Dog Recommendation with Chickens Help Please

[HenHouse4Life]

You are absolutely right! All advice, no matter what it concerns or where it comes from, needs to be weighed and often taken with the proverbial "grain of salt.

And for the record (with no insult intended or taken, honestly!) between personal connection, the dog show circuit many years ago (never again!,) and ongoing foster/rescue efforts, I've had the privilege of dealing with many, many dogs of many different breeds. I do have personal experience with Huskies and Husky mixes - both really good and really horrific. At least once, I had both with the same dog!

All dogs, like all people, are all unique individuals, but it's always best to do some homework, first!

I completely agree!!! I just didn't want the OP to feel that certain dogs SHOULD be avoided at ALL costs based on an experience. Maybe our GSD are an exception to the rule
I just know that I trust our dogs 100% around all our animals, and my 6 month old grandson. Our GSD have protected our flocks numerous times.... from coons, possums, skunks etc. Our dogs go INTO the coops every morning to 'help' do chores, carry buckets etc. I was only speaking to a particular breed that has given my family years of unconditional love. They don't belong on a list of 'stay away from'. Dogs leave paw prints on our hearts, the good ones. I never meant to sound rude or anything of the kind, I don't have it in me anymore. To the OP: Choose a breed YOU feel comfortable with and that you feel safe being around your children. If a certain type or breed makes you second guess then listen to your gut.

 

[HenHouse4Life]

Just went out to check eggs and water.... this is Nikko, black GSD. He LOVES to help!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I agree about huskies/husky mixes or any similar dog, as a general rule - as a breed they're independent and willful dogs with high prey drives. Even until the end of her life my husky mix couldn't resist harassing the chickens (couldn't get to them, so couldn't kill them, but she loved to make them fly).

I would agree about sighthounds as well, though I currently have a mutt that's probably whippet/boxer/???? and she doesn't seem to trigger on chickens. Rabbits, on the other hand...

GSDs can be all over the place. I have a GSD mix that's very mellow and the chickens actually follow him as he walks around the fence, but I've also seen plenty of GSDs at shelters with notes that say that dog is not suitable around livestock.

I guess I'm keen on mutts though you'd want to figure out what the breed make up is, as much as possible. If you're willing to consider rescuing an adult, a good shelter may have notes about how the dog handles being around small animals and livestock (and kids of course). As cute as puppies are I find them to be too much work.

 

[mominoz]

First and foremost steer well away from ANY type of bird dog, hunting dog, or terrier.
Worst breeds with chickens:

1. Siberian Husky
2. German Shepherd
3. Greyhound (and pretty much all sighthounds)
4. German Shorthaired Pointer
5. Jack Russel Terrier
6. Collies (all kinds)
7. Retrievers (all kinds)

I have found that the good-all Mutt usually does well. That being said, here is a list of breeds that I have observed to be good around poultry

1. Great Pyrenese
2. Pug
3. Mastiffs
4. Bulldogs
5. St. Bernards
6. Poodles

The best all-around dog, IMO, is the Great Pyranese. It is great with families, a fantastic guard dog, and can be well trained.

 

[mominoz]

First and foremost steer well away from ANY type of bird dog, hunting dog, or terrier.
Worst breeds with chickens:

1. Siberian Husky
2. German Shepherd
3. Greyhound (and pretty much all sighthounds)
4. German Shorthaired Pointer
5. Jack Russel Terrier
6. Collies (all kinds)
7. Retrievers (all kinds)

I have found that the good-all Mutt usually does well. That being said, here is a list of breeds that I have observed to be good around poultry

1. Great Pyrenese
2. Pug
3. Mastiffs
4. Bulldogs
5. St. Bernards
6. Poodles

The best all-around dog, IMO, is the Great Pyranese. It is great with families, a fantastic guard dog, and can be well trained.

 

[mominoz]

I disagree about Collies. I don't which kind of collie you are talking about. But, I have a smooth collie who is older and he is very kind and shy and won't go near my free range ducks and geese , I think he is afraid of them. He just walks around with us and will sit or lie down. Now a border collie yes, they will tend to chase and herd as do many herding breeds, but nothing is as great family dog and yet will alert you without eating people than than a well-bred collie. Obviously, training is in order for a pup or young dog. I am going to get another or Shelties (I had 2 in past) because I am tired of roaming labs, terriers that have to be keep strictly in their own yard. Getting older and don't want 'drama dogs'... I suggest Sheparding class of dogs. A bit of training and you are set. My son just got a Great Pyrenese puppy because they raise rabbits and have evil pet goats.;0( but they can be roamers...A quiet Australian shepard, or english shepard or rough or smooth collie....(I am looking myself, but Lord the prices are astronomical!) And other breeds may work too ,if you get them young and train them to not chase....but do not get one with a high prey drive (most terriers or bird dogs, hunting dogs) there are always exceptions to the rule.

 

[mominoz]

I would not just stay away from retrievers it’s the training that makes the dog. I have had labradors for years and they are very smart just make sure to go with a good and recommended breeder. My current black lab has hunted with me for years for ducks, geese, pheasant, quail, and grouse. It took about 6 weeks of showing him the chickens and slowly working with him that they were not birds for him to go after. At first he wanted them like any other bird but after a couple of times every day he figured it out they were part of the family. He is the dog in my avatar. So don’t believe the garbage that you need to stay away from them.

I had a lab that attacked my goose and tore his neck terribly as a pup, but later in life they became friends and even ran a way together once, I found them walking down the road...

 

[MROO]

I disagree about Collies

Me too, my old Border Collie mix was AWESOME with my chickens!

....(I am looking myself, but Lord the prices are astronomical!) ...

Don't "discount" (pun intended!) pure breed rescue. Just Google your dog breed of choice, followed by "rescue" and you'll likely get a slew of options. Many require you to be pre-approved, but once you are, you go on their contact list and will get the first call when a dog that fits you turns p. That's more frequently than you'd think. It's amazing what people throw away for convenience's sake!

 

[TheAmundsons]

We have a German Shepherd and a Silver Lab, and they both do VERY well with our chickens. They actually all play together. Its so adorable! The chickens will jump on the dogs backs and the dogs will walk them around! We leave the dogs outside with the chickens at times and don't even have the slightest worry that something might happen (although the same is true with our cats). Our dogs are also very good around children, and every other animal we've had them around. I think 90% of how the dog acts is dependent on how it is trained. That being said, there are certain characteristics that are more common to specific breeds, so do your research (as you are ) to find a breed that you feel will meet your needs! Good luck!