Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[jajeanpierre]

My 2 cents--

Most dogs in general are deterents to most predators; by nature dogs are territorial. Rotties are were originally a drover dog to move livestock to market and carried the owners money on his collar-- so the story goes. Having had a few myself I can see this as possibly true. All dogs need to be socialized to be good around people, just that some breeds need more training in that regard than others.

Recenly I talked to the woman that helped me trained all my rotties, and as I was looking for a different breed that acted much like the rottie but didn't have the reputation, she suggested a curly coated retreiver. THey are rare and hard to find but have the guarding instinct. My maremma was with the sheep and bonded to them due to their early childhood training-- but he killed everything else that qualified as wildlife that crossed onto his area.

Just putting out the rotties and the ccr as they might tolerate the heat in TX.

Thanks. I never thought of a Curly-Coated Retriever. I've shown Flat Coated Retrievers, so saw a few Curly-Coated Retrievers. Thinking back on them, you are right--they had a similar temperament to a Rottweiler.

I haven't been to a dog show in many years, but when I showed dogs, Rottweilers were really nasty dogs. I even showed a Rottie and it was darn scary to be in the Open dog ring. As I set up my own dog, I heard this roaring growl behind me--the dog right behind me wasn't growling at my open male dog, no, he was growling at ME! Pro handlers always gathered around the ring when I was showing that Rottie because there was a novice with a nasty dog in the class and they were expecting a blood bath at some point (no, it was not me and my dog!). I just don't want anything to do with a breed where the AKC advises judges not to look a breed in the face.

It was a real eye opener for me on a flight from Frankfurt to Toronto when I sat behind someone who was wearing a World Schutzhund Championship jacket. He was returning from their championship trials. Of course we talked dogs, and having no experience with pit bulls, I asked about that nasty vicious killer breed. He told me he liked pit bulls. They were tough, but had good solid temperaments, unlike Rottweilers (at the time) that were afraid. He said the Rotties were quite dangerous because they would attack out of fear. It was a real eye opener for me who had never worked with any of those tough mastiff breeds. (I'm a Shetland Sheepdog person although I haven't had a Sheltie in 15 years.)

I have a few years to figure out what I want. Personally, I want a little dog, about 40 pounds, but I don't know any breeds that are small and guard livestock without herding it. I'll look into the Black Mouthed Cur. Then, there is always the humane society, picking a dog with no prey drive. Birds are a lot different than things like sheep and goats--they flutter and many dogs who would leave other animals alone just can't resist that flutter. I also have parrots that fly outside a lot and will go to ground amongst the chickens so I have to worry about that.

I would love something like a Border Collie, but I think a Border Collie would harass the chickens. I wonder if I could get a Border Collie with no herding instinct? I bet I can now that the AKC has recognized them and they are being bred for show and not working ability.

 

[fisherlady]

I have a few years to figure out what I want. Personally, I want a little dog, about 40 pounds, but I don't know any breeds that are small and guard livestock without herding it. I'll look into the Black Mouthed Cur. Then, there is always the humane society, picking a dog with no prey drive. Birds are a lot different than things like sheep and goats--they flutter and many dogs who would leave other animals alone just can't resist that flutter. I also have parrots that fly outside a lot and will go to ground amongst the chickens so I have to worry about that.

I would love something like a Border Collie, but I think a Border Collie would harass the chickens. I wonder if I could get a Border Collie with no herding instinct? I bet I can now that the AKC has recognized them and they are being bred for show and not working ability.

Do some research into English Shepherds... they can be 35 to 75 pounds, are very, very similar in intelligence and abilities to the border collies without the hyper activity. You have to find a breeder who raises them in a farm situation who can evaluate their personalities as puppies to help you find one that fits you. They can herd, and do it naturally... but they have what is known as a 'soft eye' instead of that hard eyed stare that BCs get when watching.
ES's aren't true 'livestock guardian dogs' because they love being with their people during down time, but they will safely patrol your area and ours will kill any critter that steps foot anywhere near her chickens (except cats, she just runs off strays). Their are a handful of reputable breeders scattered through ranching country out west, they used to be common farm dogs through the 50s until small farms started to fade away, and a few enthusiasts kept the breed going. They have never really been AKC show dogs, and were never made popular through media or show exposure, so the breed still tends to be true to it's roots. Try English Shepard . org I think is their breed web page.

 

[Tomtommom]

We had a rottie mutt.. sweet dog, but good Lord was she anxious. It's crazy how determined they get when they're scared. Dug straight through walls and doors to get away from thunderstorms... chewed her way out of a thick gauge wire kennel... broke several teeth in the process.

Stupidly strong dog.. had a permanent ear infection because it took 4 adults to pin her down twice a day to clean and treat her ears, needless to say, we never were able to fix it. Wore a 3 inch wide leather collar, just so she wouldn't tear it up.

That dog gave me so many head aches..... but man was she sweet.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Amazing how experiences can differ. I was showing my girl about 12 years ago, and I was stunned at how behaved all th dogs were waiting ring side for the next class. My b----- was a sweet heart as was her mother. Just lovey dovey dogs. I'm not convinced that staring any dog in the eye is a smart idea-- unless you are working with the dog and creating a relationship. Judges don't have time for that. It is all they hype that has made me turn away from the rotties. THey are still my favorite dog.

Gordon setters are also a guard type dog. ANd I have met labs that stop intruders-- would love to have one just like that dog again. Loved kids, and a guard dog rolled into one.

What did you think of the CCR?

A friend of the family raises corgi's for show and my kids just love QUinn. But like all good herders it is in the blood, and I hated getting nipped by our Old English. With chickens and sheep I too am leary of any of that type of herding dogs.

(Quinn was invited to that big show in Feb for a special award; so I guess he's done good!)

