Is it a good idea to have a guard dog?

[Harmonyfarmowner]

Hi all!

I have 6 chickens, 3 goats, 5 quails, and 2 bunnies in my backyard. My friend wants to rehome her German Shepherd (female), 2 years old. I'm sure that she will be a good guard dog, but I'm wondering what it's like to have an outside guard dog. Honestly, my animals are not demanding, I take care of them whenever I have time, and sometimes I travel for several days and come back.- no problem at all.

Can anyone share what it's like having an outside guard dog? FYI, I had a small dog in the house for 13 years, so I know dogs need a lot of love. I wonder if an outside guard dog would make a difference or how I take care of it when I go on a trip for several days, etc.,

Thanks!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi!

I wouldn't call ours "guard dogs" but it's an option going with dogs like these, a border collie and a corgie. They keep the varments out of the yard. We're surrounded by woods and farmers' fields and have seen just about every animal on a deer cam or had in our yard, like bears, skunks, possums, raccoons, fox.

Both are great with the chickens, but ironically, they're both herding dogs and neither will help us round up chickens when they stray too far.

If we're gone for a day, they stay in the yard. If it's bitter cold like last night -25 windchill, we let them in the house.

Our next dog is going to be a German Shepherd though, so that we have a little bit more of a scary dog should strangers come here. We live in the boonies and have no issues, but I rather have a dog that would scare people off and not look so friendly like ours.

I've heard some do very well with chickens, but I've also heard some don't so there may be some training to do.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Couple of questions come to mind. First, why is she needing to rehome her dog? Second, how will this dog do with your chickens and animals, and will the original owner take her back if it doesn't work out so well? Could you maybe take her on a trial basis for a week or a month to see how it goes? (Get it in writing!) Third, is this already an outdoor dog, or has she been accustomed to living in the house, sleeping in beds, etc.? Fourth, is she in need of training and how will you manage that? Dogs don't just guard automatically. Having said all that, it CAN work out great. For years my chickens free ranged bc my female Sheltie kept the property free of coyotes, stray dogs, even squirrels. My current dogs, a male Sheltie and female Golden retriever, are companions to the chickens, but not especially "protective," sigh. I wish you luck and hope you will keep us posted - with pics!

 

[Harmonyfarmowner]

Thank you for the replies!

Yah, I guess my question is if a guard dog needs my attentions a lot more than my livestock animals. We both work full time, two kids, and travel twice a year.

We're very happy with goats, chickens, and quails because they are low maintenance, relatively quiet, etc., And, I would love to have a dog as well.

To answer your questions, yes, I might have an option for a trial (but still I want to know more about it), the dog is living inside and outside of the house, and I had a dog for 13 years, so training does not pressure me much. But, the dog I had was a cuttie shiztu so I have no idea how German Shepherd would do the job as an outside guard dog and how much she will need my attention and time.

Thanks for reminding the photo. I will put a photo for my account now!

 

[No Coop No Problem]

I personally would never have a guard dog that didn't grow up with whatever it's supposed to guard from a very young age. Why would any animal protect something it has no attachment to? Why would any dog feel attachment to chickens it cannot touch, or interact with other than chasing them like a predator?

My LGD protects my chickens, but her breed is specifically for livestock protection and she's been surrounded by chickens 24/7 since she was 8 weeks old

An old dog is a big gamble. A German Shepherd is also a gamble. Some dog breeds, including some bloodlines of GS cannot overcome their prey aggression

 

[McChooky]

I would get a kennel for the dog and gradually release it .If its obedience trained already you should be off to a good start. I have a couple hounds that were only 6 months old when I got them but they were a couple years old before I got chickens so it took a while! Wishing you the best https://thegermanshepherder.com/are-german-shepherds-good-livestock-guardians/

 

[Harmonyfarmowner]

Good to know. Thank you all for your feedback. After a consideration, I decided not to have a guard dog. I think I will have one more goat instead. haha

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Have you considered a donkey? I have heard they will stomp coyotes....

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Hi all!

I have 6 chickens, 3 goats, 5 quails, and 2 bunnies in my backyard. My friend wants to rehome her German Shepherd (female), 2 years old. I'm sure that she will be a good guard dog, but I'm wondering what it's like to have an outside guard dog. Honestly, my animals are not demanding, I take care of them whenever I have time, and sometimes I travel for several days and come back.- no problem at all.

Can anyone share what it's like having an outside guard dog? FYI, I had a small dog in the house for 13 years, so I know dogs need a lot of love. I wonder if an outside guard dog would make a difference or how I take care of it when I go on a trip for several days, etc.,

Thanks!

I have a Shepard- Pit Bull mix, and she chases the birds a lot, gets super excited, runs off............. but she also always comes home, and although she can run faster than any chicken, she hasn't actually caught one yet. perhaps she knows when to show a bit of restraint, although unfortunately not enough. if the dog has never been around birds, I would introduce them VERY carefully, by leaving either the dog or the chickens in a pen until the dog loses interest.

 

[Penpal]

I find GSD to be very iffy. Depending on the breeding they can be very aggressive to humans and or other animals. Could be a snuggle bunny. Could be really smart, could be dumb as a post. Have you seen this dog with chickens or ducks? Do you know how much exercise it needs?

What makes a good dog could be a dog that barks rather than attacks. Nobody likes to hear your dogs bark all night, but if you have a dog that knows when to bark versus normal activity, if could be just as good or even better than a dog that attacks

Kudus on the donkey, but they are smart, need training, etc. The presence such a large animal keeps many animals at bay, but not raccoons, opossums, and most other predators you worry about with chickens. Donkeys do not consider them threats. They do consider dogs to be threats and will attack them.