Looking to about a young dog or puppy!

[sylviethecochin]

@sylviethecochin - no need for apologies. I was just funnin'.

I knew you were. I should use more emoticons, really, and avoid these kind of misunderstandings. I was just clarifying, and apologising for the... what's the word? bad phrasing? of my statement. I'm actually fairly hard to offend/mortify/upset, promise.

 

[NHMountainMan]

Are you stuck on the idea of a medium sized dog? Most livestock guardian dog breeds are large or giant breeds. Several of the guardian breeds aren't best companion dogs. Depending on where you live in NJ, you likely have coyote and black bear as potential predators- which is why livestock guardians tend to be larger breeds- bed to defend against wolves.
If you would consider larger - look into a great Pyrenees. Outstanding livestock guards but are great with their families as well.
Good luck

 

[Folly's place]

Dogs are a long term project, and one of the most expensive ways to protect your chickens, with the longest training time. Get a dog that appeals to you, and work with training, and don't expect much for that first year or two.
Hounds, terriers, and sled dog types tend to be the least likely to succeed at this task, although of course there are exceptions. Guard dogs, working breeds, and retrievers or even pointers are better choices generally. Where you have big xbred coyotes and bears, and stray dogs, large breeds do better, and pairs do well. Then, they must be fenced on your property, managed, trained, all that.
Mary