Considered the fifth-smartest dog breed in the world, it is loyal in protecting its people and always alert. Homesteading And Livestock Finding A Multi-Purpose Farm Dog Learn about the best kinds of farm dog breeds. But sometimes, they can get a little too curious and eat something they are not supposed to. These dogs enjoy mental stimulation and have tons of personality, the AKC says. For example, if you expect your furry farmhand to help herd cattle or sheep, you better select a dog with speed and endurance. Socializationwill be essential to help expose this breed to different situations.. 3. Breed: Some dog breeds are naturally better suited for guarding . The breed is actually descended from ancient mastiffs and almost went extinct in the late 1800s. They are typically comfortable living outdoors (although they should still be provided with a dog house or shelter). Bred to protect flocks of sheep and goats in Italy, this little-known breed is seeing a rise in popularity. Dogs in this breed are intelligent and easy to train, but they still retain some independent thought, making them entertaining companion dogs. Gamekeepers initially developed the loyal and brave bullmastiff toprotect theirgame from poachers. Akbash An Akbash is obedient and alert, often known for guarding people and animals that they are familiar with. She is certified as a Fear Free doctor. Suppose you plan on keeping this dog in the backyard fence. Training is imperative to prevent the cane Corso from owning its family. Loyal and nimble, they also make excellent herders. Characteristics 1 Selected. They may also rank among the smartest or most loyalbreeds. 12 Best Livestock Guardian Dogs: Canines Who Keep Farm Animals Safe! Although loyal and brave, this pooch is a family dog at heart. This dog is loving and devoted toward children and other family members, but it might choose one individual as its adored person. Unfortunately, this stubborn streak makes them harder to train. LGDs have been used all around the world for centuries to fend off predators and protect various farm animals. A farm dog will typically help with herding, such as in the case of the Border Collie. In fact, they try to herd everything, including children. These dogs are still used today to guard livestock in the mountainous region between France and Spain, where they hail from. To make it even easier to learn about farm dog breeds, weve compiled answers to the most common question about these working pups. Coat and Color: Short double coat that comes in black with tan, rust, or mahogany coloring. Amy currently has 3 dogs and 5 cats. Do you have experience with any of these livestock guardian breeds? Independent and suspicious, these fur babies make great livestock guards. Some of these dogs are rather large, while others don't even weigh 50 pounds. Dobermans are in the same size class with Rotties and shepherds . While they're gentle with those they know, they're also excellent watchdogs. These breeds need proper training and. Dogs that were bred to work on farms thrive when they have a job to do. Sensitive and intelligent, you wont have to put much effort into training this dog. Just be sure to think carefully about the characteristics of each breed before making your choice. Otherwise, it might start to engage in problem behaviors, such as chewing. Some dogs were developed as livestock guardians. These dogs may be brawny, athletic and look intimidating, but theyre not actually aggressive. Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you, Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side, Browse the AKC Marketplace to find the right puppy for you, Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration, Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid, Active Shooter & Mass Attack Safety Resources. Some dogs have a natural instinct to protect their home and family and they make excellent Guard Dogs. The German shepherd is known for being a versatile and intelligent working dog. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. It is a natural learner and easy to train. They typically live for 10 to 12 years and weigh anywhere between 80 and 130 pounds. Physical Characteristics: Muscular and agile; medium-length straight to wavy coat that comes in blue merle, black, red merle, or red; sometimes has white markings. Ill admit that I was a little surprised that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi makes a great herding dog. Therefore, they should avoid climbing stairs as much as possible. Guard dogs have a protective instinct for their families, honed over hundreds of years, says Gina DiNardo, executive secretary at the American Kennel Club (AKC), and they will bite or otherwise defend against threats. They almost went extinct, so their gene pool is not diverse. Thanks! The Pyrenees are great big. Like the Welsh Corgi, these distant cousins are known as the Swedish Cow Dog.. With training, however, thebrindle dog breedmakes a great watchdog. This dog has a high energy level and thrives when it has a job to perform. These breeds tend to be intelligent, hardy, and athletic dogs that enjoy the great outdoors. Avoid dogs bred as a companion for humans. Most are not even hesitant towards strangers unless they sense danger. This way, your chickens are safe and sound at night, and your farm dog gets a break to rest and refresh. One cannot overstate the amount of energy and stamina that these canines have. A much-loved breed, the Border Collie is one of the most popular arm dogs in the world. If you are searching for the right dog to protect you, your family, or your property, some dogs are born with instincts to act as guard dogs. The best guard dog breeds display fearlessness and also look the part, with an intimidating size and appearance, perhaps even belonging to one of the giant dog breeds. If you have livestock that need to be driven over long distances, you won't find a more hardy or determined candidate for the job than the Australian cattle dog. If you raise goats, sheep, cattle, or even chickens, an LGD will protect them for you. 1. They shed quite a bit. Be sure to bookmark us. These immunokinetic studies can be used to correlate immune responses generated with protection after challenge with the relevant pathogen. This makes them great for working on a farm. The downside is that they can be overly aggressive with visitors and unknown dogs. Common Characteristics of Livestock Guardian Dogs, Things to Think About Before Getting a Livestock Guardian Dog, Copyright 2023 by K9 Of Mine / Marrsipan Media LLC |, specifically trained to not kill chickens. However, there's one country that's the first in the world 2023 TopDogTips.com. According to the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 200 million stray dogs worldwide. It is one of the best farm dogs for chickens. The Akita is a muscular, double-coated dog of ancient Japanese lineage famous for their dignity, An Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a rugged, imposing flock guardian