Which dog breed should we get for our small farm?

Question

We have a small "farm" with chickens, rabbits, and goats in Virginia. We also want to get maybe a pig and cow in the future....maybe. We have 3 kids (ages 6, 5, and 3) and our property is all fenced in. My husband doesn't want an indoor dog and we want to find a dog that will be comfortable outside year round in our barn (but still come in some in the winter possibly) that will guard our animals but love on our kids. One that we can also take hiking with us and be a part of our family too. I have been reading up on both working dogs and herding dogs. I don't want a herding dog that will stress out the chickens and nip at the kids when they are running around. I also don't want a dog that will bark constantly at night. So with all that being said.....Is there such a dog out there?

Answer 1

A livestock guardian would be happy outdoors alone, ignore the kids, and protect the livestock but it WOULD NOT be super keen on leaving it's stock to on hikes, etc with you. If you need protection for your stock, then a WORKING DOG (not a pet) is a good choice.



If you want a pet/all-purpose farm dog, a herding breed will be a stupid choice unless you are actually actively WORKING the farm and using the dog to do it for many hours every day.



The only dog that would possibly be OK shunned from the family and left alone outside like that would be a New World or European gundog - Labrador or Chesapeake, Vizsla, Weimaraner, etc. Even then, WHY exactly do you want a dog that will not be allowed in your home? With a hobby farm + I assume one has a fully-time job and one is full-time kid patrol can you actually spend 4, 8, 10, 16 hours a day outside with this HIGHLY SOCIAL animal?

Answer 2

Great Pyrenees.

They'll withstand the elements and be fine with the animals and children. They're livestock guardians. That being said they probably won't be the best for hiking with you and being a pet. A dog living outside and working is not a "pet". The dog will want to stay on the farm with the animals and would be restless and unhappy away from them. They have a job to protect the flocks and that's what they want to do. A dog working, like you want it to do, isn't something you can stop working when you want. It wants to protect and guard the animals. A dog used for this type of work, and worked, is not a pet in the sense of the word.

Answer 3

The only dogs that do really well being outdoor dogs like that are independent breeds like the livestock gaurdian types, such as the great pyr as others have said. But they are not dogs for novice/beginner dog owners. And they wouldn't do very good as a normal family pet out hiking usually. That's not to say you couldn't find one or a mix at a rescue that could fit your needs, but then again you'd have a hard time finding a rescue that would adopt so someone who will be keeping the dog outside.



I don't personally agree with dogs like labs/ golden retrievers being outdoor dogs. While they are supposed to be friendly and amiable, that also makes them want to be with their people. So unless you plan on spending hours outside with the dog, then I don't think that would work.

Answer 4

I recommend Labrador Retrievers. There is no perfect breed but you are looking for a fairly large(protect animals) family oriented(kids) outdoor dog. Labs are considered one of the most family friendly dog breeds out there. They are very high energy, especially as puppies, Goats and Chickens will be fine with a lab...they may chase them at first but will soon lose interest. My family raised all three together for years. Rabbits on the other hand should not be left loose with a dog...our labs caught wild rabbits quite often in the garden. Specifically I love Chocolate Labs

Answer 5

If you have experience with large dogs, maybe try a livestock guardian. Breeds such as the Great Pyrenees will guard your animals and will have no problem with living outside due to their independent nature. Just make sure your fence is secure since Pyrs tend to wander. And no dog is 100% safe with children, so make sure you supervise the dog and the children at all times. Training is a must with ALL breeds, but especially large powerful dogs such as the Pyrenees.

Answer 6

German shepherd or a rough collie [lassie type]......Bernese mountain dog is also another good choice, however, they don't have a long life span...approx. 8 years.

Why not check out the various Mountain dog breeds, they are hardy enough to sleep in a barn, devoted to family and protective of livestock and not hyper.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

it all depends on you and what you want the dog to do on the small farm.. Some kind of shepherd would probably be best though.. be sure to raise him with boundaries of what to do and what not to do as pups.

Answer 9

Lab, Golden Retriever or mix of these. Also Brittney or Springer Spaniel.

Answer 10

I would go with a golden retriever. I've never owned one myself, but I have friends and relatives who had. I have never seen a golden--male or female--show aggression toward another another animal.

Answer 11

A German Shepherd

Answer 12

Farm Dog Breeds

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American Foxhounds Farm Pet Livestock Profile American Foxhounds: The American Foxhound is an intense hunter often used in fox hunting. It also has talents for tracking and as a watchdog. More >>



Anatolian Shepherd Dogs Farm Pet Livestock Profile Anatolian Shepherd Dogs: The Anatolian Shepherd dog breed is very loyal, intelligent, alert and easy to train. This breed can work as flock guards, but in this role it should not be a family pet because it will begin to show preference for the family over the animals it is guarding. It also makes a good watchdog. . More >>



Australian Cattle Dogs Farm Pet Livestock Profile Australian Cattle Dogs: With Australian Cattle Dogs’ ardent desire to please and their extreme intelligence, they are obedient for cattle herding and other work around the farm. They are natural guardians and eager companions. More >>



Australian Kelpies Farm Pet Livestock Profile Australian Kelpies : The Australian Kelpie is an independent dog breed that is known to herd other animals when not out in the field herding with its master. It can be good with children if it’s raised and socialized with them from puppyhood. More >>



Australian Shepherds Farm Pet Livestock Profile Australian Shepherds: The Australian Shepherd dog breed is highly versatile, intelligent and easy to train to herd livestock. It likes activity and should be exercised and played with several times daily. Aussies make wonderful family dogs, as they are good with children and make excellent watchdogs. More >>



Basset Hounds Farm Pet Livestock Profile Basset Hounds: The Basset Hound dog breed is a good trail hound; once it catches an interesting scent, it can cover great distances in a short amount of time. It’s often used to work in packs or alone trailing deer, hare and rabbits. It also hunts fox, opossum and pheasant. More >>



Beagles Farm Pet Livestock Profile Beagles: The Beagle dog breed has high energy and great stamina, making it an excellent hunting dog for small game. It also possesses a happy and gentle personality, making it a suitable family pet. More >>



Bernese Mountain Dogs Farm Pet Livestock Profile Bernese Mountain Dogs: Bernese Mountain Dogs enjoy draft work such as cart pulling. They are intelligent and easy to train, making them good choices for dairy cattle drivers or watchdogs. More >>



Border Collies Farm Pet Livestock Profile Border Collies: The Border Collie dog breed is often considered the finest sheepherding dog in the world, bred strictly for working ability rather than appearance. It has strong herding instincts and can often work independently. It makes an excellent watchdog. More >>



Cardigan Welsh Corgis Farm Pet Livestock Profile Cardigan Welsh Corgis: The Cardigan Welsh Corgi dog breed is used on the farm in cattle herding. Its protective and devoted nature makes it a good family dog in addition to a farm guard dog. More >>



English Shepherds Farm Pet Livestock Profile English Shepherds: The English Shepherd dog breed has a calm steadiness, keen senses and is intelligent, making it an excellent breed for livestock herding. They are active, good with children and make good watchdogs. More >>



English Springer Spaniels Farm Pet Livestock Profile English Springer Spaniels: The English Springer Spaniel is an intelligent and highly energetic dog breed that enjoys hunting on land as well as traipsing through water and brush. More >>



German Shepherd Dogs Farm Pet Livestock Profile German Shepherd Dogs: The German Shepherd Dog breed’s versatility has led it to a farm career in herding livestock, in addition to its well-known positions with police forces and search-and-rescue teams. More >>



Giant Schnauzers Farm Pet Livestock Profile Giant Schnauzers: The Giant Schnauzer is a reliable, brave and loyal dog breed, allowing it to work well as a watchdog or herding dog. More >>



Golden Retrievers Farm Pet Livestock Profile Golden Retrievers: Because of the Golden Retriever dog breed’s intelligence and obedient personality, it does well on the farm as a bird dog, both in water and on land, and excels in hunting and tracking. More >>



Great Pyrenees Farm Pet Livestock Profile Great Pyrenees: The Great Pyrenees is courageous, loyal and affectionate with its owners. The breed is often used to guard livestock. More >>



Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs Farm Pet Livestock Profile Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is an obedient breed that takes well to training. It works well as a herding dog or flock companion. These dogs love children and are excellent watchdogs who will bark if they hear something out of the ordinary. More >>



Kangal Dogs Farm Pet Livestock Profile Kangal Dogs: The Kangal is a very active dog breed with protective instincts whose talents are most commonly used as a livestock guardian. More >>



Labrador Retrievers Farm Pet Livestock Profile Labrador Retrievers: The Labrador Retriever dog breed is used on the farm for hunting, tracking, retrieving, carting and as a watchdog. More >>



Newfoundlands Farm Pet Livestock Profile Newfoundlands: The Newfoundland makes an excellent guard dog or watchdog on the farm because of its an intelligence, courage and loyalty. They also love swimming, which makes them excellent in water retrieving, although they are not the easiest breed to train. More >>



Rottweilers Farm Pet Livestock Profile Rottweilers: The Rottweiler is easily trained, courageous and loyal, which allows it to excel at many farm tasks. Its farm talents include trailing, guarding, herding, cattle driving and watchdog duties. More >>



Weimaraners Farm Pet Livestock Profile Weimaraners: The Weimaraner is an intelligent and affectionate dog breed, which makes it easy to train with firm guidance. Its high stamina and hunting instincts make it a great companion for bird or small-game hunting, although its good-natured personality makes it well-suited for family life.