Which dog breed is best to protect chickens?

[Flufnstuffs~FluffySilkies]

VERY NICE RUTH - I had looked at your homepage in the past.
But it was good to see again.
I LIKE LOOKING AT EVERYONES HOMEPAGES - I am hoping I have more time to spend on mine this winter.

Sweet Dog....

 

[skatcatla]

I think just about any dog can be good with chickens, with the possible exception of greyhounds or a couple of other high-prey drive breeds. But even then you'd probably find some exceptions.

If the dog thinks of your chickens as part of your pack, then you are there. Of course there's a big difference between simply getting along with the chickens and actually guarding them. If you want the dog to actually watch them like its a job, I'd recommend one of the shepherds..like Australian Heelers, Border Collies, Belgian Malinois, that sort of thing. You'll still need to do extensive training with them though; its not the sort of thing that comes naturally to most dogs.

Good luck!

 

[hcammack]

My Freakin basset hound has either decided that she wants to live next to them all the time or that they are completly facinating. She usualy lies outside the tractor all day. she definatly couldnt guard them cause she is fat old.
Henry

 

[Flufnstuffs~FluffySilkies]

We are lucky with poly - we can not put any of our animals out with out her thinking she has to watch them.
A month ago we put 2 baby bunnies in a seperate cage in the living room because they were going up for addoption and she became obsessed with them and the cage. It was the first time she had refused to leave an animal and we had to move them to the garage, I could not even put them in the yard she was totally convinced something was wrong and would lay by the cage with her nose smushed up against the wire and whine. Either she thought they should still be in the other cage with the mother or she knew we were going to be getting rid of them.

 

[GoodEgg]

German Shepherds are so great!

(I am looking for a dog right now and I SO wish I could afford a GS puppy!)

Poly is beautiful, and I love Ruth's stories and pics of her dog too!

I used to have a young male who was probably about 6 months old when I brought home a pet cockatiel. I was "indisposed" but I could see the dog ... he was on "sit" in the hallway. That bird decided to be friendly right after we brought it home, and he flew over and landed right in front of Kai. I was a little worried, but Kai looked interestedly at him but didn't move. Then that silly bird stepped over to Kai's front paw and began preening and pulling on the hairs of his toes!

I could just see little cartoon beads of sweat popping out on Kai's forehead. He looked a little worried, looked down at the bird, looked at me. I said "stay" and he stayed. No problem.

That was his first meeting with a small bird, and he was still a puppy.

He grew up into the best dog I ever had ... a friend to small and large birds (until he "marked" the cockatoo's cage one day and she never forgave him for it).

I still miss him, and he died over 11 years ago of old age.

trish

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Hi Trish - try the German Shepherd rescue group in your area. There's a group in almost every area. They have great adults, juveniles, and puppies. A lot of people get a GSD (or other large dog) and then don't realize the energy they have and that they aren't meant to be locked up in a kennel or left alone in the house all day. They really do need a job.

The rescue groups charge a nominal fee, usually $75, for a neutered, shots, registerd GSD.

I'm looking at adopting another male right now, named, Duke, who was a trained/working search and rescue dog who has already been retired at 5 years old. We are about to buy a farm and add lots of animals and I need another great guard dog.

For anyone looking for a dog - please try your local shelters and rescue groups first. They have so many, including many, many registered large breed dogs. There's a rescue group for just about any type of dog you can imagine. I was just recently involved in getting a rescue group to take a starved black and tan coonhound and her baby that were found by someone.

 

[Mountain Man Jim]

My two cents ...

Having a dog from breed know for guarding will get you off to a good start. A lot will depend on the individual dog’s temperament. To guard our delicate livestock the dog needs to gentle with the birds and needs to have a desire to protect them. I can definitely see a German Shepherd or other guard dog or Livestock Guardian Dog (www.LGD.org) working out well. Any dog will need training to accept the birds and to accept the job of guarding the chicken yard. Qualities you will need are:

Guarding breed (www.dogbreedinfo.com)
Independence (test the dog for this?)
Weather proof (for your area)
Limited predator instinct; good with small animals and kids (a shelter cat aggression test may be a good indicator)

My current defenses consist of a fenced in area and dogs to guard the area. I have four dogs. Three of the dogs are from hunting breeds. I find them mostly useless for guarding the property, except for joggers. I am well protected from those chicken stealing joggers. These three are more focus on their people and usually hang around the house.

