Farm dog breeds

[pkarkos]

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Burmese Mountain Dog are farm dog breeds. They are the poor farmers work horse. They were developed to help move cattle, guard the farm, and pull carts.
I hope to have a GSMD at some point in the future.

I think both of those are breeds my parents would be allergic to. It would be easy enough to find a breeder of Bernese mountain dogs who would let us interact with the, but I am afraid it would be hard to find a greater Swiss mountain dog. I don't think they are very common?

 

[wyoDreamer]

From the AKC website - "The bold, bewhiskered Standard Schnauzer is a high-spirited farm dog from Germany. They are the sometimes-willful but ever reliable medium-sized members of the Schnauzer family of breeds. The Standard's sporty look is a canine classic."
So: yes - farm dog. And - bonus - they come in 3 sizes, so pick what size you want.
The ones I met have had huge personalities, but their owners did also.. They were all barky (farm dog trait), energetic and friendly once they know you. I met 2 that were house dogs - one standard size and one giant schnauzer. and I have met 3 that were farm dogs - one a house pet in a small apartment and 2 mini-schnauzer that were farm-dogs. They were great mouse and rat killers.

 

[PirateGirl]

I don't really mind having a dog who isn't super friendly to other people. As long is a dog is not dangerously aggressive (which is usually an individual thing and not a breed thing) I don't mind it. My hound mix has Plott hound and pitbull in him so he looks big and scary. As a young, small woman I rather like having a beware-of-dog type dog.
My friend's aussie is not super friendly now that I think about it, but she certainly isn't aggressive. She would just rather be with her dad than other people.

Again, it can be a pro or a con For my lifestyle, it is good to have a dog that is apprehensive of strangers. As a woman hiking alone in the wilderness I want to know if there are predators or strangers about and feel safe, and my dog's "job" first and foremost is to be my hiking buddy. These dogs can make excellent companions and are very loving and attached to their people, as well as their animals. My cat thinks my aussie mutt is his girlfriend and she protects him from neighbor dogs if they are outside together. They work to please their people as well. Also to please their people they will be nice to people you tell them are safe/nice. Once a "stranger" enters my home, invited in by me, and has a seat on the sofa and engages in conversation, etc. and everyone is calm and acting normal and safe, they are now considered part of the pack. My dog will let down her guard and nuzzle the former "intruder" that she was only minutes prior wanting to chase off and bed for their affection and petting.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Also, the Schnauzer is on the list of dogs most likely acceptable to people who are allergic to certain breeds of dogs.

 

[DuckyBabies]

Goldens do seem wonderful, but unfortunately, my father is super allergic to them. I supposed a goldendoodle might be a possibility, but I am not a huge fan of the poodle mix personalities. My parents have a Portuguese water dog crossed with a labradoodle and he is A LOT. So much bouncing around and he never leaves my poor hound alone. And poodles are retriever dogs who might go after birds. Would a golden retriever also have those instincts?

My golden does go after birds in our field occasionally when we are out and about with her. However, she learned very quickly that the ducks are not for her to run after. We got the ducks when she was a few months old, so she has been raised alongside of them. I don’t have chickens anymore, so I can’t speak for that experience. Since your father-in-law is allergic, a golden doodle would be an option, but I don’t know how they would do guarding birds. I think our golden doesn’t know she is a golden sometimes. She doubles as guard dog, duck protector, farm dog, and family dog. The picture is her walking with my son while he went to the creek, she stayed alongside him the entire time. A lookout if you will.

