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Livestock Friendly Dog for Novice Dog Owner?

Around The Farm
#41

I have a BC and a GSD… neither would be my suggestion for a first-time dog owner. Really, you can have problems with any breed, but I’d maybe try to at least avoid the ones that naturally want to herd things. We have chickens, goats, cats, horses, and children and both my dogs are good around them, but I put in a ton of work from the time they were 10 weeks old to make that happen.

I agree with the suggestion of looking at rescues for a young adult dog…you might even find some that have foster homes with livestock and the other animals so you can see how they do around other animals first!

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#42

Of course, a corgi will need training. Any dog will… But if you like the herding dogs, I think they are quite a wonderful breed to have around. My family has owned corgis for over 40 years and we have never been disappointed in one. We have always had a pet quality corgis, not show quality dogs. Partly because of the expense and, since we’ve never show them, it did not seem necessary. However, I have found that finding a farm bred and raised e corgi puppy is a real advantage.

1 Like
#43

If you’re looking for something in the herding group as a first time dog owner, I think a corgi or a sheltie are reasonable options. That being said, if you don’t want to HERD and you don’t need to actually GUARD livestock-- then you really don’t need a specific breed. So I think looking for a “friendly with a loud bark and respect for other animals” type is a very reasonable thing to go looking for without liming yourself to breed.

The really high drive herding breed dogs (border collie, ACD, etc.) are going to be way too difficult, high energy for a first time dog owner. True livestock guardian dogs have an important purpose but those breeds are exceptionally strong willed, tough, and independent. That’s the opposite of what a first time dog owner wants. A first time dog owner wants trainable, tractable, probably medium-ish size, not a breed with lots of bad defects bred in (boy I love GSDs but good luck these days finding one that doesn’t have loads of problems :(:(), and probably mediumish level intelligence. A lot of crossbred types fit that mold.

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#44

You might look into collies- the “Lassie” type. They come in long “rough” coats (the Lassie type) or short “smooth” coats. They will alert to predators and keep close but are not nearly as intense as Border Collies or even Aussies. They were bred for a long time to be nanny dogs, keeping close to the farmer- helping with the chickens and ducks. They don’t have great big outruns in them nor do they tend to be very pushy. They are great companion animals and very easy first dogs.

3 Likes
#45

I will preface my response by noting that I currently have 9 of my own dogs and a foster dog. I live on 10 acres. I have 5 horses. 16 goats. 70+ chickens, 2 of my cats, a cat with 7 kittens as fosters and a donkey.

I would vote for the previous poster that recommended a “yard dog”. We have previously had a few herding breed dogs (australian shepherds, border collies and heelers as well as mixes of these breeds) and I think they are difficult to have with livestock unless they come trained or you get them trained. They are SO smart and that intelligence needs to be focused correctly, or you end up with a dog that chases your horses and drives you mad.
The easiest dogs we have had have been mutts and American Foxhounds. The hounds have been the BEST dogs I’ve ever owned. If you live near an active hunt that retires hounds to private homes, I can’t recommend this breed enough. They bark when people drive up to our house, then when they get the all clear they find their beds and go to sleep. They have been easy to potty train. Are good with kids. Couldn’t care less about cats and other small critters. I’ve had four hound retirees and this has been true of all of them.
The most protective dog I’ve had is a Shepherd mix that I got as a foster dog and ended up keeping. She is from the shelter and I feel confident she would definitely bite someone if she thought I felt threatened.
You might get in touch with a local rescue group as they will often let you take a dog for a “sleepover” to see if it is a good fit. It is so important that the dog fits you so you don’t end up driving each other crazy.

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#46

I really enjoy learning about dog breeds that I have never heard of.

How did you find these breeds? I’m also curious how you were able to find breeders with puppies. I can imagine you paid quite a bit for such unique and beautiful dogs.

Thank you for sharing.

