Good small dogs for protecting flock

[The chicken wizard]

as i try to warn other chicken keepers, AVOID MUTTS. they will either spread sickness to your flock, eat the eggs the chickens lay or kill your flock when you're not looking. for protection, buy some large goose eggs and let the hens raise them;the geese will grow up to protect the flock. you can also try devices to protect them.

 

[centrarchid]

The OP did not answer my relevant questions.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

as i try to warn other chicken keepers, AVOID MUTTS. they will either spread sickness to your flock, eat the eggs the chickens lay or kill your flock when you're not looking. for protection, buy some large goose eggs and let the hens raise them;the geese will grow up to protect the flock. you can also try devices to protect them.

Hmm. An interesting opinion, this, about mutts... what diseases, exactly, are mixed-breeds dogs known to carry to which chickens are susceptible? Do mutts carry diseases that purebred dogs do not? I did not know chickens could get dog diseases?

As for geese ... I know from personal experience that the geese at parks and golf courses are indeed very protective of their nests, and will do their best to keep foxes, skunks, raccoons dogs, small children and even YOU away from the hens' nests if they share a common area! I would not much like to tangle with a goose!

 

[duluthralphie]

Hmm. An interesting opinion, this, about mutts... what diseases, exactly, are mixed-breeds dogs known to carry to which chickens are susceptible? Do mutts carry diseases that purebred dogs do not? I did not know chickens could get dog diseases?

As for geese ... I know from personal experience that the geese at parks and golf courses are indeed very protective of their nests, and will do their best to keep foxes, skunks, raccoons dogs, small children and even YOU away from the hens' nests if they share a common area! I would not much like to tangle with a goose!

I do not much care for geese. I would rather raise Tasmanian she devils.

 

[Ribh]

I do not much care for geese. I would rather raise Tasmanian she devils.

Have you ever met a Tasmanian Devil? I'll take the geese.

 

[duluthralphie]

Have you ever met a Tasmanian Devil? I'll take the geese.

Have you ever owned a goose?.. I’ll take the devil.

 

[Ribh]

Have you ever owned a goose?.. I’ll take the devil.

Not owned...but I have known geese.

 

[duluthralphie]

I owned geese.. I am vastly more intelligent now, I shall never make that mistake again.

 

[Ribh]

I owned geese.. I am vastly more intelligent now, I shall never make that mistake again.

You remind me of Jess in The Friendly Persuasion:
"Jess", said Eliza flatly. "thee don't like geese."
"Well", said Jess,"I wouldn't go so far's to say I didn't like them, but I will say if there's a meaner, dirtier animal, or one that glories in it more, I don't know it."

 

[hippiestink]

I want to point out that even herding breeds like Shelties and Collies are not immune to bird killing. My dogs have been trained since around two years old to "leave it" and not hurt birds. They're very alert guard/herd dogs for my flock to this day, won't touch a bird and if they forget I remind them to "leave it" and they obey.

My in-laws have the same breed (even from the same breeder) and they have straight-up slaughtered any birds that came over the fence from the neighbors' yards. My husband has lost count of how often he'd come home while he was living with his parents to find their dogs with blood all over their muzzles and chests and feathers coating the yard. Wild birds, chickens, even geese aren't safe.

My point is, any herding or guard breed will need firm training and a strong knowledge of the "leave it" command. "Leave it" is the most useful command for any intended herding or guard dog to know, because it's the foundation for later commands involving herding and guarding. I would argue any dog can benefit from the "leave it" command and I count it as a necessity alongside "sit", "stay", "heel"/"come", etc. especially if you own birds or other small animals. Any dog's instinct is to eat anything it can catch, but herders and guarders have this bred to a point where they can ignore it. However they need to be trained to remember that this instinct isn't desirable and will not be tolerated towards your livestock. Don't just assume that if it's a herder/guarder breed you can slack off and avoid any training!