i think i need a dog--what breed is best?

[robinaggie]

Deb1 said:

I've heard that Great Pyrenees(sp?) are good livestock dogs but I have no personal experience with this breed. They aren't meant to be pets but are working dogs. Be forewarned these are large dogs and I have read that they aren't the 'do tricks' type of dog. They are also expensive but perhaps you could find a mixed breed with some Great Pyrenee in its background.

There are Great Pyrenees rescue groups that can help you find a mature dog that knows how to watch the flock. I have never known an adult GP that wasn't gentle and protective.

But again, there's a lot involved with owning a dog, and any dog, if treated right, is expensive to maintain!!​

 

[HillCountryMomma]

I'm sorry you lost your chicken.

I too understand wanting a good dog. I have quite a few animals indoors and out, and it's been very hard for us to find the perfect dog. I wasted a lot of time with rescues, adult dogs, and hoping to train the wrong breed to do the job I needed. I finally wised up, found good homes for the problem dogs, and got a livestock guardian dog (LGD).

This is one area where you need to be very, very careful and get a dog that is bred to the purpose: which is guarding animals. I would not get an adult dog, even of a LG breed. If the dog has not been raised around the livestock you want it to guard it might see it as a snack or a toy. I also would not get a dog from a pound/rescue that claims it's 'X' breed without really knowing. I just don't think it's worth the risk. I have a friend that has a Pyr/Heeler mix. No way would I ever trust that dog around my chickens. Never know when the heeler part might come out and make the dog want to chase and kill.

There are a lot of great dogs out there of many different breeds that for what ever reason will not hard small livestock, but they tend to be the exeptions. Everyone has a story about their heeler (lab, border collie, pit bull, etc.) that wouldn't hurt a fly. Maybe so. I'm not going to chance it!

So, we bought a gorgeous Great Pyranees x Anatolian shepherd LGD puppy. I like the cross, I'm hoping for a little hybrid vigor (and less hip problems than the pure breds). Either breed mixed or alone makes a wonderful livestock guardian dog with proper training and socilization. We got Koda at 11 weeks old and have been very careful to properly introduce him to all our outside animals (horses, cows, chickens, turkeys and cats) so that he knows from the start what he's allowed to harass and what he isn't. He's 14 weeks old now and I'm just amazes at his temperment. He gets bouncy and silly like all puppies do, but he does not have the prey drive that every other breed of dog I've ever owned has had. He's not 100% reliable around all the animals yet, but he's still young and learning. His urge to protect is already very much there even as young as he is. In another year or so he's going to be a wonderful guardian dog.

But, it's going to take a lot of time and training on my part to get him there.

Oh, and at 14 weeks he's already 30 lbs. Should top out around 100 lbs. Big investment in time and dog food!

Liz

 

[Chickies]

ok, i guess here's my problem--i can't be outside all day supervising chickens and dogs--if i'm going to get a dog it would be to protect the chickens. if i have to be outside all day to protect the chickens from my own dog, i'll just skip the dog and opt for my shotgun as a companion. i'm not looking for a pet dog to keep in a kennel (and no way inside the house!) when my chickens are out all day.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
One of my dogs is named Koda too!

 

[chicken fire fighter]

We raised Rat Terriers for years and once trained were able to leave our free ranging birds alone with our dogs. As I type this I am out of town and I have left the chicken guarding responsibilities to my 1 1-2 year old heeler husky cross. "Hank" has never, even as a pup, chased my birds or has ever killed one. I wouldn't leave town and let my chickens free range if it wasn't for Hank. He is the reason my birds can free range all day! Yes, I'm a certified Dog Trainer but, with a little training, most dogs can be an asset to any farm, IMHO!

This is Hank and my old border collie cross "shy". Shy also could be left alone for days while I was out of town without even hurting my 40 plus free ranging chickens and Shy was actually a better chicken protection dog than Hank! Hank can see fine from his right eye, it's just half blue.

 

[robinaggie]

Again, a good rescue group can work with you on finding the right adult dog to protect your flock. Great Pyrenees are bred for that, but I would never go buy a puppy and try to train it if you don't know what you're doing. You can rescue a dog to protect your flock, and do two very goods deeds in one act. The right rescue group will bring the dog to meet your birds, see how it reacts, and try-try again until you find the right dog.

Good luck (and don't forget the monthly heartworm preventive)!

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

Hi Chickies. Sorry about your loss.

As a FL native (Miami Beach), I just want to caution you about a breed like a Great Pyrenees or Bernese Mountain Dog outdoors all day in the FL heat. Maybe a short hair breed would be better. Or maybe keep a longer haired dog shaved? Oh, and Pyrs are great, but they are barkers. My neighbor's Pyr never quits.

Maybe a chicken tractor or some other portable pen would be an option. You could move it around and the birds could still graze happily without you having to stand guard.

I feel the same way and we ended up building a couple of pens and rotate the chickens through, giving the grass a chance to grow back. I wanted to free range them, but I couldn't cope with finding one of them in pieces in the yard.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

BOXERS! They are super fast and can chase FOX a LONG way before getting tired

My dad clocked our boxer at running 40 MPH and he said he was gaining on him a bit!

 

[farmgirlie1031]

Quote:
Yes, I never leave my Bernese out in the heat. They need A/C. But they are great dogs and will protect your flock while they are outside for awhile with them

 

[ChickenToes]

Across the board, one of the best dogs you can get is a Lab. If trained properly, they can be great pets. My suggestion is to get a puppy and then raise it around the chickens so they can get used to each other.

I totally agree with getting a shelter dog, I think it's a great thing to do.

I just got a bloodhound puppy

from a relative. It was nice because I got to see the temperment of the parents as well as the puppies.