the BEST guard dog breed!

[enola]

We have only about 10 LGD's in service protecting herds of sheep and goats. I have been around such for about 10 years. In most situations dogs kept singly with herd confined on a paddock ranging from one to ten acres. Smallest herd is buck only numbering about 20 individuals with larger herds pushing 100 females and young, females only, or juveniles being finished out. Grazing system is intensive / rotational. Perimeters defined by some combination of woven wire fencing, electrified netting, or high tensile electric with out perimeter being the woven wire. Zero losses realized due to predators for quite some time. Fencing keeps out domestic dogs. Red foxes and even coyotes still hunt small rodents in same paddocks with dogs present but avoid herds.

Protecting chickens is much more difficult than protecting sheep and goats. Your typical LGD's can do it if flock confined within line of sight for dogs and distance cover while reacting is short which is not practical for everyone. Big LGD's with possible exception of Akbash (likely not pure) lack speed I need to control chicken losses to red fox. Raccoon's are easy to beat as they only fight in self defense. Dog just needs to be able to get at them to put them on the run.

Drop the LEGITIMATE talk as it does not apply to poultry, especially with dogs not developed for poultry. The LEGITIMATE talk is often and indication a dog peddler is about and positions taken are a result of vested interest.


@savagedestiny the Maned Wolf (fox) could possibly whip a Corgi but red fox I highly doubt. The dog is slower but heavier. The red fox will not take on a another predator near in size or larger than it is. That is the realm of top predators among canids/

Thank you centarchid for recognizing the fact that a Corgi could work against a fox. I have seen two corgis run a fox off. My biggest fear concerning Corgis and foxes is the foxes out smarting the pair of Corgis. Foxes are smart enough to figure out tricking the dogs into a chase. The second fox will come in to grab and run.

Foxes around here are about the same size weght-wise as a Corgi. The Corgis are lucky because a fox will not put up a fight unless cornered. They will run to avoid a fight.

 

[enola]

Neighbors Australian Sheperd dominates coyotes one on one. Two needed to do proper job. They have many of the characteristics I like in a multipurpose barnyard dog plus many have good cold tolerance. Do not ignore importance of fencing as makes dog's job easier.

Be careful when choosing Australian Shepherds. Make sure you get a well bred dog that comes strictly from WORKING lines. BOTH sire and dam need to be working stock. The Australian Shepherds bred for show in many cases are many generations from actual livestock working dogs.

I have owned several very good Australian Shepherds, from working lines, that would lay down their lives for livestock and family.

 

[hennible]

My boys from working lines. Great dog. Have to say that he's " pet " quality though, a tiny bit lazy for the breed but very smart. Suits me fine, except for the barking at me when I walk around the yard with him. Helps if we have a toy. Very protective of us ( kids and I) which I like but have to keep socializing him out of the house so he's not quite so suspicious. I think he really would lay down his life for us.
Enola any training tips?

 

[farmerjohn64]

A catahoula cur is a good choice, also can be used for many things

 

[centrarchid]

A catahoula cur is a good choice, also can be used for many things

Catahoula, Australian Shepherd and English Shepherd where all breeds high on my while preparing to reboot my poultry keeping. Previous rounds we used lots of Black and Tan Hounds, mostly those used for hunting raccoons but also a smaller-faster-tanner variety used for foxes. Most of those dogs where tied or penned out around chickens although a couple older dogs patrolled without confinement. We had reasons then for keeping 20 dogs at a time but I can no longer justify such up keep cost so decided to take another route. I am now more into use of fencing and dogs trained to protect chickens. Fencing keeps big predators such as really large dogs out but wildlife from coyotes and bobcats on down can defeat my perimeter fencing (dirt cheap option) and raptors can defeat the poultry netting. My dogs where taught to navigate all fencing and to respond to chicken alarm calls and to respond as a team. Red foxes are handily the biggest challenge but male has killed two by himself so far. My birds are spread out over several acres with well manicured trails cut through what otherwise looks like a combination of jungle and tall grass prairie.. To get job done dogs must be smart, fast and able to perform in the heat when chicks are free-range kept. During the off season virtually all birds are penned but still potentially vulnerable to raccoons and badgers with former making appearance one in a while before showing up dead on front porch. Dogs would just have to harass badger until I got there.


I use German Pointers (used as bird dogs in the U.S.). Cold tolerance on short-haired variety not best but not needed when dog needs to stay in center of keep most of time during winter. Eventually I will be getting some sheep and goats and a single Akbash will be kept with those. It will be socially integrated with current dogs so they will be able to provide backup when Akbash calls them up. Sheep and goats will be moved about between several small 1 acre paddocks so dog will not be really expected to operate as it was bred for. The Akbash found locally are handily the fastest LGD's I have seen and they take heat reasonably well. When operating in parallel to Great Pyrenees and Commodores the Akbash are the most active.

 

[buckbye]

2 of my minpins tore the head off a rooster today.

 

[hennible]

That sucks

 

[enola]

My Min-pin would be a willing chicken murder, too.