great pyrenese

[SavageDestiny]

Not necessarily. Anyone in their right mind in today's economy will want a dog as cheaply as possible...I'm one of these people. I'd never pay $350 for a dog,even if I were very wealthy, when there are dogs capable of doing the job for free or very much cheaper. I don't believe that only the person who can afford thousands of dollars in vet bills deserves to have a dog. There are other options than expensive vet care when it comes to animals...some things you fix if you can afford it, some things you put the dog down for.

I never vet a dog unless it actually, really needs it. No heartworm, no vaccinations, no check ups...none of it. I come from a culture and place where animals are only worth what you can afford to pay and then no more. If you cannot afford to fix an injury or if it is very severe, you put the animal down.

All my dogs live long and healthy lives...there have been times when injuries happened and I happened to have the money to fix them, but if I hadn't, I would have put them down. There is a general belief out there that one HAS to fix everything at any costs so that the animal can live....I don't hold with that belief. There are many dogs out there that need a home, a dog is replaceable, and they are not family, not fur babies, not children. They are dogs....great dogs that I love dearly and give a good life...but can part with them if necessary if the cost is too much.

Not everyone feels like money equals privilege.

Where on earth did I say money equaled privilege? I'm a dog groomer, I am not exactly rich over here. However, I do believe people bringing animals into their lives should have the means to at least have a little something set aside for emergencies before bringing said animal in.

We apparently believe different things. I believe the lives we choose to bring into our own become our responsibility, to keep healthy and happy and whole. Not to kill or get rid of when they become inconvenient or expensive.

 

[kbeerice]

@SavageDestiny I'm sorry but who do you think you are?!?!?! every dog I have ever owned was FREE and I paid for the vet bills and for all of the vaccines they needed too so please stop making a complete fool of yourself. I asked what type of dog would be good for guarding flocks that didn't eat you out of house and home and didn't cost an arm and a leg to purchase. I didn't ask you to give me your irrelevant opinion on whether I should get a dog period according to my financial status. AGAIN just because I don't want top of the line pedigree and a HUGE dog to feed doesn't mean I'm not suitable for owning a dog and it certainly doesn't mean I would neglect his/her needs. so quite frankly I DONT CARE what comes to mind when you hear this or that -_- you are not helpful AT ALL

@Beekissed THANK YOU!

@SavageDestiny are you seriously still going on??? do you not realize how irrelevant your statements are? hahaha I NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM does me not wanting to pay too much money for a dog or food mean I wont take care of their needs. you seriously are like a broken record right now. just STOP

 

[kbeerice]

@SavageDestiny have you ever considered the fact that I am aware of my budget and that is exactly WHY I dont want to spend $500+ on a dog or get a dog that would cost too much to feed??? MAYBE just maybe bear with me now that is exactly why??? so that I will have the money when there is an "emergency" how ignorant can you be?!? lol

 

[Beekissed]

Where on earth did I say money equaled privilege? I'm a dog groomer, I am not exactly rich over here. However, I do believe people bringing animals into their lives should have the means to at least have a little something set aside for emergencies before bringing said animal in.

We apparently believe different things. I believe the lives we choose to bring into our own become our responsibility, to keep healthy and happy and whole. Not to kill or get rid of when they become inconvenient or expensive.

That's the great thing about America...our diversity. When folks think only those who can afford expensive vet care should have animals, I take it you feel it is only a privilege of those with money. It's not. We all approach responsibility in our own way...I tend to think it is highly irresponsible to keep vetting sick or severely injured animals past their natural life span just because WE want them to continue living so we won't be sad.

So, we've established that we all have our opinions and that they differ widely and that's okay. I believe the OP asked about a dog that could do the job without costing much money and that's the focus of the thread. I happen to have had much success with dogs that were absolutely FREE over the years and have cost me very little to maintain, so it can be done and many are doing it~thus my contribution to this thread.

It's really none of our business whether they can afford vet care or not...not our job to police how others take care of their animals according to how WE feel. If it were our job to do so, I'd make it my business that no one would spend more than $50 per vet visit on an animal when there are children who cannot afford health care and medicines in this world. But...alas...it's not my job, nor is it my business.

 

[kbeerice]

@Beekissed you seem like a very intelligent person and I appreciate you taking the time out of your life to explain with great detail to this fool all the things I don't have the patience for lol

 

[Beekissed]

She ain't so bad...just very passionate about dogs is all.

Sometimes those folks get to thinking with their hearts instead of their heads when they read a thread.....I have the same problem sometimes when reading about chickens and the things people do with them. Sometimes you just feel too much on some days...probably because we are women.

Back to the topic at hand...try to get a dog that is calm and responsive to training so that it will be a lot easier to train them on chickens. I use Labs because they are very food motivated and loyal...big hearts on those dogs. They also are easy to obtain for free or cheap, they are very healthy dogs and they don't eat much if you regulate their diets...which is advisable because they get heavy easily~mine eat 2 cups of food a day only and sometimes even that has them too fat. They live a long time and I love their happy go lucky sweetness.

Two of those I had were adults when I got them and the third one was a pup, but all were excellent. Great family dogs.

 

[kbeerice]

@Beekissed thank you so much you have been very helpful. I will wait and see if predators are even a problem but if so I will consider the lab mix!

 

[blucoondawg]

I have a neighbor with a 160 acre farm it was a dairy now just some beef cattle and they've had chickens over the years. They've always had 2 or 3 blue heelers they say they are wonderful for protecting the farm and even guarding the kids when they were young. However I would say to use caution with this breed they must be socialized around people from a young age. I have been around these farm dogs and another neighbor had one as a pet and none of them were friendly towards visitors unless their owner was standing there to keep them in line. I wouldn't get out of the car at the farm unless the farmer came outside to call off the dogs. My grandpa's brother had a old heeler that lived in the house with a lab mutt on the farm and that was the friendliest dog ever.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I am looking for a dog now to keep outside on the farm. I want one that will rip a man's arm off if he came unannounced. Someone has been coming in my hen house during the day when I'm not here and stealing eggs. Last year I had someone steal a duck and about 12 of her newly hatched babies... It's sad.

 

[gatorshark75]

I am looking for a dog now to keep outside on the farm. I want one that will rip a man's arm off if he came unannounced. Someone has been coming in my hen house during the day when I'm not here and stealing eggs. Last year I had someone steal a duck and about 12 of her newly hatched babies... It's sad.

get you a blueheeler they are very protective