Dog Breeds...

[allmychickens]

I have a cockapoo who is fabulous with all animals and SO loyal. Not to mention smart, It takes me 5 minutes to train her a completely new trick.She bonds to a specific person and loves them forever (Me), She is much more likely to be impatient and nip, but that isnt a breed characteristic its just a girl dog thing. My Soft coated wheaten terrier is great as well. He is much more of a family dog, He loves kids. They crawl all over him and pull his hair and he licks them. there isnt a single person he dislikes... but hes more stubborn then my cockapoo, training him a trick would take like 2 weeks! He also does great with animals.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier "Jack" 45lbs






snuggling with cat






Cockapoo "Cori" 20 lbs



















Group pics

 

[fowl farm]

Border Collies are great! Also, you might try looking at English Shepherds. I have heard them described as "Border Collies with a switch"!

Oops! I meant 'off switch'!

 

[atikin]

We have a border collie but shes not as hyper and active as i expected i think it all depends on theire breeding and each dog is differnt just like humans.
When she was a little puppy she tryed to chase the chooks but now when shes 6 months old after some training she is far better. She also loves our pigs and piglets aswell as playing games with the cat, although she does think my rabbits look like a fun thing to chase

 

[aherzlin]

So, my mom said that once she recovers from her upcoming surgery that she will begin looking for a dog for me

I thought I was going to get an Australian Shepherd, but now I've done some more research on other breeds like Border Collies. I read that Border Collies can be aggressive to non-canine animals, but some people on here say that they get along just fine with chickens. What is your opinion on them? And also, what is your opinion on German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois and have you ever had them before? Thanks!

It sounds like you're doing research, but my advice would be to go off your research of breeds in general more than what you hear from 1 or 2 people. All breeds will have their 'outcasts', but in general terms, the more 'pure-breed' you get the more it will conform to it's breed's traits. For example, you won't find many lazy Aussie's and you won't find many energetic bulldogs, but there's always the exception. Certain working dogs may also be harder to break of habits that you may not like. The Aussie's for example will want to herd. Nothing funnier in my opinion than a group of them at a dog park herding a kid (never my kid or dog so i can laugh about it)! A pyrenees on the other hand, may just sit with the chicks and never want to go for walks or even come in the house b/c it could become devoted to guarding. What types of activities do you want to do with your dog (running, dog park, sit on the couch, etc)?

I think the obvious answer when you can't decide on something like this is to just get two! I have a Shephard mix that loves guarding and will go after birds and squirrels trying to steal food and then a have a small tank (amer bulldog) that will get up off his couch once it's a little more interesting like a few coyotes.

 

[mickey328]

Absolutely true! "Breed Standards" are just what is optimum for a particular breed; not a strict list of traits of any particular dog. They're individuals just like we are. A specific breed may have more tendencies toward certain behaviors but nothing is guaranteed. In general Border Collies are highly intelligent energetic dogs. I love them but wouldn't have one...simply due to our lifestyle. They need a job of some sort...all that energy and intelligence will lead to some problem behaviors if it isn't directed properly. If we were extremely active people, they'd be great, but we don't run or do agility or anything and it would be unfair to the dog to have it in a situation where it couldn't be true to its nature. I've seen too many dogs end up in shelters as "problem" dogs when they're just being themselves and were taken into a living situation where this was at odds with the people. Of all the dogs I've had in my life, I've only ever bought 1 purebred dog...and that was the first one. Since then, they all come from a rescue situation and all have been a wonderful fit...for them and for us. I'd like to think that it's because we choose carefully. There are lots of dogs out there whose personality and looks we really like, but their nature would be at odds with ours, so we leave them and hope they go where they'll be a good fit.

Don't disregard a "mutt" either; they can be absolutely wonderful dogs!

