Best Dog Breed to Double as Both Housepet and Chicken Guard?

[vanillachai]

You cannot gradually train him to not hurt the hens. Remember that there are some things you simply will not tolerate and do not tolerate them. Make punishment swift, severe, and certain--and make it come from a person the dog respects.

Thank you! Not redundant at all. I will take all the advice I can get before we actually get a dog.

That is why you need a dog from working strain with the proper amount of prey drive so that it does not go after the birds.
Karen

Thanks, Karen! I will remember to look into working bloodlines if at all possible.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I think being of a working strain definitely helps, (there's a reason people sell working bloodlines, after all!) but we've never owned anything but free-puppy, out-of-a-cardboard-box mutts and they've all been good dogs. Even the beagle.

(Disclaimer: I do not recommend beagles. Beagles are meatheads. Friendly, pretty meatheads.)

 

[3riverschick]

There's a lady on the internet who sells trained chicken dogs. they are trained to take care of the birds and stuff.
Ran across her website one time.
Best ,
Karen

 

[centrarchid]

I have kept dogs representing several breeds around chickens, for a good while. Dog needs to be at least 50% bigger than threats if more than alarm needed. My dogs do not mature into role until 18 to 24 months of age.

Breed does not appear to be all that important. How dog is raised and trained is more important. High prey drive does not appear to be a major issue when directed at critters other than poultry being protected. You need to do some training or make so dog cannot get at chickens. Much of the benefit I get is having dogs that simply bark when a predator is present so as to alert me of what is going on. Most instances the dogs simply repel threat by barking and if needed give chase. Sometimes they corner predator so I can get it myself. Less frequently they kill predator although we have yet to kill wildlife larger than a fox or raccoon.

Dogs do need to spend some time outside where they can monitor stock but they need to be able to alert a heavy sleeping human as well. We have dog door at front of house that is used multiple times per day and night. This time of year that means rather large deer parts can be brought in. As I type one dog sleeps just inside door while two more lay in the front yard. Outside dogs are aware of everything and communicate findings to dog inside that alerts me by barking.


I invest a lot in protecting my chickens that do a lot of free-ranging. Fencing and pretty good pens, trapping and vigilance all involved in addition to dogs. Dogs easily the most flexible and expensive part of the operation.

More than one dog better than one.

I could relate lots of stories on this subject, but lack the energy. You will have to get that from others motivated to sell you a high cost pup or simply more excited by the novelty of keeping dogs to protect chickens. Be ready for drama.

 

[chickens really]

I have 3 trained Dogs...A Maremma who lays with my Flock as they free range..An Aussie/Golden retriever who patrols my property and chases of Fox, coyotes and Ravens..Then my little Yorkshire Terrier that is trained to wrangle my Ducks and Chickens back to their Coops and Runs...Depends on the size and the job you want the dog to do...Best wishes on your Dog hunt....

 

[The Moonshiner]

We have Australian shepherds.
Great family dog. Our male even lets our 3 year old stand on his back so he can get snacks off the counter then they share them.
We free range in our yard where the dogs are. I know many would say they are great flock protectors but I honestly think they're only protecting the property but that works out for keeping the birds safe too.
Mine are pretty protective of us so they would fight a stray dog that would come onto the property. Not an issue when we're out in public with any of them so sure that issue could be modified but I like them keeping other dogs away when kids are outside.
Ours are from working lines and also herd goats and sheep for us.

 

[chickens really]

We have Australian shepherds.
Great family dog. Our male even lets our 3 year old stand on his back so he can get snacks off the counter then they share them.
We free range in our yard where the dogs are. I know many would say they are great flock protectors but I honestly think they're only protecting the property but that works out for keeping the birds safe too.
Mine are pretty protective of us so they would fight a stray dog that would come onto the property. Not an issue when we're out in public with any of them so sure that issue could be modified but I like them keeping other dogs away when kids are outside.
Ours are from working lines and also herd goats and sheep for us.

I hope you don't mind my reply?....My Aussie/Golden Retriever is very multipurpose...She protects the flock, chases predators and excellent with horses too...Fox got two Chicks this summer because I had the Dogs in eating in the basement..My expensive Call Drake was missing...An hour later Bindi brought him home..I trained them all to never use their mouths..She was crawling along behind him using her paws and nose to herd back up to the pen...I was never more proud of her..My Drake only flew off into the bush...Good girl Bindi....

 

[ishtar87]

I just got an Aussie Blue Heeler mix and he's been great around my feathery babies. For the most part he is focused on me and only observes the chickens. He's 3 months old so it will be a while before I completely trust him by himself but I have to say I'm impressed so far. Many articles I read in previous forums had suggested Aussies and so far I'd have to agree. Great Pyrenees was another breed that was frequently recommend. Seemed to be top of the list for guard dog but I didn't want a dog quite that big. I also read Welsh Corgi make a good guard dog although a bit unusual in that role. Good luck on choosing your new puppy. There are many choices out there, in the end the time you spend training and working with you dog is what will really determine if it is a good chicken and duck companion.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Ours are great keeping predators away. Did have a couple problems with fox. Our yard area is 3 1/2 acres with the house kinda in the middle so blocks some of their view. Its all fenced but fox are so sneaking they can get in nab something and get back out without being spotted sometimes.
We actually start herding training using our ducks when they're puppies. Ducks move together just about like sheep and goats so it works well. Chickens don't herd so well. They like to bolt or scatter. Fun times watching them try to out flank them and get them back in a group. Never works though.
Aussie are very smart and I believe they could be trained to do about anything if you know how to go about it.
Great dogs imo.

 

[Nardo]

We have three lab rescue mixes and they kill squirrels, opossums, snakes, an occasional dove (sigh) but they do not hurt the chickens. They chase off anything that will hurt the chickens and are a great hawk deterrent. The 'bad' things they do are more of a personal annoyance: they will persist in trying to sniff the butts when a hen just laid an egg and they like fresh poop. But the hens only wariness around the dogs is to keep out of the way when the dogs begin chasing something. The girls have learned the tone of barking/growling that means intruder and they run for cover right away. I agree that it is about discipline and trust and also about the dogs accepting the alpha/top dog rules. That is me and they want to please and do not want to break the rules.