Best Breed Of Dog?

animalcrazy

What is the best breed of dog to have around a farm and around chickens and rabbits? I know it all comes down to how the dog is brought up but some breeds have the instinct to kill more then other breeds, We are thinking about getting a pup, it probably won't be until the summer so I'll have all my time for bringing the pup everywhere and socialising it and getting it used to all my animals (chickens, ducks, rabbits and cats) and bringing it around my friends farm (cattle and donkeys).

We are open to consider any breed of dog but are leaning more towards a small, house dog a bichon frise, king charles, yorkie etc.

What breeds of dogs, of any size, would be good for out situation?

Beibhinn20

would you like a dog that could help herd chickens ? definitely not a terrier anyway they might take to eating the chickens... but would you consider the bigger breeds of dog? Basically do you want a companion dog or a helper dog?:P

animalcrazy

Not a working dog, just a companion dog that can be trusted around my other animals.

00112984

We have an Old English Sheepdog at my parents' farm and she's great. Every day, she comes into contact with ducks, horses and cattle and we've never had a problem. She's not a working dog and does has a tendency to herd the ducks but it's nothing we've ever worked on with her.

Obviously, an OES isn't a lapdog.

olaola

Hmmmm! I can recommend a few larger breeds, but no small ones really come to mind! What keeing an eye out for a small collie?

Beibhinn20

yeah,a sheltie could be the best of both worlds...a small enough dog with a herding instinct... they are so lovable.. Shetland Sheepdogs or if you want to go big, Bernese Mountain Dog or an Old English Sheepdog (as was mentioned). At least if they herd, they won't hurt...

peasant

Beibhinn20 wrote: »

At least if they herd, they won't hurt...

Herding is nothing else but interrupted hunting ...and if there is no one there to do the interrupting, it has been known to go wrong

Beibhinn20

eh i guess but i know a few very well socialised herders that just adapted early and i don't know any dogs like them to be so safe around smaller animals. Well socialised and monitored is well behaved

anniehoo

animalcrazy wrote: »

leaning more towards a small, house dog a bichon frise, king charles, yorkie etc.

Do you want a breed specifically? Im a mongrel advocate tbh, although it can be difficult to ascertain their size and coat length until older

Id be confident in saying if you get a pup at a young enough age and socialise it constantly with your other farm animals, most dogs (bar long haired..too much grooming) would be ok when fully grown. If you want a lap dog go for the cavalier or the bichon but theyre not the best in hardier outdoor conditions.

Training is the key. If you teach your pup that other animals arent a mystery or threat you'll be ok!

animalcrazy

We are big believers in rescuing dogs, our current 14 year old mutt is a very gentle girl and is great with other animals, she lived in town with us until we moved out the country and never was a problem, adapted really well and when we got the rabbits and poultry she was grand with no training, we were just very lucky.

We also had another mixed breed and that went terribly wrong, being the idiots we are and not having a clue about Pound, it's only now we regret that terribly.

We want a pup this time so we can bring it up around the animals and we want to know the breed too, we have never had a purebred before. I know my dad wants a bichon frise :rolleyes: but I don't think he'd be happy washing it after it comes home covered in chicken poop.

looserock

Olde English Mastiff, certainly not a lap dog but a great companion dog with little or no instinct to kill, yet the have a strong instinct to protect its family.

Please don't confuse "Olde English Mastiff" with The "Bull Mastiff" If you're doing research on the breeds.

dlambirl

our dog - a collie - is around loadsa different types of animals every day and there has never been an incident. The only thing he doesnt like is the post man!!

smelltheglove

Well our yorkie is the most perfect little companion dog I have ever come across. BUT not good with other animals, she was barking like mad when the kids were watching Ice age, we have a 50 inch and she was running behind it like she was going to find the animals behind it:pac::pac::pac: hilarious, but you never know if you got a pup and socialised it with animals from a young age you may be ok.

Morganna

dont get a terrier unless you want your stock killed..A cavalier is a nice breed

animalcrazy

Anyone else have any recommendations?

getz

animalcrazy wrote: »

Anyone else have any recommendations?

i live on a bird sanctuary and i have a english bulldog he is a gentle boy and never bothers any of the wild life ,in fact the ducks even walk up to him ,he is the same with other animals ,cows,horses,sheep ect;the breed are very laid back [i have had other bulldogs before and they have been the same] in fact i am over in ireland on holiday with him in feb and we are staying on a working farm in wicklow-

mossie110

look you'll get 10 people saying this breed and 20 people saying this breed, or people saying don't get this get that, no matter what dog you get he or she can be trained, so what im trying to say is it doesn't matter what dog you get. but the only advice i would give you is what ever dog you decide on younger the better so it grows up with the chickens,
my sister-in-law has a yorkie and she has chicken with chicks the yorkie has no interest in the at all. best of luck
mossie

Cpt Tremendous

I have always had labradors, had a doberman when I was younger and he was very friendly, dont think he would suit other animals though, but I would go with a labrador, very loyal and sociable