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Breeds of your farm dogs.

12K views 43 replies 31 participants last post by  mct97 
#1 ·
I am considering an anatolian shepherd, a livestock guardian dog, to patrol the perimeter of my lot and protect my horses..(mostly from 2 legged predators)I do not live on the property and have heard about horses being stolen or let loose or whatever.

Anyone have an anatolian or pyrenees?

Tell me about your farm dogs..pics too
 
#2 ·
My friends used to breed pyrenees dogs and they were the biggest sweethearts if the knew you if not you best watch out especially their big male. One problem is they havr such thick fur that if you are in a warmer climate they can easily be hit with heatstroke, this was not a problem with my friends as they had a large pond the dogs would go soak in if they got too hot. They were great guard dogs though they covered over 200 goats 100 head of sheep a few llamas and horses as well.
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#4 ·
we have a pyrenees mastiff (male), who is huge, but very friendly and not the kind who enjoys being on his own. we also shave a spanish mastiff *****, who is more alert and reserved, but not very quick moving. I've heard anatolian can be difficult to manage. in the past we had some pastori maremmani abruzzesi (which is an ancient breed of shepherd dogs in italy) and they were great guard dogs, very intelligent and independent, very strong, and beautiful as well. but some of them (the son, in our case) can be real devils. if you get the right personality though, I think they are fantastic.
 
#5 ·
We have an English mastiff named Daisy. :). Shes small for her breed, aboutM 140 lbs. great with the chickens, cats, kids, and horses. But she is very loud and scrary looking to anyone that comes on the property, she is protective of her family but if you tell her to leave someone alone, like the mail lady, she instantly listens. She alsO stays within the property boundaries when the gate is open. No pics right now, I can post late though :)
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#6 ·
We have an 8 week old Australian Shepherd named Roscoe.

He's terrified of the horses right now, but that's not necessarily a bad thing at his age because I don't have to worry about him getting kicked or stomped.
 

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#9 ·
for family, be very careful with the dogs. some are no good at all with children. very often maremmani are not. our last 2 are just fine and I may also suggest a breed called land seer, sort of smaller, less hairy, vivacious newfoundlands.
I have a friend who is a breeder, and they are great.
 
#10 ·
Landseer is a colour, its still a newfoundland. Same size/coat. Not a guard dog.

We have 3 german shepherds as our yard guards. They do a wonderful job, people are always intimidated by them, and they are fantastic with the livestock. Friendly when they are told people are ok.
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#12 ·
Landseer is a colour, its still a newfoundland. Same size/coat. Not a guard dog.

We have 3 german shepherds as our yard guards. They do a wonderful job, people are always intimidated by them, and they are fantastic with the livestock. Friendly when they are told people are ok.
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A GSD may not be the best option, since the OP doesn't live on the property where the dog will be staying. GSDs really love their people and mentally do better with lots of interaction from their human handlers. I know my 3 do!

A Great Pyrenees has my vote. When raised with any type of stock, they take their pleasure in being with their "family". If you had 2, very large GP roaming the fields with your horses, then I think they'd be pretty safe from both 2 and 4 legged predators, but dog's are just a deterant. Someone very motivated in stealing your horses will simply shoot the dogs. Other precautions should be taken to ward off people, such as posted signs that the property is monitored by a security camera, a game camera hidden in the woods, pointed toward the front gate, chains on all the gates and even electrified fences. My father was having a problem with people coming on to his hunting property and doing drugs. Being a family who lives paycheck to paycheck, we really couldn't afford the real thing, but my father built a small grey box and put a lens in it and bolted it high in a tree, but still in eyesight and it looked just like a video camera. The druggies stopped hanging around immediately!! Just something to think about.
 
#11 ·
I have an Australian Sheppard/Border Collie mix and he is the BEST! He is very protective of our horses, to the point that if he hears any noise from them or near them he is right there! He is also protective when we are gone from home. But if we are there he is never agressive and he always loves kids.
 
#13 ·
Mine is a Chesapeake male. Stubborn dogs. Best guard dog I've ever owned. Two legged or 4 legged should fear him. Once his brain locks on, there's no stopping him. He will accept another animal only if I take the time to introduce him to it, otherwise he puts the run on it. With his retrieving abilities I can tell him fetch, point him in the right direction and he'll figure it out and bring it back.
 
#15 ·
landseer

sorry to be punctilious, but landseer in europe is indeed a breed and NOT simply a color of newfoundlander. you can look up Landseer Newfoundland Information and Pictures, Landseers, Landseer Newfoundlands
they are definitely not dangerous, but intimidating and my friend who breeds them must be careful with the male, as he is very protective of his people and property.
I guess there are plenty of dogs to choose from. if I may suggest something, do not go for the very ferocious strictly guard dogs. they are quite a handful, especially if you have children. and even with other people you need to be very well insured; we spent a fortune with our mean maremmano!
sometime a slower, more reflective dog, with a big size is enough to keep away undesirable strangers.
best luck with your choice!
 
#18 ·
We have the fairly common 'mutt from the shelter' breed ;-) She's become very good at recognizing the difference in sound between the mail/UPS trucks and strangers that happen to wander up our private road.
 