 

[townchicks]

Temperament wise, I would recommend collie, Smooth or rough, McNab, or English shepherd. All smart, biddable (thus easier to train) breeds that tend to be more protective of livestock than aggressive to it. Giant schnauzer is also a possible choice, they are protective of their people, the minis are really more like terriers, which will go after chickens. Generally speaking, avoid all terrier breeds for that reason. Bird dog breeds are going to be likely to be interested in the chickens, but should NOT have a killer instinct, they are bred (and trained) to not damage the retrieved bodies. They are not generally good watchdogs or predator deterrent, except they will bark, as most dogs would. Swiss Mt dogs are short coated, and may be better allergy wise. Not so uncommon anymore, but pricy, and cancer prone. Temperament generally good. So many choices, as well as mixes of any type, this could go on and on. Allergy wise, it's not the coat, it's the dander. Every breed has different dander, so you will have to be around individuals of your chosen breed first. However, a short coated breed that is easy to bathe regularly, may be your best bet. I've worked as a dog groomer for many years and I am really allergic to Irish Setters. Hives, hay fever and asthma within minutes! But if I put them straight into the tub first, I can be around them all day with no problem.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I had to look it up because I had never heard of being allergic to certain breeds. It is an allergic reaction to the dander AND/OR the saliva. That would mean that a Newfoundland would definately be out of the running, lol.

 

[pkarkos]

I had to look it up because I had never heard of being allergic to certain breeds. It is an allergic reaction to the dander AND/OR the saliva. That would mean that a Newfoundland would definately be out of the running, lol.

Yep, newfies are not for us. When I say that we are more allergic to certain breeds, it just seems that certain breeds produce more dander and saliva or that their fur holds onto the dander more. Many flat-coated breeds are better, like my hound, but my parents looked at adopting a Doberman and my father was so allergic to him.
But I think a giant schnauzer might work for us.

 

[pkarkos]

Temperament wise, I would recommend collie, Smooth or rough, McNab, or English shepherd. All smart, biddable (thus easier to train) breeds that tend to be more protective of livestock than aggressive to it. Giant schnauzer is also a possible choice, they are protective of their people, the minis are really more like terriers, which will go after chickens. Generally speaking, avoid all terrier breeds for that reason. Bird dog breeds are going to be likely to be interested in the chickens, but should NOT have a killer instinct, they are bred (and trained) to not damage the retrieved bodies. They are not generally good watchdogs or predator deterrent, except they will bark, as most dogs would. Swiss Mt dogs are short coated, and may be better allergy wise. Not so uncommon anymore, but pricy, and cancer prone. Temperament generally good. So many choices, as well as mixes of any type, this could go on and on. Allergy wise, it's not the coat, it's the dander. Every breed has different dander, so you will have to be around individuals of your chosen breed first. However, a short coated breed that is easy to bathe regularly, may be your best bet. I've worked as a dog groomer for many years and I am really allergic to Irish Setters. Hives, hay fever and asthma within minutes! But if I put them straight into the tub first, I can be around them all day with no problem.

Yes, the more I look into collies the more I think they would do very nicely.
The schnauzer was not something I had considered as a protector, but they are big enough to be intimidating to foxes at least. The one schnauzer I have known was only really good at one thing; stealing snacks. And he wasn't very interested in people at all. They would definitely work allergy wise however.
Airedale's are also supposed to be good for allergies, but you confirmed that terriers probably would go after chickens so they might not work.
Does anyone know how mixes of different breeds tend to inherit traits? For example, would an airedale mix still have a strong prey drive? That is probably a huge subject and depends very much on the individual, but if anyone knows of any books or articles on the subject I would be most grateful.

 

[townchicks]

Does anyone know how mixes of different breeds tend to inherit traits? For example, would an airedale mix still have a strong prey drive?

That's pretty much a roll of the dice.An airedale mix, could conceivably have more prey drive, or less than a purebred. My brother and I had littermate lab mixes at one time. His looked like a lab, mine had a coat more like a flatboat retriever. My dog LOVED to swim and would get into any body of water, even lay down in puddles. His HATED water and wouldn't even walk through a puddle. Many other personality differences as well. Even in purebreds, littermates will differ as to abilities and drive. There are border collies that don't herd, terriers that won't hunt, hounds that don't trail, etc. It's all generalization, and breeding does play a role. (lots of traits lost by careless backyard breeding, puppy mills, etc) Training is a huge factor also. Most any dog will chase things, and can do harm, even if they just want to play. Your best bet may be to look for a rancher that breeds dogs for working, and talk to them about the traits you are looking for in a dog. Then, enclose your livestock securely, until what ever dog you get has been trained and proven itself to be reliable around them.