Pyr or Texas Heeler

[VaultGirl27]

Hi everyone, I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts are on pyr vs Texas heeler for protection. I understand heelers are herders and pyrs are LGDs, which are very different. I'm just looking for opinions on which you trust more for running off predators. My chickens will be in an enclosed run, inside a separate fenced area, so the dog will not be directly with the chickens. However, either dog I get, I would want to not be chasing or trying to get at the chickens. Both are available in about a month for around the same price in my area. Both are from working parents. Neither has much experience around or exposure to birds. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[cmom]

With any dog you will have to train it. Personally I have electric wires around my coops and pens and the predators know they are there. I think the adult predators teach their young that whatever is on the other side of the hot wires isn't worth getting zapped for. Good luck...

 

[Mosey2003]

A heeler needs vastly more work than most people can imagine, and they will chase your poultry. Extremely high energy dog.

A Pyrenees will also take training, a lot of it, and you will need a way to keep it home because it will want to roam. And they aren't really solid and ready to work around poultry until they're mature, and that's about 2 years old for them.

 

[JustCallMeMaple]

Mosey is very much on point. Both can work but they are very different energy and purposes. Heelers need exercise and training to be good dogs (they are good dogs just most don't give them their needed exercise to get them in the mindset to train). Pyrenees are very good dogs but VERY stubborn to start with, they can and will roam so you need a fenced area. The slower maturing rate means out of the gate they are not a guard dog that takes time and training plus lots of time near their animal they will be protecting so hanging around the outside of the chicken pen. It all comes down to how much work you want to put into the dog.

 

[VaultGirl27]

For perspective, we have 10 acres of land, with just about 5 of it that the dog will be patrolling around. My chickens will be in a predator proof run, however my goats and mini pigs are not. So the dog's main charges will be those. I just don't want the dog trying to charge the fenced area where the chickens will be. I'm more inclined to get the heeler if they are able to be trained not to chase the chickens at the fence. Our main predator is coyotes, so I want a dog that will chase them out of the yard.

 

[JustCallMeMaple]

Heelers are VERY smart dogs and can be trained not to but it takes work. If you will give the time to teach him/her an off/leave it command it should be alright since it will be raised seeing them. A good recall is a must so practicing coming to you from further distances would help too. Takes time but I believe if you put the effort in and go in knowing what you want to teach and a realistic timeline to master the training than do what would make you happiest. At the end of the day you know which one you want to spend your time and energy on.

They make up for in size with sheer energy.

 

[Isadora]

Heelers are VERY smart dogs and can be trained not to but it takes work. If you will give the time to teach him/her an off/leave it command it should be alright since it will be raised seeing them. A good recall is a must so practicing coming to you from further distances would help too. Takes time but I believe if you put the effort in and go in knowing what you want to teach and a realistic timeline to master the training than do what would make you happiest. At the end of the day you know which one you want to spend your time and energy on.

They make up for in size with sheer energy.

Coyotes have such a skulk-y look to them

 

[LaFleche]

Take a look at the Hovawart: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovawart

 

[VaultGirl27]

Take a look at the Hovawart: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovawart

Beautiful dog. Looks like a good match for what I'm looking for, but I'll have to look if they'd be available anywhere close

 

[allenw]

Heelers herd Pyrenees gaurd. Any herding dog will have the instinct to herd or chase if untrained. They can also be one person dogs. As has been said either dog will need training.