Need Ideas for a dog - specfic concerns

[rooster0209]

Check out the shelters/rescues in your area. Most of the shelters/rescues evaluate the dogs based on personality. You could find what you are looking for.


www.petfinder.com is a good place to start

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

Quote:
i'm so glad i'm not the only one who keeps saying this! working dogs are smart and good problem solvers - THEY CAN BE HARD IF YOU DONT HAVE THE TIME OR INCLINATION TO WORK WITH THEM. every day. yes, every. single. day.

and here's a thought - if you dont like dogs (which you sure dont have too!!!) what about some other kind of watch animal? donkeys to protect the flocks? geese or guineas to alert you to any intruders. whatever you do - dont just get a dog b/c other people have one or b/c you think you should have one.

i'm thinking that moving your fam out to the country will be a big enough change... you might want to ease into this and make sure its the right decision for you.

hope you dont think i'm being mean - i'm saying this with great respect. check out some of the posts on LGD's that havent gone well. my sister got a big dog and it was a nightmare. now he's my problem - i'm working with him but its been a long two years to get him into working shape.

good luck!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I actually wouldn't recommend a heeler if you have young children. Not all of them are this way, but I've found most of the ones I've come in contact with to be unsure of young kids. Ours is fine around most adults, but will sometimes growl around children. We have to keep him in our garage when we know we will have company that has children.

I know my heeler doesn't like people tugging at him or touching him all over. He's an amazing dog when it comes to farm work, but we have to be extra careful with company. He's very protective of "his" things and "his" family.

You might want to look into a great pyranese (sp?) or a german shepard. Even a pitbull as some others have brought up. Many pitbulls were actually used as farm dogs back in the day and they make wonderful companions (Its unfortunate they have such a bad reputation. So few of them actually deserve it.) I would actually be quicker to trust a pitbull with children than I would a heeler.

 

[gritsar]

Hard to find, but....an irish wolfhound.
Mine wanted to please so much that she basically trained herself. She loved kids and was gentle and not overly rambunctious with anybody.
She protected everything and everyone that was part of the family; the chickens, the cat, the other dog.
Had two coyote kills to her name. Probably would have been more, but when she got old we no longer allowed her to hunt them.
They are huge, but not aggressive at all.

 

[OlliOlliOlli]

Rottweiler?

 

[FaithAnn]

I am very partial to redbone coonhounds. They are protective, smart and very loving dogs. They are AWESOME with kids (at least mine were). There are drawbacks though. Since they are hounds, they like to roam - have to have a good fence. Also, you can't have two males - they will fight each other - often - been there and done that. Here is a picture of my baby, Gus. He ran away about a year ago and we think a hunter picked him up -- I miss him terribly. He was a spoiled baby, but would defend me to the end.

 

[saddina]

Quote:
i'm so glad i'm not the only one who keeps saying this! working dogs are smart and good problem solvers - THEY CAN BE HARD IF YOU DONT HAVE THE TIME OR INCLINATION TO WORK WITH THEM. every day. yes, every. single. day.

and here's a thought - if you dont like dogs (which you sure dont have too!!!) what about some other kind of watch animal? donkeys to protect the flocks? geese or guineas to alert you to any intruders. whatever you do - dont just get a dog b/c other people have one or b/c you think you should have one.

i'm thinking that moving your fam out to the country will be a big enough change... you might want to ease into this and make sure its the right decision for you.

hope you dont think i'm being mean - i'm saying this with great respect. check out some of the posts on LGD's that havent gone well. my sister got a big dog and it was a nightmare. now he's my problem - i'm working with him but its been a long two years to get him into working shape.

good luck!

Nope, I don't adore dogs (with a few exceptions). No problems with daily training, hubby and I work a split schedule so one of us is home every day. In general I think my dislike is for untrained city dogs, most I've come across have been large dogs, with no training that are parked in a backyard untill the person who owns them feels inclined to be bothered, which is exactly what I have no wish to do with any animal. Both hubby and I spent a good chunk of our lives on family member's farms/ranches, so it's not a case of "move to the country get a dog and let them roam". However I've no experiance with working dogs (who actually have a job to do). As much as I admire the shelters and the work they do, I just can't put a large dog with a mystery background around my kids.

 

[jerseygirl1]

German shepherd, labrador retriever, newfoundland

 

[jerseygirl1]

German shepherd, labrador retriever, newfoundland

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Is a Lab not smart enough for you?

Most of the "smart" dogs I know I wouldn't trust around chickens.

I agree that a sizable dog is a good accessory around coyotes. I'm convinced our Golden Retriever is the reason the coyotes stay on the street and don't come into our yard.

Our Golden was in the pen with our chickens last night - one of them came up and pecked her on the face (curious, not mean) twice, and the dog didn't move a muscle. Totally calm. Too much fur for what you want, but a Lab seems like a reasonable facsimilie thereof.

We know a Heeler and a Boxer and I wouldn't let either of them near my chickens, which is not to say that they can't be trained.