What kind of dogs do you have to protect your flocks?

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello there!

Looking into possibly adding another dog to our family to help keep chickens and also sheep safe. (My 8lb. chiweenie just isn't enough to deter the foxes, especially because she'd rather curl up on the couch then be outside.) Those of you who have dogs that help protect your birds, what kind do you have? I'd like to adopt a dog instead of reaching out to breeder if possible. Should I look for a certain breed or temperament? Did you have to train your dogs to protect your flock? Any info you can share would be most appreciated! Thank you!

 

[ILoveDaffy]

My dog tried to eat our biggest hen when we tried to see if they would be friends.

 

[centrarchid]

I am currently using two English Shepherds and a German Pointer. Pointer nearing retirement age but is my main killer when predator can be subdued. The shepherds were just laying on road near house while a flock of about 30 juvenile American Dominiques foraged both sides of road. Dogs got off road when chickens all came back onto property. The dogs sleep most of day while most active at night. Most of my chickens sleep in pens, although a half dozen or so sleep in trees.

Two additional English Shepherds (pups pushing a year) are confined to barn. They can not be trusted with chickens yet, but they already protect the layer flock housed in the barn. Over next year I will be working to get them like the adult dogs.

I have worked with several dog breeds starting most off as pups. Only last few dogs were acquired specifically guarding poultry. Breeds include Black and Tan Coonhound, Dalmation, Yellow Lab, Beagle (rabbit dog), Border Collie and present dogs. Most have been the coonhounds. The hounds were hunting dogs with strong prey drive as are the German Pointers. The prey drive proved to be an asset as those would look for trouble and dive right into fight. The English Shepherds hold line staying back with flock barking more where I can hear them. The dogs were trained be me and they trained me back. All of my best dogs kill at least a chicken or two during train up. That is usually easy to correct.

Get advice from those that actually keep dogs with chickens successfully.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

I am currently using two English Shepherds and a German Pointer. Pointer nearing retirement age but is my main killer when predator can be subdued. The shepherds were just laying on road near house while a flock of about 30 juvenile American Dominiques foraged both sides of road. Dogs got off road when chickens all came back onto property. The dogs sleep most of day while most active at night. Most of my chickens sleep in pens, although a half dozen or so sleep in trees.

Two additional English Shepherds (pups pushing a year) are confined to barn. They can not be trusted with chickens yet, but they already protect the layer flock housed in the barn. Over next year I will be working to get them like the adult dogs.

I have worked with several dog breeds starting most off as pups. Only last few dogs were acquired specifically guarding poultry. Breeds include Black and Tan Coonhound, Dalmation, Yellow Lab, Beagle (rabbit dog), Border Collie and present dogs. Most have been the coonhounds. The hounds were hunting dogs with strong prey drive as are the German Pointers. The prey drive proved to be an asset as those would look for trouble and dive right into fight. The English Shepherds hold line staying back with flock barking more where I can hear them. The dogs were trained be me and they trained me back. All of my best dogs kill at least a chicken or two during train up. That is usually easy to correct.

Get advice from those that actually keep dogs with chickens successfully.

Do your dogs come into your house or do they stay outside most of the time or in the barn? Just curious about the layout of this and how I might make this setup ideal in our situation. Thanks!

 

[centrarchid]

House just above center of image. Barn about 100 yards to west of house. Orchard southwest of about 150 feet. Adult English Shepherds outside almost all the time except during storms with thunder and lightening. They spend most of their time in front of yard and orchard. At night they roam more and go to barn multiple times. They also go into woods south house when Coyotes come in to run them off. When chickens cross road to east dogs often go with them. Dogs watch for traffic coming from the north waiting on family to come home. Currently that just me.

We have a dog door at front house to upstairs. When dogs motivated they can open lever to back door, but the know they should not. They forget rules when it storms. I am getting ready to install a dog door in lowest panel of overhead garage door so do not longer coming in hardwood floor. Cold does not bother the shepherds much because of their heavy winter coats. They shed heavily and do better when groomed frequently during late spring. Area above represents about 10 acres that has less than 1/2 my land. Woods south of image.

I keep all life-stages of chickens with many if not most free-range. Currently I have a comparatively low number of 60 birds free-range and that will soon be reduced to 15 with some penned shortly after the reduction. During harshest part of winter all birds excepting some based in barn will be penned. I make use of hotwire the dogs are trained to go around or jump over. It takes work to train dogs, but for me worth it.