Farm dog breeds

[SA Farm]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I still can't decide on a breed but I feel getting a puppy is best. How should training go? How do you teach a dog their job is with the flock while not letting them alone with the flock till they are older. Actually how old should they be before they are left alone?

Take the puppy with you when you take care of the animals, correct any chasing/nipping behaviour and praise the behaviour you want. Age has nothing to do with trustworthiness. You'll have to wait and see how the pup reacts to the birds, how your basic commands and conditioning goes, etc.

 

[countrydream7]

I have a English shepard super smart great dog housebroken super easy ..he is 4 months old...very good.. would highly recommend this breed..

 

[chesterthegreat]

I think an ACD would fit your bill wonderfully! They are one of my favorites and I plan to have one some day. Australian Kelpie could also be a good fit but I know they can be a little harder to find.

 

[Beekissed]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I still can't decide on a breed but I feel getting a puppy is best. How should training go? How do you teach a dog their job is with the flock while not letting them alone with the flock till they are older. Actually how old should they be before they are left alone?

My last three chicken dogs were labs or lab mix dogs. Best chicken dogs ever! Labs are so incredibly easy to train we call them the Cadillac of dogs...they barely even need trained, it's that easy. If you cannot train your present Lab off chickens, I'm afraid that magic dog you are looking for, you will not find. You already have it. All and any dog will need the same training on chickens and you have one of the most intelligent and easy to train dogs already in your possession.

It could be that you could simply train the one you have and get what you want.

 

[tillyita]

I personally wouldn't recommend any of the herding breeds as livestock guardians. I have kelpies and border collies and have owned ACD's. They like to herd! If you get a young one this instinct is far more likely to come out. I have had dogs herd chickens to death - literally! I love my herding dogs but the only time they see the chickens is when they are putting them away for me.

 

[Beekissed]