#47

I’m going to recommend you getting a Bernese Mountain Dog. They seems to have all the qualities that you are looking for, without the roaming, barking, biting tendencies. Good luck on your new adventure, how exciting it must be for you:)

#48

I don’t know where the OP lives. BMDs are suddenly very trendy. The ones I know are miserable, MISERABLE in the climate here (mid-Atlantic), require a fair amount of upkeep for their coats, are not at all guard dogs, really need to be indoors in the A/C except in the winter, and live for a very very short time. I would not suggest them as the sort of low maintenance “yard dog” the OP is looking for. These are dogs that require upkeep and weren’t made for climates with warmer seasons. They’re sweet as the day is long… but the short lifespan and the vet issues :frowning:

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#49

I’m in the PNW; Bernese are fairly popular here, as the weather isn’t extreme. The ones I’ve known have all been sweet teddy bears :slight_smile: I am leery of the coat maintenance, though, and they seem more like happy in the house with you types. I have considered looking into them more, if I ultimately end up deciding a companion-centered dog is the best choice. They are so very lovable.

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#50

Thank you!! Have started packing, set to get the keys in a week, still a little surreal !

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#51

I love my Lab - wonderful companion, big enough with a ferocious sounding bark to alert and deter. Super easy to train.

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#52

You say you live alone - so I see why you need a dog, but all these animals will have you working from dawn to dusk if you count maintaining your property…why not just start small? Take it slowly?

#53

I still don’t really get what you’re looking for. Aside from LGDs, all dogs are “companion-centered.” Even this concept people are describing of “yard dogs” is really a “dog.” They all need training, supervision, and your attention. If you’re not looking to provide that, please don’t get one.

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#54

No kidding. Which is why I’m trying to make an informed decision. But thanks for jumping to conclusions about my ability to properly care for my animals.

#55

Thanks Foxtrot’s - I think I mentioned in another post somewhere in the thread that I’m trying to plan ahead, based on what eventually I would like my little place to be. It’s a lot of pieces to put together, and I want to ensure all critters are safe and happy.

As an aside, I met the seller (husband) and their dogs yesterday. Two labs / lab mixes, and the loviest little Chihuahua mix I ever met. Seller said they had goats in the small pasture, and never had issues with predators, but he thought the dogs were partly why. He said a mountain lion had been seen in the neighborhood, but not gone after the animals. There have also been elk, a bear, and of course coyotes.

#56

Best of luck on this adventure…I admire your initiative and effort yo plan for the future…and I hope you get a Corgi!

#57

Thank you!

#58

Corgis are great dogs and I have three. If you’re going to go that route, buy at least two. One,by itself, won’t be able to fend off a coyote or a raccoon. Happy, fun-loving dogs, smart and a joy to be around. They do have opinions on everything, however.

Maybe think about an Australian Cattle Dog (Queensland Blue Heeler). I’d probably go with a female if this is your first dog. The males are a little more hard headed. Extremely loyal to their person, territorial and quick to train. They don’t bark a lot and I would recommend a young one so you can train it yourself. They are wicked smart, but opinionated. Like all herding breeds, they do shed. But if they aren’t confined to the house all the time, it cuts down on the shedding quite a bit. Get one from a good breeder whose dogs have been around livestock. Don’t buy from a show home.

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#59

I’m not saying you’re not able to care properly for animals - I’m saying your description of what you’re looking for is unclear and/or naive. You’re the one who used the term “a companion-centered dog.”

The recommendations people are making - GSD, Cattle Dog, Border Collie - are, in my opinion, inappropriate for a first time dog owner that doesn’t necessarily want a dog that needs to be with them all the time. The concept of “yard dog” is unnerving. A dog is a dog - and these breeds will herd your livestock and bite the mailman without proper training.

My recommendation for someone in your situation is not to have a dog at all. Or, to get something either small, or known for being easy/friendly. Because it’s your first dog. Most dogs will bark at strangers and it makes them a deterrent even if they are not scary looking.

Off the top of my head I can think of 2 or 3 people who got herding dogs, not always even as a first dog, and returned them/rehomed them because they were too much dog.

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#60

How about an English Shepherd, also know as “farm dogs”? They are companion, protective, herding and 50 lb. lap dogs.

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