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

[Time-Out]

I have to admit, I'm VERY confused about why anyone would want to use a choke chain.

My vote, with my experience of dogs, would be a labrador. A point in their favour, is that, as a pup, and perhaps a playful pup, she/he might 'accidentally' grab one of your chickens. Labradors have 'soft teeth', meaning they do not damage the 'meat' they fetch in hunts.

I got a kitten at the same time my mum got her lab pup (this was years ago). The kitten put up with some playfulness, but Uxane (the dog) would never harm him. She quickly grew out of sitting on him and instead began to enjoy laying next to him. That said, she would never allow any other cat onto the property. As for her training... she had none. She would sit when asked (because her stomach told her she might get a treat) and I once decided it would be fun to teach her to lie down on command too. We have never, not for one second, thought of her as stupid. She acts dumb, but she understands every. single. word. I'm not kidding. How do you tell a dog to sit, stay and wait while you run off and out of view for ten mins, when you have no trained commands? best. dog. in. the. world. When I go to visit and my mum tells her off for being in the kitchen, she'll come and sit by me (if I'm at the table) and look directly in my mum's eyes and dare her to tell her off now. It cracks me up. My mum screams "Do something, Dani!!!" (she's a very high-strung woman lol). No, dogs are far from stupid. People are too stupid to see their intelligence.

After all that... don't get me wrong. I highly disapporove of an ill-mannered dog. I can't stand dogs that are left to bark day-in, day-out. It irks me almost as much as bawling kids do

I do believe training classes are good for dogs, even if it's just to keep them busy and out of mischief. An exhausted dog is less likey to steal your Sunday roast!

Another amusing anecdote: Uxane only barked once. She made us all jump; her bark was so deep and gruff! We think she made herself jump too, cos she immediately ran to hide in her basket. A true blonde: daft, but adorable

Have I made a good case for labs, or have I gone way off-topic?

 

[Life is Good!]

Training is key - and it's mostly training you to be a good dog owner, and the dog to respect you as alpha.

We have a Labradoodle (yes, I know, a fancy hybred), who I would recommend as a potential breed. He's a mid-sized dog (about 35#'s), so he's small enough to handle (unlike a Newfoundland - another of our choices) yet large enough bark to warn us of danger in our farm. The main plus - he DOESN'T shed. At all. Not all of these breeds have this tendency, so choose a breeder carefully. (Goldendoodles are similar - just a golden retreiver/poodle mix)

He has learned to 'guard' the chickens. He knows the command, "check the chickens!" and happily bounds out to see what's going on in and around the pen. He has only once succumbed to his instinct to 'catch' the chicks. He discovered that feathers are NOT nice in the mouth! If he could spit, he would have. I've never seen him drop something so fast! (Chick was fine - was about 14wks old, so about 2-3#'s) He's thusly cured of trying to consume the chickens.

The one down-side, we've learned, is that for some reason, chicken turds are tasty to our dog. Don't know if it's for all dogs, or just our wierd one. So my husband created a song....
"Chicken turds are fun to eat,
Chicken turds sure taste sweet,
Chicken turds fill my tummy,
Chicken turds sure are yummy"
Song to be continued later.....

Best wishes on your desires for a canine friend. Train them well and you won't have to worry. If you're looking for breeder recommendations, I'd be happy to suggest the one we got our dog from - in Southwest Wisconsin. Just ask me and I'll be happy to share the info.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

choke collars are a training tool, in the wrong hands they are, well in the wrong hands. some dogs don't get it, the choke is what the alpha dog does to submit the offender. it's not a 'punishment' it is an enforcer - it tells the dog to obey the alpha or it will be killed, law of the pack. They are used on working dogs, not pets, pets respond to treats, love, willingness to please.that 'submit' to you naturally. If you have a dog that challenges you best take it to someone professionally or give it away..you can submit your puppy early on by just using a choke hold in play, holding him down until he goes belly up, not rough, just until it 'gives in' to you, most puppies will submit immediately, if it doesn't or resists your hands, you may have an alpha dog in the making, not a good thing when it will weighs in at 200 lbs.,

 

[thechickenwhisperer24]

GOLDEN RETRIEVER!! They are terrific family dogs, and ours loves to watch the chickens. she walks around the run, and they all follow her, then she turns and they run away, clucking. our NHR, Molly actually ran up to Lola and tried to steal her food. it was so precious. Anyway, they are terrific. they may have to be trained a bit though around the birds.

 

[Longhorns&Chickens]

I have american bulldogs, and I love them, but I will be the first to tell you they are not for every one!!! My Maggie is trustworthy with the kids, any livestock and even tolerates the cats

But with any animal there are certain bloodlines that are not good for livestock, our male Dude couldn't be trusted with them in his younger days. He was very protective and if he thought I or my hubby were in danger he took care of the problem. For example I milked holstien cows and one of the girls was in heat and thought she ought to chase me, and Dude saved my hide from that cow. He caught the cow and just like ol' yeller, he knocked her down and sent her to the barn. He did it again when our zebus George and Irene went after my husband. I'm thankful for his protection, but he was not a dog for just any body. He was extremely intelligent but he was bred for catching wild hogs, thus not trustworthy with livestock. The females we have now are show dogs and are good around the critters. I love my bulldogs, but do your homework!! My hubby loves to research and he checks up on every critter we get, it has saved us a lot of trouble when he does. We have made a couple of emotional purchases and they don't ever seem to work out the way we'd like! Also what ever kind of dog you get, socialize it and train it. Maggie went with me every where as a pup, and she is an awesome dog and a lot of fun, if you can get her off the couch!

Good Luck and please keep us informed as to what kind you get!