Didn't know where to post this. What do you think???

[Egghead_Jr]

I'm a collie fan. Energetic, but not too energetic and natural herders. Wont let children or livestock stray.

Eager to learn so easily trained.

 

[blefky]

I agree that it's generally more about training than breed. That said, some dogs seem to have more of a nurturing nature to them. Here's our American Bulldog, Gracie, with this year's goslings:

Introductions

Babysitting

The somewhat sad ending is that inevitably as the birds grow, they become less tolerant of Gracie's mothering ways and usually end up chasing her off.

 

[dandydoodle]

We had a German shepherd mix. We had to give her back. She almost killed our dachshund, I am not sure if she was gonna be good with poultry we were getting here use to them slowly. She was as sweet as could be but, not good with smaller breeds. Our heart are a little broken right now. We miss her I think another big dog that actually would be good with small animals would help us heal. We couldn't keep her anymore though she nicked our 9 year old weinnie dogs juggular vein we couldn't take anymore chances.

I am still hoping someone says a breed that might work for us. I don't want any kind of dog that has a documented history of attacking anything.

Quote:
Those dogs have a bad reputation doesnt mean they are bad with poultry. A pomerian could be more dangerous than a rottweiler. Just depends on how they were raised.

 

[dandydoodle]

Ugggh, to bad you don't live closer. I would love to hire you to train us and our dog.

Quote:
Its not so much the breed as it is you,sorry to say. Most any breed can be taught to leave the chickens be but that learning has to come from you. If you have little to no dog experience,I would suggest do ALOT of research and when you decide on a particular breed maybe even enroll in a class to teach proper dog handling.Most dogs are willing to please and love to learn but left unharnessed the dog will control you and dictate how things will be done. I have been training retrievers for 25 years, was taught by a true professional dog handler(field trials of retrievers and pointers) that the key is repetition,repetition,repetition. Invest in a choke chain and learn proper use of it,strong correction on faults and stronger praise for good behavior go along way. Punishing a dog long after bad behavior just confuses the dog and will create a timid dog,correction has to be done immediately. Time spent and consistancy are other keys. Another big mistake is too many people try to handle the dog,what you might correct the dog for someone else will let it get away with,more confusion for him. Set ground rules with the training process. When I get a new dog,I handle all the training but allow social time with the kids and other people. My current golden,anyone could take him either for a walk or on a days hunt without me and still be a good citizen.

Got to laugh when people say that their dog "is so stupid". Nothing could be futher from the truth,the dog is doing what he wants to do and doesnt care what you have to say. Because you didnt teach him what you want and your calling him stupid? Might want to look in the mirror. So I dont think the breed is an issue. Get a breed you feel comfortable with bear in mind some train easier than others. A Lab might fit your lifestyle,larger and with short hair and fairly easy to train. Also you have an advantage starting with a pup,knd of like a blank piece of paper as to you get to imprint what you want. I started with a 11 year old trained to retrieve waterfowl and now have to tell him he cant. In his eyes fowl are fowl and now he is told he cant. But given his training a strong NO was good enough for him the couple times he tried to grab one. Now they walk right past him and he dont even bat an eye. So good luck and hopefully my input(although rambling at times) will help you decide. In case you didnt notice a properly trained dog is a pet peave of mine.

Oh yeah one more thing,if you come across a outside dog that dont smell let me know,gotta get one of those!

 

[Wisher1000]

Information is power...check out this thread

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=565847

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

that post was right, research what would fit your lifestyle, border collies are pretty good around both kids and livestock of all ages, how you raise it will make the difference though, and its a medium size dog...very protective of the flock. check them out
I have shepard/chow that is excellent but I'd say he's unusual for his breed
and shepard/mastif, but they are for predators mainly.

 

[dandydoodle]

I will check out collies. I will check out that site.

Thanks,

 

[centrarchid]

Dog breed is important when considering situation under which poultry are kept and role is expected to play. For those with a small number of birds that range very little, a lower activity more sedentary breed is likely adequate. If you have a larger number of birds that range over a larger area like I have, then a more active breed may be better. Sight oriented breeds will do better where dog can see everything from where it spends most of day. Smell is always good for tracking predator but may not be helpful soon enough if wind not coming from correct direction. Hearing I have found to be extremely important. Chickens make all sorts of alarm calls specific to nature of threat. For me the ideal dog is always looking about, checking scent trails and quick to respond to the chicken alarm system. We used to have black and tan coonhounds as well as dalmations that could fit bill. Presently I am particulalry impressed with a German short-haired pointer for patrolling-defending our dispersed poultry yard. He is quick to respond and has been able to convince a fox that early on managed to take a couple birds that future visits are not worth risk.

When comes to protecting flock, do not be one dimensional. Consider cover (places birds can go to) when predator calls, age when allowed to free range, and flock makeup (a free ranging game rooster has effectively shut the Coopers hawks down when it comes to their taking chicks). Keeping roosts and coops in working order helps in the event dog takes more than two seconds to get there.

 

[Lalaith]

I have a black and tan coonhound X Doberman and he is great with all of our animals. Sadly, he is quite aged and I have been looking at young Kuvasz dogs lately for a companion for him. They are large, have an odorless double coat, do well outside, and are bred to protect livestock of all types. Gorgeous animals.

 

[maizy'smom]

There was a similar thread on BYC about two weeks ago. I will say here, again, what I said there......Boxer, Boxer, BOXER! My sister's Sugar Rae, now a very senior lady, is my favorite dog, besides my own (Bijon-Pom mix...we all have allergies). Sugar Rae has helped raise three children who all climbed on her, stepped on her, chewed on her, stole her food...you name it. She also has lived with pure bred Persians and DSH average street cats. She is gentle, medium sized, perfectly behaved (yes, well trained), and is my perennial nominee for poster-doggy for "the perfect dog." And she's cute.

mm

ETA: Boxers were bred from English Bull dogs and Great Danes; strong and sturdy, and big and gentle.