#20 ·
I have a pitbull. While she stays in the house with me at night, she's outside during the day.The barn is behind the house and to get to it you have to go past the house and about 6 hound dogs that stay outside. My pit, while friendly and loving, adores the other animals and is protective of the barn, including the pigs and chickens, not just the horses. Many people don't mess with our property knowing there's a pitbull on it anyway.
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#21 ·
We have Malinois. They are great protection dogs, but I wouldn't recommend them. They need a lot of socialization.
Dog breed Dog Carnivore Woody plant Sporting Group

I don't think they would do well if left at the property unattended.
I would imagine herding breeds like collies would do fine since that is what they are bred for.
 
#22 ·
I have a Shih Tzu X Cocker Spaniel named Texass-Mickey, as well as an Australian Sheperd X German Sheperd named Boogaloo AKA Looie. Both are perfect in every way :D lol they are my perfect companions at the barn. Texass is very respectful of horses, as he learned to watch their feet the hard way. And my little Looie is 6 months old and a perfect angel. She respects the horses naturally and quietly prances around the yard, making sure every animal is behaving well.
Nothing better then having a good dog by your side.

My barn has an Australian Sheperd (the mother of my Looie) and she tells us when anything is wrong. Like if coyotes are around, an animal is sick or injured, and protects all the animals. She also keeps the horses from fighting and if they get out (the mini stallion ducks under fences and one of the geldings always jumps out) she will make sure they stay safe in the yard. She is a great farm dog, and my dogs have learned some of her good traits.
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#25 ·
cowboy bowhunter - "I have a black lab X golden retreiver. She is trained to not let horses off the property if they get out and not to let other animals on. And She wont let my neighbor on my property she is a very good dog."

SAME!!!! Our black lab X Golden retreiver is a very good dog and is almost too protective of horses!!! we have cyotes around our place and she's chased so many off I probably couldn't even count them...
 
#26 ·
You want an intelligent dog with a work ethic, and bigger is better. Herding breeds that also guard are the best choice. Watch out for purebreds bc the genetics are producing scads of dogs with genetic physical problems, and you want a healthy specimin.
My dog, "Xena" (1998-2008, RIP), a GS/Collie cross was a very good choice.
After owning a BC cross ("Rose," b. 2007, Husky/GSxBC) I like this, too. Rose is TOO brave for her average height but 60 lb frame. She runs a minimum of 2 miles/day--we know bc we put a pedometer on her--but it's mostly playtime with her friend, "Pygma", and scouting the property for rabbits. She barked for 45 minutes at the coyotes one night when she and I were sleeping in the tent by ourselves (and the horses) and there was a large company of coyotes in the park (at a CW event.) When we ride our north 3 acres, the dogs come along with us, and I like that, too.
Here are the dogs:
Xena, 1998-2008, RIP


Rose, 5yo Husky/GSxBC


Pygma, 4 1/2yo Lab/GSxPitbull (good watchdog, poor guarding dog, but GREAT Velcro dog)


Rose and Pyg "Wolfing"


Rose & Pyg Tandem Chicken work
 
#27 ·
My australian shepherd/st bernard mix is probably the best guard dog I have ever had. He is VERY protective of his property and anything that goes with the property, including people and other animals. He's not a great dog to have around horses, but that's because he hasn't really been around them (I took him to meet my old gelding once and he nipped my gelding's nose...funny thing was, my gelding nipped back lol). If he had been raised around horses, he'd be wonderful with them. He does love cows, though, and has a good herding instinct/high prey drive.

He's not huge (about 60lbs), but he's big enough to be intimidating. A couple of Jehovah's Witness missionaries tried to come through the gate at my old house when I wasn't home one day and learned that the big red and white dog with the wagging tail was NOT to be taken lightly. My mom was walking her little dog down the road by my house when it happened and saw the whole thing. She said they petted Cash over the fence (it was a little 4ft chainlink fence that he could have cleared without touching had he wanted to), then one of them grabbed the latch on the gate to lift it so they could go in. Cash went from friendly to Kujo in a split second and nearly caught the guy's hand. Funny thing is, if I'm there (unless he feels I'm threatened directly), he's a big lover with just about everybody.

First time he'd ever seen snow and he LOVED it

First time he'd ever seen a cow


He's not necessarily a "farm dog" right now, but whenever I get the chance to move and can have my own place where I can have Aires on my property and some other livestock, he will become one.
 
#28 ·
If you need a dog to protect property with no people there, you're going have a hard time. Mabe you should stick with breeds that are bred for just guarding. Dobermans come to mind. Have you thought of just getting an alarm system? It might be cheaper in the long run than a dog that may or may not stick around a place with no people.
I have a Rotwieller mix that a neighbor got to protect property with no people. She kept coming over here every time they left for the day. Finally they just told us to keep her. Even if they had chained her, what good would that do for protection?
She's a good watch dog but loves her people. I also have 3 Scottish terriers that are great watch dogs and rodent killers. They could care less if I was here so not big people dogs but I also wouldn't trust them around small children. I think an alarm system is your best bet.
 
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