New dog?

[Momma*chicken]

What we really want is a golden retriever because they are wonderful on so many levels, we are just concerned with the safety of our chickens. They free range all year except winter because of our harsh winters. Is it really true that golden retrievers are not a good idea around chickens? We also have 3 roosters

 

[Momma*chicken]

We don't want people to be afraid when visiting.... Also we don't have a fenced in yard, so wandering might be an issue... Idk, I'm so sure this is the right breed for us then.

*not so sure

 

[tastyacres]

Well, a golden could be a good idea if you are willing to train it to be good with them... It won't teach itself as far as instinct goes but any dog can be taught to leave something alone!

I have a high energy pit, wheeler, lab cross... He won't touch the birds now but took a good 6months training. On top of the 1year of basic.

Look up Homesteady into Youtube... There is a very good channel on his training of a Yellow Labador to be good with all livestock. Along with other videos.

I know people who own German shepherds, husky, sharpies, golden retriever, etc... All of which own livestock... It all depends on the training your will to put into a dog.

Best place your going to start is find a golden retriever breeder with lots of knowledge and start by asking them questions.

I've helping train a Labadoodle for 4months to be good with chickens... He wants to chase but is able to restrain himself now.

And please when you first get the puppy don't give him any opportunity to chase your chickens till he can come first time called, knows sit, stay, laydown, etc, very well... And I think the best command a farm dog can know is leaveit!

Find a good trainer who is willing to work with you and your dog.

 

[WindingRoad]

Well, a golden could be a good idea if you are willing to train it to be good with them... It won't teach itself as far as instinct goes but any dog can be taught to leave something alone!

I have a high energy pit, wheeler, lab cross... He won't touch the birds now but took a good 6months training. On top of the 1year of basic.

Look up Homesteady into Youtube... There is a very good channel on his training of a Yellow Labador to be good with all livestock. Along with other videos.

I know people who own German shepherds, husky, sharpies, golden retriever, etc... All of which own livestock... It all depends on the training your will to put into a dog.

Best place your going to start is find a golden retriever breeder with lots of knowledge and start by asking them questions.

I've helping train a Labadoodle for 4months to be good with chickens... He wants to chase but is able to restrain himself now.

And please when you first get the puppy don't give him any opportunity to chase your chickens till he can come first time called, knows sit, stay, laydown, etc, very well... And I think the best command a farm dog can know is leaveit!

Find a good trainer who is willing to work with you and your dog.

One of the new commands dog trainers are advising is STOP.

 

[tacothechicken]

I think it depends on the dog and how much you work whith it as well. We have 6 dogs but only our labradoodle will fight off predators as he has a high prey/hunt drive but was raised whith chickens his whole life. Our Boarbol will run out and check if the chickens raise alarm but I have no faith he'd fight anything! We also had a Ausie mix who would kill almost anything but he ADORED our chickens for whatever reason so just think about what you can handle, how much dog experience you have, and how each dog may act around the birds. Our labradoodle is generally careful and aloof but our boarbol is curious and clumsy -_- and hes a farm dog breed lol so don't take breed history for granted.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I once had a German Shepherd puppy who was all 'buddy buddy' with this rooster I had, they became friends hanging out with one another and everything looked fine..... until one day my mother saw the German Shepherd with the dead rooster in her mouth. I still think it can be done, with German Shepherds..... it really just depend on you as an owner.

I would suggest getting an Australian Cattle Dog. Never had one before, but I hear they are good with livestock.

 

[Silkies for life]

I have a lab mix who is amazing!! She barks at predators and loves most people...

 

[wyoDreamer]

My friends Golden would carry chicks around in her mouth and aside from a little drool, they were always fine. This started when one of the hens went broody in the hay loft and hatched out 15 chicks. One of the chicks got separated from the rest and they found it in the lower level of the barn. The boys were looking for the nest when dog "retrieved" all the chicks one by one and placed them in his moms lap. Faced the wrath of chick mommy to do it to.
With training, a Golden can be a good farm dog.
By the way, a good hunting dog will not neccessarily kill a bird. Another one of my friends had a black lab that retrieved a live goose for him when they were duck hunting. My B-I-L would yell at the kids for playing fetch with his lab using sticks - the dog learned to chew on the sticks and then started to bite too hard on the birds it was retrieving and would leave punctures in the skin. That was not allowed - soft mouth only.

 

[Fishkeeper]

What do you want a dog to do? Do you want it to just bark, alert you, and potentially scare away the predators, or do you want it to actually fight it?
I'm not sure I'd recommend a LGD raised from a puppy if you have no experience with them. They have a lot of potential to go very wrong if not raised right.
If you raise most puppies around chickens, and do it well, all but the strongest prey drives should be all right. What you'd want to do is keep the dog from having any interest in the chickens, not seeing them as toys or prey or things to mess with.

 

[sunrise.superman]

I had that cross guading goats and chickens. It's how you raise them. If they're properly socialized then visitors might be watched but no aggression if it's annotherwise friendly dog w family. Mine were most upset at strange dogs, not strange people. They would get up and be more on alert but not aggressive to dogs either unless they got up to something fun y w livestock or entering pastures or pens. It's a great cross for an LGD.