whole dog thing :hugs
 
Australian Shepherds are INCREDIBLE dogs. They are very attentive to what you want them to do, and they were specifically bred as fowl herding dogs...

Now here's the caveat... They are HERDING dogs. So they have a high prey drive that you will have to train. They do need a job, and if you get a dog and just leave it to its own devices, you can prepare for a disaster that will make you WISH you had a fox problem instead.

Maybe, instead of a dog, consider getting a turkey or three. They will chase off predators and they make EXCELLENT flock guardians (and they lay eggs, too!). :)

MrsB
 
Last edited:
I have 6 turkeys, and while I love them, they are not such great flock guardians. In fact, a few weeks ago my tom decided to lead his girls to our neighbors house, where he walked right into the jaws of their shepherd mix :/ They're used to our dogs, and I guess they didn't feel a need to be afraid of theirs either. We managed to get all of the hens back, who flew into the trees surrounding their yard.

Lots of folks say good things about geese as flock guardians though, maybe they'd be a consideration? I used to have Embden and Toulouse geese, they were great birds!
 
howfunkyisurchicken said:
Lots of folks say good things about geese as flock guardians though, maybe they'd be a consideration? I used to have Embden and Toulouse geese, they were great birds!
Click to expand...
We've got Sebastapol Geese (4 of them) and our two dogs (a border collie mix and a lab) are terrified of them. I don't know how well they'd do against a fox, but they're awfully aggressive and loud when anything is out of place/abnormal/new.
 
I have 2 white pekin ducklings and have a few questions.

-How old will they be when they get their feathers

-How old do they have to be before they can be in a pond without supervision

-I know each duck is different but in general would they scare of a Jack Russel and the next door labs.

Please help. I reeely want to free range.
 
micah wotring said:
I have 2 white pekin ducklings and have a few questions.

-How old will they be when they get their feathers

-How old do they have to be before they can be in a pond without supervision

-I know each duck is different but in general would they scare of a Jack Russel and the next door labs.

Please help. I reeely want to free range.
Click to expand...
I can't help you wen it comes to ducks..I don't raise them. Someone else will be along that can. As for "scaring off" dogs? I don't think so. If you free-range you are letting yourself open to predator attacks, which include dogs.
 

Similar threads

Barredrockmama1
    • Like
Adopting a rooster for my hens
Replies
8
Views
591
Duckduckgoosie
Duckduckgoosie
Waves
    • Like
Does my dog want to eat my baby chicks? ;(
Replies
3
Views
944
Waves
Waves
F
    • Sad
Protection dog for flock
Replies
7
Views
961
McChooky
McChooky
Ponyiqandhens2
    • Like
Nervous chicken mama
Replies
2
Views
499
Ponyiqandhens2
Ponyiqandhens2
J
    • Like
1 surviving chicken after dog attack - how long can she be alone?
Replies
4
Views
651
JuliaCB15
J

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom