I need a dog to protect my chicken

[Oblio13]

Great Dane.

 

[Buster]

My heeler runs off other dogs even when she's in full heat. I would get a puppy no matter what breed and raise it up not to eat your chickens. I got lucky with my dog.

 

[waynesgarden]

Never used a dog to protect my birds. Just an impenetrable run and free-ranging only when supervised.

I suggest that you only get a dog that you will want to keep and care for should it turns out that your new pet will not serve to protect your birds. Note that I said your new pet. That is how I believe you should primarily view the dog, not just as a tool used for chicken raising.

Wayne

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

In my humble opinion, I think it is less about the breed, (tho that certainly helps) and more about the individual dogs temperment! I have owned MANY dogs over many years, and have always held to the two dogs at a time belief. My older dog teaches my younger dog, and when he passes away, we get a new young dog to continue the line. I have had many breeds, from Goldens, Pit Bulls, Labs, poodles, Rescues and Mutts. Currently, I have a Lab/wolf mix rescue, and a Great Dane. Both are highly protective of not only our chickens, who free range over 8 acres of wooded wet land, but also our three cats! Onyx the lab mix, however is the best 'watch' dog I have ever had the privelage of sharing my home with. He spends all his time outside, watching everything. He has two or three 'perches' where he sits or lays, and surveys. I have to go out and literally drag him in on the worst weather days, and he sulks like I am abusing him, but I can see now how stiff he gets the next day after laying so long in the snow. He is no spring pup anymore.

Onyx learned this behavior from our previous dog, Ty, Who learned it from Parker. Our other dog, the dane, has refused the duty entirely, and only wants to be where we are, and where the heat is. We are going to be looking for a young dog soon, to take up the 'watch' dog duties. Here are a few of the traits I have learned to look for in a young dog that I hope will be a 'watch' dog.

-medium to thick coat of hair, to tolerate, or even enjoy the snow and cold here in NH.

- Quiet temperment. NOT the first puppy to come bounding over! I prefer the ones who sit back and observe me, evaluate me, and then come over when I signal them. I am turned off by the energy of the enthusiastic or dominant puppies, let a household full of kids and crates contain that energy, not my peaceful yard.

-little to no prey drive once they have been told NO. If the young dog wont look away from it when you tell them NO, he is not conceeding that it is yours, he is just waiting for you to walk away from it.

These traits can be found in many breeds, and are not restricted to age groups either, but they act as guidelines for me. The Dane was a poor choice for 'watch' duty, but we kinda knew that at the time, we just really wanted a dane! I think no matter what breed you ultimately choose, a lot of your dogs effectiveness is going to depend on if he learns from you what is expected of him. We have no real fencing, but our dogs know that once the deer crosses into the trees, the chase stops there. I never taught him that.... He just knows that the deer is not welcome near my hostas.

The best advice I have ever learned to follow, is to look at what the other dogs your potential dog is learning from. Are they jumping all over the place? acting nuts? barking? Or are they observing what thier people want of them, taking cues from what they see. Dogs learn from example.

Hope this helps, even if just in the tiniest bit, and Good Luck!

 

[babalubird]

Big difference in dogs bred to be herding dogs and dogs bred to be livestock guardian dogs. I think your chances of success will go up dramatically if you start out with a dog bred for centuries for that purpose. Though for sure, training is still needed and there is still the chance you will end up with a chicken eater, though probably not as great if you choose the wrong breed to begin with.

Pyranese are the most common livestock guardian dog but there are many breeds to choose from actually, i.e., Anatolian, Ackbash, etc., etc. Do a web search on livestock guardian dogs and you'll be surprised.

Also reading this book will probably go far on learning the right breed and how to train:'

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/15...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463383351&pf_rd_i=507846

I would really do my homework!

Connie

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Quote:
This is all absolutely correct, however, in my experience, I would just be careful of some of the livestock gaurdian breeds that are bred to live amongst the livestock themselves. There is a different mindset with these dogs, an independance that may be what you are seeking, and that I personally prize. But if you are seeking a 'pet' these breeds often have difficulty making that adjustment. Working breeds often need a job to do, or they get a little bit loopy! and remember, a job by thier definition does not end after 8 hours, they are on duty 24/7! write down a list of the traits you are looking for, what are you flexible on?

My dog is my best companion, but he has a mind of his own, and wont come in, unless I drag him in, or he is hungry. Then he lays by the door! He is a working dog by his own decision! My dane however stands by the woodstove, till you smell singe-ing dog hair, and you have to tell him to move away. He woofs out the window, but ask him to go outside, and he slinks away like we are offering to pull his toe nails out one by one.

Breed choice and research are important, but breeders establishment and other dogs in the kennel can tell you more about your potential choice than any breed standard. Meet the dogs.... on thier turf, dont bring money with you.... take your time.... you will be glad you did!!

 

[cqranch]

I have two golden retrievers, a male and spayed female. Both are great around my chickens. They are both around 4 yrs old and I just got started with chickens this past summer.

 

[cbhora]

I have a Great Pyrenees and he has saved my flock many times and he is great with the birds also believe it or not pygmy goats are good at protecting your flock I had goats and they helped a lot the only draw back is they eat anything and every thing including trees and the chicken coop LOL

 

[skeeter03]

We have a mutt - dont even know what kind is in the dog. We keep tied on outside the coop at night to warn us of impending danger he does great with it mind you I wouldnt actually trust him around any free ranging chickens - but my chickens are in a fenced in run. I just acquired a rotti/st. bernard puppy who is being trained to leave my chickens alone lol - takes some time though.
I wouldnt depend entirely on any dog to keep other dogs away - it is usually a dominance thing with them or heck maybe a friendly dog from down the way to come play lol either way my dog does bark at anything comming on our property I do depend on the warning my dog does give me and i will deal with whatever is around.