If you have a dog.....

[Beekissed]

Great Pyr/lab mix and Lab/BC mix, both excellent with all livestock and especially with the free range flock. Been guarding them for 5 years now without mishap.

Just got two Newfie mix pups and will report on their progress later on in the year.

 

[drumstick diva]

zazouse, I love your "group photo," it looks like Chickenstock!!

 

[Orchid]

One basset hound and one yellow Lab. Basset was awesome from the get-go when they were chicks. Lab is most respectful after the rooster pecked him on the nose.

 

[TigerLilly]

I have a schnauzer-type terrier mix (15 lb) that went after them once...she doesn't like being scolded, so she hasnt done it since.
Love seeing everyone's pics, they're great!

 

[maizey]

Ditto on the schnauzer... has the terrier drive but doesnt like to be scolded...trainable but not completly trustworthy with chickens. best dog i ever had in every other respect...he is warming my feet as I type this

 

[turbo13]

An American Eskimo.chased the chickens,until one pecked her right in the butt.Now the chickens chase her,and she keeps an eye on them.and keeps her distance.

 

[Tbird84]

I have a miniature bull terrier, 2 Italian Greyhounds, a pit, and a boston/collie/pyrenees (sp?) mix. The boston mix is not to be trusted with ANYTHING smaller than her, except cats that will defend themselves. Her prey drive and insane intelligence has gotten her into trouble on MANY occasions. The bull terrier didn't seem to care too much about them, but will give chase to cats but doesn't hurt them. The pit will eat them if she gets the chance. She proved that with my EE.

However, she HATES to be scolded, so as long as I can watch her I am sure she would be fine. But still....The older greyhound is safe with everything. He just doesn't care anymore. The young one likes to chase anything that moves. That's why he got kicked by the horse. Had to learn the hard way.

so....Yeah, my dogs aren't trusted! I'd love to get some type of shepherd pup or pyrenees pup, maybe even a newfie in the future to raise. All of our dogs came to us 6 mos or older. Obviously some breeds may be more prone to have the high prey drive, but it definately would help if you can raise them from a pup to not look to them as food.

 

[Ibicella]

This is Sir Didymus. He's a 13 pound mixed something-or-other. Not sure what. He's got a high prey drive, so I wouldn't trust him around fowl in a million years.

However, he's perfect for getting rodents, rabbits, and wild birds out of the garden.

 

[sablevulpe]

Quote:
omg am I in LOVE with that face!

 

[loot4louie]

2 labs and a heeler type mix. I always try to leave a dog in the yard with my small flock when they free range. The only harm they do is eating all the chicken feed no matter how I try to prevent it. The mixed breed puppy played ridiculous games of chase with a rooster. It was a young aggressive rooster and it would chase the puppy and then the puppy would chase him. Unfortunately the rooster was not so cute with my daughter so he had to move on to a kid free family. Now we have a docile/ aloof rooster and the puppy seems a little bored