The fourth dog is a Great Pyrenees. She is excellent. She has a completely different attitude than the Labs. Often I find her just sitting on a high part of the yard, looking over everything and occasionally barking. I think this thundering barking to mark the territory is useful and important in deterring predators. Pyrs are also very self-sufficient and weather proof, so she doesn’t sit at the front door whining to get in. She is happy to sit on a snow mound and chew on a stick (or ice as the case may be. She’s one hot doggy).

One issue with the Pyrs is that they mature slowly, so puppies take a while to train. But, by two years they begin to mellow and with the right training are happy to not chase the birds. So, you might consider a Pyr that’s 1.5 years old.

Fencing is also critical for a Pyr. They tend to roam. Five foot high fencing may be necessary. Barking is another issue with Pyrs, but also probably an issue any other guard dog.

Lastly, I would suggest finding a good shelter or rescue group to work with. There are lots of good dogs that need good homes. I believe there is benefit from being able to see how the adolescent or adult dog behaves. When you buy a puppy, it’s hard to judge how they act latter in life, unless you can see the parents. Rescue groups will often have lots of great info on the difficulties of living with a particular breed, so check them out. Their list of requirements will give you a good idea of the issues.

Jim

 

[GoodEgg]

Quote:
Thanks Ruth,

Actually, I had already checked into it. I'm glad you mentioned it though, because I looked again. I did contact another group, in case they have some dogs near me.

The one that is closest is central Alabama, almost a couple of hundred miles from me, and their adoption fees start at $300. I hate to say it, but honestly, I can buy a healthy puppy for that much (by the time I add the expenses to get approved by them and drive up there, maybe more than once, to see and pick up a dog). I'm all for rescues, I think they are a great idea, but the animals CAN be extra work/expense over a pet that hasn't had those problems, and it seems a shame to me that the cost is so prohibitive when someone would love to give a good home and the extra care needed to an animal in need.

I guess I'm still in "sticker shock" over dogs. People are selling full-grown mixed breeds for over $100, often. Some years back that would have been unheard of. But then again, I can understand that "free to a good home" can be too risky that there WON'T be a good home involved.

And my dd is disappointed ... a friend had offered us a free Australian Shepherd from her puppies, and then didn't follow through. I just wish my dd didn't know about that. She's been through too many disappointments and problems this past couple of years with all that's going on with us. I guess that's what I hate most.

Maybe the other rescue group will write me back, or maybe we'll get lucky at a shelter. We have been checking the shelter for a few months, and the paper every week. I guess when the right dog is out there, we will find him.

Thanks,
trish

 

[kstaven]

$300.00 may sound expensive until you check out a shepherd from top schutzhund and SAR lines. Then you are into $1600.00 for a good dog. The difference shows in temperment and physical structuring. Hip dysplasia is far to common in the breed and few kennels can show clear of this for multiple generations. Be sure and ask your breeder for verification of this and few can come up with proof.

Over angulated rear legs are obvious in almost 98% of the breed. It may not effect them when young but it will as they age.

I agree with trying the shelters first. Often the best dogs end up there because people have no idea what characteristics a GOOD service dog has and have no knowledge of how to work with it.

Just wanted to add. Try petfinder.com Lots of shelter dogs listed from all over the country.

 

[snugglepup]

$300 is nothing for a quality purebred dog. Even pet quality, with health certs. You can probably get one from the back of somebody's truck for that much. If you want a pup from parents with certified hips, elbows, eyes, etc.. expect to spend $800-1000. Show, performance, or working quality will likely be more. Of course, you can also spend $2,500 for a mixed breed with unknown health history, but a cute name.

Also, GSDs may not always be the best choice for guarding chickens. We had 2 GSD rescue girls with us for almost a year, they were both HORRIBLE chicken killers. Not bad dogs, just very high prey drive. *sigh*