I need help ~ what type of dog is best to be around my chickens?????

[jenichick]

Shih Tzu's......they won't hurt a fly! I had two for over 10 years. Now I have a lab and a boxer, both of whom drool over the chickens, just waiting for one to escape!

 

[pipermark]

Whatever you get it is its training and its socialization with the chickens that will matter in the end.

 

[barg]

Training and socialisation will not do you any bit of good with some breeds.
I will Have to second the comments on terriers.
Stay away from them, Especilly border terriers, of which I owned one. Best friend , great with kids, fun loving, friendly and will snap your chickens neck in half a second.

Oh, and their Kill Drive increases with age.

GL

 

[Mac]

Thanks for your response to my reply. I have only trained Rottweilers to deal with "big birds". Since they are so easily trained as a breed, it wasn't a problem. The problem I ended up having was the birds chasing the Rotties. Right now I have 11 adopted chickens, two bulldogs (usless for protection purposes) and one Bullmastif. Bullmastiff's (as a breed) do not have a high prey drive. They protect when necessary (as he has done with me), but they mainly rove the property.

Honestly, I think a Great Prynees or an Anatolian Shepherd would be a good thing to look into.

The best to you,
Mac

 

[McSpin]

Being in TX, I'm not sure a long haired breed would be best.

You can get lucky or unlucky with almost any breed. I have a boxer that is wonderful with the birds. I also have a hunting beagle who will not even glance towards the chickens, while I have another beagle who would eat one in a second. Dogs are individuals but most can be trained to accept the chickens. Even so, to get one to actually like them and want to protect them takes a natural inclination. There are breeds that are bred for this. Ask a lot of questions about the parents tendencies towards other animals. There is a greater chance of the pups having the behavior you're looking for, if the adults do.

 

[s6bee]

I honestly have to say I know more about dogs than chickens.
So that said, stay away from dogs that have instinct towards hunting or herding or ratters (Terriers ). You can't socialize the instinct out of the dog. I know I'm going to have trouble with my dogs once my girls are out ( I have English Springer Spaniels ).
See about something like a French Bulldog, or Pug. They are good with kids too ( unlike most Shi tzu's....sorry )

Good luck

 

[SandraChick]

WEll I have to say, I sure am getting tired of people saying that herders and hunting dogs do not make good chicken dogs!

I have two labs, trained to hunt ducks...they retrieve what I tell them to retrieve and leave my chickens AND DUCKS alone. I dog sit a sheep dog (she used to come over 3days a week- now it's just for vaca)...she used to look at my chickens like something to chase, and now she won't touch them and guards them!

It IS all about training
It IS about consitant training
It IS NOT about breed (tendencies are, but typically it's more about the owner)
Pyranees can be great...but they are barkers and should have lots of space as a breed. They also need training!

Sandra

 

[barg]

Your probably right, I just wonder how many chickens yould have to go through while training a border terrier not the kill them.

 

[Don B]

I have worked with our Great Pyrenees to protect and herd the chickens. She brings them to the coop when free-range time is over, and I need to secure them for the evening.

Dorrie has been gentle, but, yes, constant training is definitely the largest part of making the animals work together.

By introducing the chicks early, and spending LOTS of time supervising and correcting, we are now at a point where we trust Dorrie to protect the flock.
Choose a breed after your research, but remember, that is only the first step.

 

[ruth]

If you haven't seen any of my other posts - I'll recommend a German Shepherd. Here's Rex with his first batch of chicks in April:

And his third batch of chicks (just got yesterday)

Lots of other pictures of Rex and his flock on my personal pages. He must be doing a good job because we live in the country with every predator there is and so far nothing has gotten them. After we got the first baby chicks Rex began insisting on sleeping outside with them. They free range all day, usually in his presence, and our run is open with no cover and their coop is left open at night with Rex out there.

Like the posts have said - it depends on the dog more than the breed. If you get a breed like a GSD it has to have a JOB plus be well trained and socialized from birth. Dogs like this have lots of energy and must have an outlet so if you aren't prepared for lots of exercise, don't get a high energy dog of any breed. Rex plays ball, frisbie, and swims/retrieves to burn off energy. He'll run the equivalent of several miles catching balls that you can throw till your arm falls off and he won't quit - might run take a quick swim in pond and run back with ball but won't quit. He's responsible for guarding us and baby chicks and kittens and he gets the paper and brings in groceries. We didn't "train" him to watch the chicks - just worked with him a few minutes till he understood that they were loved and part of family. Dogs of this type have an innate sense of protection and duty.

Funny story: Rex loves to go the long distance down our drive to get the paper. If my husband gets it and doesn't give it to Rex to carry back, Rex gets upset. One day husband told Rex to go get the paper. Well Rex didn't go so my husband went. When Rex saw husband was going to get paper he ran down there but husband would not give it to him, told him "no, you wouldn't go get it so you don't get to carry it in and get a treat". Well, just to show you how smart they are: later, there was a paper on our door step; little while later another one; little while later another one; little while later yet another one - 4 in all. Guess he went all over the neighborhood stealing papers and brought 4 to make up for the 1 he wouldn't go get.