If you have the time and inclination, try a puppy. If they're raised exposed to as much as possible: other animals, lots of people of all ages, as many different situations as possible, they tend to take things in stride rather than get overly excited about things. We have 3 dogs just now. One is an Old English Sheepdog crossed with some sort of hound (we think) and he's big. We also have a tiny (just over 5 lb) Pomeranian/Chihuahua cross (we think) and a Maltese. All were from rescues. None are "mean" but they can be excitable. I am about 99% sure they wouldn't attach our chickens, but I'm sure they would run at them to try to investigate or get them to play. This would upset the chickens,so...we keep the chickens in a portable run where the dogs and birds can sniff and look at each other but they're separated and no harm can come to anyone.

So, bottom line is: aherzlin is right. Do your research but also temper it with practicality. Keep in mind the breed tendencies but don't expect any dog to follow them to the letter. Mainly focus on finding one that will truly fit with your lifestyle. If you're a couch potato, don't get a high energy dog; if you're really active and want a running partner, don't get a bulldog, LOL.

 

[DadandJB]

This is our Sadie Jane. She is Border Collie/Blue Heeler. She is very loving of people, extremely protective and bursting at the seams with energy. She is also the reason we will not be able to free range our chickens when we get them. She will chase and kill any non-human. She is lightening fast and an incredible leaper. I have tried to break her, but it's just no use. The instinct is just to strong for her. She knows it's wrong, but just can't help herself sometimes. Her favorite pastimes are playing frisbee and herding small children (my granddaughter and my best friends granddaughter).
She has never seen a chicken before. I'm going to work with her in the spring after the chickens are big enough to go outside. I'm hoping that I can train her to treat the chickens like the grandkids; be protective and keep them in the yard. If it works out I'll have the best of both worlds: free ranging chickens under the protection of a guard dog. I'm not holding my breath though.

 

[mickey328]

Very wise. None of ours had ever seen a chicken before we brought them home either. They were totally fascinated! One of the smaller ones actually climbed the wire of the pen and got in there with them! I thought it was quite funny but the chickens didn't...they were pretty panicky. We curtailed their coming and going (they have a doggie door) for a couple weeks and only let them out when someone was out as well to supervise. Now, they pretty much ignore the chickens unless we actually go out to the run, then they'll follow us and be interested but not intrusive...unless of course we pick one of the chickens up...then the dogs feel they're getting short changed on the lovin' LOL

Sadie Jane is gorgeous!

 

[DadandJB]

Well, as if speaking of it made it happen, Sadie Jane just caught her first turkey this morning. We have had a small flock hanging around lately. When I let her out they were behind the asparagus patch where I couldn't see them. Sadie did though. She had the angle and they didn't see her coming at mach one. Fortunately she caught one of the big ones and it managed to get away. I don't think Sadie managed to hurt it. It was a big ball of fur and feathers then it was airborn...barely. I called her off and she stopped, or she would have taken it out of the air. When she came back her head was down. Like I said, she knows it's wrong, but just can't help it sometimes.

mickey328, Sadie says thank you! She is a bit of a camera ham.

 

[mickey328]

LOL, our Sam is just the opposite...get the camera out and he tucks tail and runs! We mostly just get pix of his backside.

That's why I don't let our birds free range even in the yard. You just never know what's going to trigger that instinct and I think it's kinder to both dog and bird (and easier on our nerves) to keep them separate so they don't have to fight that instinct

I seriously doubt any of ours would "attack" but...why take the chance? They're quite content eyeballing each other through the fence, LOL. Sounds like you have a great plan there!

Poor Sadie...they can be so contrite! "I'm sorry, Mom...I know I'm not supposed to but..."

 

[DadandJB]

I know what you mean! She feels bad when she does it (at least when she is caught). The wife and I were just discussing it this evening. What we came up with is…her natural instinct is to protect the herd. That is what she was bred for after all. Our thought is that since she has no natural herd (goats, cows, sheep etc…), she is using us as the herd. That does kind of explain her animosity towards any other animal. We have hope that if she is introduced to the chickens as part of the family, she will take them as part of the herd. Only time will tell.