Good small dogs for protecting flock

[BigBlueHen53]

I guess as far as "can a small dog guard chickens," a couple of factors would be, how small a dog, and guard against what? A dachshund is going to be a poor match against bears. You have to consider the situation.

Do you want a noisy dog in the house to alert you against intruders? Then a terrier or Chiuahua will work, unless it is so noisy you end up ignoring it, or worse, getting rid of it.

If you want an outdoor dog that constantly guards the perimeter and battles all comers, some kind of sheep dog might do, but it won't be a house pet and you may have grooming issues.

It just depends on your situation. I don't think anyone has yet bred a good chicken-guarding dog. Maybe someone should!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Since I have bragged on my Sheltie, Gracie, and how she has run coyotes off the property and occasionally gathers mis-laid eggs, I have to be honest and confess that she plays a game we call "bowling for chickens." We'd rather she didn't but it's really harmless. When we scatter scratch out for the hens and they are all in a cluster, Gracie will sometimes run right through the middle of them, yapping her head off, apparently just to see them scatter. This seems to give her great joy and she runs around the yard, laughing and barking as if it's her favorite game. The hens cluck indignantly for a moment and then go back to their pecking and scratching. They really pay her no mind. She doesn't hurt them, it's just a silly game. She's a dope.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Never heard of this breed. Can you post a pic?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thanks, good looking breed!

 

[cgmccary]

Im inclined to agree.I heard that herding breeds can be good at protecting their charges to.

No herding breeds are not livestock Guardian dogs. Small dogs cannot protect against domestic dogs nor against coyotes nor big coons.

The answer is “no small breeds” are LGDs. There is a reason LGDs are big. The smallest LGD Breed is probably the Maremma and it is 66-90 lbs.

 

[cgmccary]

Australian Cattle Dogs, Now called heelers are relatively small, bred for herdng sheep and cattle. They can be pretty ferocious guarding their charges. They are very common on farms. I think they'd be most effective in pairs.

Australian cattle dogs are not LGDs.

 

[danceswithronin]

Then a terrier or Chiuahua will work, unless it is so noisy you end up ignoring it, or worse, getting rid of it.

This is my problem with having terriers as watch dogs. They absolutely will let you know if someone or something is in the yard or closing in on the yard, but they'll also just get up barking for the hell of it sometimes and it becomes a "boy who cried wolf" scenario.

 

[gigi56]

We have a tall rat terrier (we think, he was a throw-away) that we trained (with a training collar on light setting) to ignore the ducks we had when he arrived. He goes in the duck pen often and has killed rats, snakes, and possums (even tangled with a coon once) but never even looks at the ducks. Allowing him in the pen wasn't intentional. After I realized he had found a way to climb over a weak place in the pen, I watched him from the bedroom window to see how he behaved. I was amazed and relieved! Then... last week we got a few chickens. Looks like we're going to have to start all over with the training! Still ignores the ducks, but is "on point" with the chickens. He does obey my "leave it" command but sits there trembling with anxiety wanting to give chase. That said, I love the way he guards our small property. We have less than an acre and it is all fenced with a 3' run around the back creating a "moat" that he patrols relentlessly 24/7. He's great with the goats and ducks and I'm sure he will accept the chickens as well... eventually.

 

[gigi56]

Just to clarify, he doesn't have to guard a flock on open range and he isn't in the pen with the livestock at all times. The "moat" pen system works great for us. Deer won't jump the pair of 4' fences with barking "piranha" inside and he takes care of any smaller predators very well. We live in NW GA just outside a small city. No big cats or bears. We hear coyotes occasionally but, even though they have brought down some local farmer's small livestock, we haven't seen any evidence that they have tried to get in. Maybe they figure it's more trouble than it's worth with easier pickings elsewhere?

 

[minaayindra]

Gracie may just be too dumb to be scared, but if you tell her I said that I will deny it!