A fox just got one of my Barred Rocks...it was just a few feet away..

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

from where my German Shepard Saydee is tied..Saydee didn't even act like anything was going on. My son and 2 of his friends was in the garage..the tom turkey kept gobbling..I yelled out and ask Ben if Saydee had a chicken..he ran up to look.I ran up after them, I thought maybe sour hen was in a foot trap..{Saydee still not paying attention to the chicken crying for help.} Ben seen the fox, the fox was throwing the chicken up trying to get a good hold on her. Ben ran to the garage to get the rifle, by the time he got bad up the hill the fox was already gone. All he could find of our hen was feathers. None of the dogs in the hollow paid any attention to what was going on. We have a german shepard, great dane mix, a stray beagle and a poodle!! I am getting rid of all of them except for the poodle. What breed of dog would be a good family/predator dog? We have to keep Saydee tied..she wants to bite any one that is not family. I have given her away twice, but my husband won't let her go. I have no use for her, Saydee also killed my hen turkey, Any way..what would be a good dog to keep fox and other predators away? DJ

 

[Denali (Auntie's Shadow)]

A hunting breed. The beagle, acctually, is the best dog to have. I would keep it and train it, because beagles are used to hunt. If you get it used to the birds, it might actually be able to protect them in the future.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

Great Pyrenese or an Anatolian are the best LGD's.

 

[19hhbelgian]

I'd think anything that cares when there's a fox in your yard! I would think you're going to need to train any dog not to go after your birds. Something that comes to mind would be a herding breed or some type of flock gaurd dog - Pyrenees or something... But they will still need training unless you find a dog with training.

 

[Faverolle]

Quote:
Pretty much any breed of dog could/should have been barking at the fox. As far as predator control the german shepherd normally would be more then adequate. It sounds like you have a few issues going on with yours because just biting people in general and not barking at a fox definitely is not normal.

 

[Cetawin]

Great Pyrenees or Anatolian Shepherds are the best by far as far as guardians and perimeter protection.

GPs have been known to kill coyotes even.

 

[GaNewChick]

I have to ask ~ why do you get dogs and then when they don't attack and kill the fox ... it's I'm getting rid of them.

I guess I'm asking how many dogs do you intend to get and get rid of because they don't suit the needs of protecting your chickens.

 

[Denali (Auntie's Shadow)]

I have to ask ~ why do you get dogs and then when they don't attack and kill the fox ... it's I'm getting rid of them. hide I guess I'm asking how many dogs do you intend to get and get rid of because they don't suit the needs of protecting your chickens.

I agree. This is why shelters are so full of unwanted animals.

 

[nnbreeder]

I have seen videos of Fox and Coyote both coming into yards and playing with dogs on chains or through the fence in pens. And I have personally seen a Coyote go up to a sleeping dog and sniff it. We now have Anatolians and they are great at keeping things away but be sure to get dogs from a working line. Even then some training may be in order to make it fit your program.

I treat our dogs as working dogs which means NO playing of any sort and if there is someone here besides family and they raise cain so be it. If you start telling them to be quiet every time someone new is over they will think that is what you want and stop alerting.

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Denali (Auntie's Shadow) :

I have to ask ~ why do you get dogs and then when they don't attack and kill the fox ... it's I'm getting rid of them. hide I guess I'm asking how many dogs do you intend to get and get rid of because they don't suit the needs of protecting your chickens.

I agree. This is why shelters are so full of unwanted animals.

This is a good question. We have worked with Saydee. I got her at a 6 week old. Took her out to the coop with me everytime I went out. All she ever wanted to do was to chew on and chase the chicks/chickens. When I wasn't looking she would go after the chick/chicken. Saydee is very smart, she chooses to do what Saydee wants to do. Saydee has never been hit..I trained my rott and chow..they both are dead. OLD AGE. I know how to train. Saydee as a pup acted like a coyote when people would come around. 10weeks and older. She never wanted any one to touch her except for who lived in the home. I would ask my brother or son to hold her hoping she would get use to others. Still to this day the family in the house is the only one she wants around. Saydee has killed my 1 year old hen and if she is left unchained she will go after the chickens..mine and my neighbors. I have to be fearful all the time that Saydee might bite some one. Would you keep a dog like this? I was dog bitten as a little girl. The dog bite my hip and pulled me off of my bike. These tempermented dogs need to be destroyed or caged for life. Lets talk about the dog shelter..I have always been a responsible dog owner. Female dogs is all I have owned and all have been spayed. We have taken in 5 stray dogs in the past 2years.That some irresponsile person dropped off. All have been spayed. One killed my tom turkey. The dog shelters are full because of irresponsible dog owners that won't get there pets spayed/neutured or because they drop them off so then they become other peoples problems. How fair is that to me or others. Our dog shelter will tell you..just destroy the dog. Do you think it would be wise of me to rehome Saydee knowing that she is capable of biting some one or killing others live stock? I don't think so. I would be irresponsible, wouldn't I? We can't ever get the breed of dog we want because we are always taking in others. Not fair. I have never taken a dog to the shelter. DJ​