Your dogs !?!

[Stumpy]

I've had several breeds of dogs, wouldn't want to be without one in my life. We have 7 currently because there are so many strays in this rural county. All I can say is get one from a pound or a rescue group, please! There are so many to choose from, millions being put down every year.

 

[PotterWatch]

Irish Wolfhounds and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I have two mini-dachshunds. One with a very, very high prey drive, and the other so docile, she actually thinks she's a chicken....especially when I toss out bread!
I don't plan to get any more dogs after these girls are gone. They're sisters and ten years old, BUT if I did get another, it would be a golden retriever hands down. If you train them well from the very beginning, you'll have an amazing dog.

 

[Godsgrl]

I have two dogs right now, Reno and Sweet Pea. Reno is a PBGV, he will be 10 in July. Here is a link to the breed PBGV.org I rescued him from a shelter at 8 weeks. Sweet Pea is a rat terrier/bird dog mix. We found her at the dump the weekend after Thanksgiving. She is still a puppy, under a year old.

My favorite breed is a border collie/aussie mix. That was my first dog, Hayley. She was so smart, and so intuitive with me. I had her for 12 years, until she passed away. I still miss her, and it's been 10 years now. One day I'll have that mix again, but right now, 2 dogs are enough for me!

 

[MagsC]

For large dogs, I like Akitas and Chows. Our big dog is half Chow.
For small dogs, I love dachshunds. We have three of them.

 

[pulletkeeper]

I have a pure Lab, pure Rat Terrier, pure Carolina Dog (Dingo), and a chow/shepherd/lab mix. All are high energy but the Lab listens the best because she has had the most training. I would not trust a one around my chickens and only trust my Lab around children. Just my experience...... The more training the better!

 

[CoyoteMagic]

As our buddy Buster says, "If it's not a Heeler, it's just a Dog"

As I tell people, You can have my husband, but you can't have my dog!!

 

[Beekissed]

I've only ever had Labs or Lab mixes around my children and chickens and have NEVER had an incident with either. All three of these dogs have been rescues, either from the pound or otherwise. Two were older and already trained to house and livestock somewhere along the line. The younger one I acquired as a pup and he took a total of approx. 20 min. training for everything he knows, which is plenty.

I trust them completely around my free range flock and never think twice about that issue. They are ever vigilant and see the flock as their responsibility.

For intelligence, good temperament, easy training and just all around great dogs, Labs have my vote. And they aren't what I consider very large dogs, sort of medium build.

 

[Break an Egg]

I have a lab mixed with something, her legs are really long. She is a very docile and sweet dog. Today one of our chickens pecked her right on the nose and she didn't do a thing. She watches the chickens while they free range. She is even sweet enough that my 3 yr old thinks she's half pillow, that girl is always laying on her dog.

 

[ChickenFanaticAB]

For a small dog, I suggest a rat terrier. They are fairly high energy in general (though ours never were) but ours never messed with our other pets...although there are probably people who have had different experiences. Also, I was raised with them, so ours were always good with kids, and as your youngest is 7, i think, I don't think you really need to worry about that, because at 7 kids know how to behave around dogs (or can be taught easily).

More medium sized dog, I love corgis. They seem to get along with everyone, although not as great with other animals...don't seem to be quite as high energy either.

For a large dog, a golden retriever is a classic family dog. They love to please their master, and while they can be a handful as puppies, they learn quickly and settle into awesome family dogs.

My min pin experience is limited to only one, but from her, I sense that they are slightly insecure and like to be around someone all the time. She is also a proved chicken killer, so I don't think they would be very good around chickens. She is sweet though, and this one is fine with new people and loves to cuddle.