Outside dog to keep by coops?

[Shannon's Chix]

I am soooo sick and tired of neighborhood dogs coming into my yard trying to get to my coops!

Luckily, quite often I'll see them and let my indoor dog out to chase them away. I was thinking about when I was looking for a dog and often shelter dogs on "death row" were often bigger dogs. I wonder if I should get one to keep on a long cable near the coops, with a dog house of course...

I have 4 dogs and have never had an outdoor dog. I figure if I keep him/her near the coop it will keep the neighborhood dogs away???

I know I will need to see how it is around chickens, I was just wondering about keeping a dog outdoors...

 

[jerseygirl1]

You may want to check out the posts on the Great Pyrenees (spelling?) on here...................they are livestock guardian dogs that are mainly kept with the flock
Tons of them in rescues

 

[ericsplls]

I think having a dog near the coop helps. If the chickens stay inside the coop 24/7 an electric fence may be a better option. Very effective and much cheaper to feed.

 

[babyblue]

if you have very secure coops and runs and the problem was neighbor dogs just being annoying then I might try and find a pound dog that needs rehomed. I am not of the thinking that every single breed of dog must be a in the house dog or its the end of the world. there are many guardian breeds that protecting the stock is their life calling and keeping them locked up in the house grates against everything they are bred to do.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

I do let my 5 LF hens freerange for a few hours in the evening...I'm out there for part of the time and keep an eye out the rest of the time. I will have more free ranging when they are fully grown.

I guess the trick is finding the right dog who wouldn't mind being outside by itself...

 

[LyonFuzz]

But then your "outside" dog is on chain and vulnerable to the intruder dogs I think maybe an electric line around your coop is the best bet. Even unwanted shelter dogs deserve to be part of your pack and kept safe. Besides, whats to say the dog won't enjoy the company of the other intruder dogs?

 

[The Egg Bandit]

I have an ancient (16 year old) husky mix on a cable run on one side of the coop (the goatie boys have the other side). He will sound off and run off most wandering dogs - we've had a few. The chickens are locked in the coop at night, and old Blue comes into the washroom at night. I'm home all day, so if a really big/bad dog comes in the yard, Blue's warning will give me time to get the shotgun. Of course, when Blue's final day comes, I'll be back where you are. But with this economy, there are lots of rescue dogs available. There are LGD rescue organizations all over. A cable run with food, water and shelter from sun/rain, and an attentive dog - awesome in my book.

ETA: Blue is NEVER by himself, dog-wise. He has my wolf-hybrid to keep him company. She is on a cable run next to him. But she seldom barks, so I count on Blue to alert me. If I weren't always home, I'd go for a high energy/strength electric fence. One pass about 6 inches off the ground, and one at the top of the fence.

 

[kaddidle]

Definitely don't get a dog and chain it. Dogs on chains have all sorts of behavior issues. You can read a lot about that here: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.com/mythguarddogs.html

They're more likely to bite and be aggressive and they're vulnerable to attacks and unable to escape.

It might be a great idea to rescue a large dog from a livestock guardian breed (Great Pyrs come to mind and can often be found in rescue) but you'd want to either fence your yard or train it to stay on your property if you have enough space for that.

 

[Lorije1]

Voting no against chaining the dog here as well - especially if you have 4 "favored" dogs inside. It is way too easy to say it is "too hot, too cold, too rainy, too windy" to visit the dog. A free roaming LGD or a run or 2 of electric wire will do just as well if not better.

 

[The Egg Bandit]

I do agree to not ever chain or cable run dogs if you are not home. The thought of a wandering dog having a chance at old Blue without me being there - yipes. If I have to make a run to the store, my dogs come inside to the washroom. The chickies are on their own until I get home. So far so good.

ETA: I do try to do most of my running after dark - that way the chickens and goats are locked up safe as a bug in a rug.