 

[jajeanpierre]

Do some research into English Shepherds... they can be 35 to 75 pounds, are very, very similar in intelligence and abilities to the border collies without the hyper activity. You have to find a breeder who raises them in a farm situation who can evaluate their personalities as puppies to help you find one that fits you. They can herd, and do it naturally... but they have what is known as a 'soft eye' instead of that hard eyed stare that BCs get when watching.
ES's aren't true 'livestock guardian dogs' because they love being with their people during down time, but they will safely patrol your area and ours will kill any critter that steps foot anywhere near her chickens (except cats, she just runs off strays). Their are a handful of reputable breeders scattered through ranching country out west, they used to be common farm dogs through the 50s until small farms started to fade away, and a few enthusiasts kept the breed going. They have never really been AKC show dogs, and were never made popular through media or show exposure, so the breed still tends to be true to it's roots. Try English Shepard . org I think is their breed web page.

Thank you! That might be the dog for me. I'll research them. I didn't even know the breed existed. I'll keep them in mind.

 

[dutchbunny83]

We're (I mean DH) processing 50 quail tomorrow.
They are 6 weeks old, so they could probably grow a couple more weeks, but my set up isn't the best (had way more than I anticipated) & they are so much work trying to keep them all warm and doing the food/water in 8 different pens like 3 times a day. Plus they are going through a crazy amount of flock raiser which isn't cheap.
We're just going to skin them, plucking that many seems insanely time consuming.
Excited to see how they taste, I've never had it!

 

[dutchbunny83]

In talking about dogs, just throwing out there I LOVE German Shepherds, they are my favorite! Amazing with kids, great protectors, they can be trained really well.
I love the look of the extra furry Alaskan Malamute, but I've never had one, and don't know anything about their personalities, they're just huge, furry & adorable.
And don't forget about shelters!!!! A good amount of shelter animals are actually pure bred if that's what you want.
That's the only place I will get my pets, I don't believe in breeders (not knocking anyone that may be a breeder, just my personal preference).

 

[fisherlady]

We're (I mean DH) processing 50 quail tomorrow.
They are 6 weeks old, so they could probably grow a couple more weeks, but my set up isn't the best (had way more than I anticipated) & they are so much work trying to keep them all warm and doing the food/water in 8 different pens like 3 times a day. Plus they are going through a crazy amount of flock raiser which isn't cheap.
We're just going to skin them, plucking that many seems insanely time consuming.
Excited to see how they taste, I've never had it!

Dutch.... Sally sunshine did quail earlier in the thread I believe... she posted a pic of her result. I will try to find it if you haven't seen it....

OK... here is where the discussion of her quail processing started, it goes on for a couple of pages with questions and such.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...roup-help-us-through-the-emotions-please/1370

 

[jajeanpierre]

In talking about dogs, just throwing out there I LOVE German Shepherds, they are my favorite! Amazing with kids, great protectors, they can be trained really well.
I love the look of the extra furry Alaskan Malamute, but I've never had one, and don't know anything about their personalities, they're just huge, furry & adorable.
And don't forget about shelters!!!! A good amount of shelter animals are actually pure bred if that's what you want.
That's the only place I will get my pets, I don't believe in breeders (not knocking anyone that may be a breeder, just my personal preference).

I love German Shepherds, too. The American show GSDs are so deformed and stylized I won't have one. I know I will be looking into some working GSD breeders when the time comes. Also, they shed an incredible amount. My Shelties never shed and made a mess in the house the was my GSD did.

Don't ever think of an Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Husky to be around chickens or cats. They are notorious for killing cats They are also completely useless watch dogs. I had a friend who bred show and sled racing Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies. She said anyone could come in through her yard of sled dogs. She had a Corgi to be a watch dog.

And, yes, I will look into a shelter dog or one of the breed rescues. Their temperament and their level of prey drive will be more easily evaluated and not likely to change.

 

[Beekissed]

The problem with most shelters and rescues is that they make you promise you will keep the dog indoors and have a 6 ft. fence around your property~especially if you are getting a LGD breed. Who in the world can do both of these things? Kind of defeats the purpose of having a dog if he has to live in the house and who can afford to fence all their land in 6 ft. high, approved fencing. They won't consider electric containment systems at all.

Then there is the cost of adoption, the home inspections, yada, yada, yada. And you have to have vet references...my dogs don't go to the doctor unless they are sick and they are never sick. So the vet may see me once every other year, if that, for regular maintenance things like flea and tick control, etc.

Much easier to look in the locals for "free to good home" dogs of the breed type or mix that you would like or word of mouth from people you know. It's sometimes easier and cheaper to buy a dog from a breeder than adopt from a shelter or rescue, which is why I feel these places don't really want to place dogs or they wouldn't make it so difficult and costly. Their methods are counterproductive if their goal is to reduce puppy mill business and to place unwanted dogs.

Two of my best dogs were obtained from people who got them from the shelter and then no longer wanted them...one(the best dog ever) was running free outside in a suburb and they didn't like the fact that they "had to water him so much"....got him for the price of a carton of cigs, the other had been tied on a 5 ft. chain to a manure deep dog house for a year because the first day they brought her home from the pound she shed on their new carpet....they moved away and left her tied to that box. The neighbors were bringing her food and water.

Yeah...they are soooooooo careful in their placement of these dogs.

I've found they give dogs willy nilly to their buddies that suck up to them and will give them endless dogs, cats and horses that live in horrible conditions(my sister!)...but they won't give one good dog to a good forever home. So, folks like me just wait until the people they do give dogs to lose interest in them and then I can pick them up for free or cheap and with no restrictions on how I keep them at my home. I've had three of the very best dogs working for me over the years in that way.