of ancient lineage. Anatolian Shepherd Their name could be misleading as they aren't the best herding dogs around. With tons of energy, Dalmatians need a lot of exercise and diversion. This dog will require obedience training, or you can consider guard dog trainingto sharpen its skills. A classic choice because of his imposing stature and loud bark, this German dog breed is widely seen as one of the best guard dogs. Wed love to hear all about it in the comments below! Given their sizeup to 150 poundsand their loud bark, theyre likely to deter any would-be interlopers. Kate is a dog-loving content specialist with over a decade of canine-care experience. Giant schnauzers like constant attention, however, and have an extremely high need for both mental and physical stimulationthey can become destructive when those needs arent met. These farm dog breeds can defend both you and your livestock. Glad you liked the article, Tomas. They are friendly and loving and do well and households with children and other pets. Their endurance means they can keep up with whatever you have in mind. They can guard all different kinds of farm animals, from large cows to tiny chickens. Originating in the Caucasus Mountains, the breed was first used centuries ago to protect livestock and property, and to kill wolves and hunt bears. Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds That Do Best in the Heat. Typically, they bark only when theres a really good reason, says the Akita Rescue Society of America. The most low-maintenance dogs include greyhounds, Dachshunds, Shiba Inus, basset hounds, and French bulldogs. Yes! The Airedale terrier is the largest of all the terrier types, traditionally bred to work as versatile, all-around farm dogs. If you're searching for a family-friendly dog that makes an excellent livestock or farmyard guardian, even in cold climates, look no further than the Great Pyrenees. Like the other livestock guardian . The Tibetan mastiff, bred in the Himalayas to guard people as well as livestock, is one of the best guard dogs around. Its thick, water-resistant double coat comes in colors ranging from gray or white to yellow, red, and brindle, and may need daily brushing. Later, the dogs were used to guard prisoners in Soviet Gulag camps and patrol the border at the Berlin Wall. These are the 15 best farm dog breeds that enjoy life in the country. Unfortunately, while they are good with children, these farm dog breeds do not do well with other dogs. Having a livestock guardian breed can be a great way to protect your small farm or homestead. When theyre off duty, Doberman can be big-time goofballs. This bearded behemoth lives to protect its family and home, according to the AKC. The dog is extremely agile. The number of LGDs will vary greatly on the size of your farm, protection needs, and age of the dogs. An ancient breed, the Tibetan mastiff was used by nomadic tribes of Nepal and Mongolia to protect property and livestock. One of the smartest dogs in the world, they can learn a wide variety of tasks and tricks. The American Kennel Club, Inc. 2022. Smart, hardworking, highly trainable, loyal, and protective, they make good multipurpose farm dogs. In actuality, this dog is naturally affectionate towards its family, making it an excellent companion. Not just any dog is cut out for farm life. The king of terriers, the Airedale is friendly and exuberantsometimes seeming to have no off switch, according to VetStreet.com. But not content to just do the work. This list contains 20 of the best dogs for performing multiple tasks required of a farm dog. The low-slung Pembroke Welsh corgi is one of the smallest herding breeds. The canecorso (pronounced "KAH-nay KOR-so") is an Italian dog breed historically used as a guard dog, wardog, and hunter. They're known for being calm, affectionate, and devoted to their family, including children. For these reasons, it is one of the best guard dog breeds, though not for first-time dog owners. Breeds If you're considering introducing livestock to your farm, a working dog is an essential choice for herding and guarding your cattle, sheep, chickens and goats (just to name a few) from predators. Minimally, youll want to address and remove any mats present before they become problematic. Awesome dogs. K9ofMine.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. 3. Polish Tatra sheepdogs were initially developed to protect livestock of farmers living in the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland. The dog either has it or it doesn't have it, in which case it will fail. Burly and barrel-chested, the tousle-coated dog of Flandre, The Briard packs so much loyalty, love, and spirit into its ample frame that it's often described, Fearless at work, docile at home, the Bullmastiff is a large, muscular guarder who pursued and held. They reach similar sizes and ages as Anatolian shepherds. Nothing gets past these alert and curious canines. Corgis are smart, hardworking, and affectionate dogs. Not only do they make good protector dogs, but they also make great companions too. However, it is important to note that this breed is very sexually dimorphic, as males reach much larger sizes than their female counterparts. Historically a hunting dog for large game and lions, the Rhodesian ridgeback has an intense loyalty to its family, making it naturally inclined to protect. Rotties are usually hesitant toward strangers until the dog verifies the person poses no threat. Clear All. Some breeds that are better suited to a lap than a field include the Coton de Tulear, chihuahua, Maltese, Shih Tzu, and Bichon Frise. The Estrela is relatively calm in temperament, but definitely needs its space and daily walks. While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Obedience training can be started early with these playful, intelligent pups. This dog can become an excellent guard dog when adequately trained. The Tibetan mastiff, bred in the Himalayas to guard people as well as livestock, is one of the best guard dogs around. Dr. Monica Tarantino, DVM, is a small animal veterinarian and writer with five years of general practice, emergency medicine, and geriatric pet health experience. DVMetrics assumes no liability, and each user assumes full risk, responsibility, and liability, related to its use of the DVMetrics service and data. So they are not overly suspicious and territorial. They aren't as intense or energetic as some other herding breeds, which makes them a popular family pet. No one is getting past this giant, watchful, powerful, and intimidating dog. I just added the wrong photo. Anatolian Shepherds are large, robust dogs that can handle large livestock and are known for their excellent guarding and protective instincts. Boxers are also more prone to certain health conditions than other breeds, including mast cell tumors, ulcerative colitis, and heart disease, according to Petful.com. The breed usually weighs between 70 to 120 pounds and has an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. They bond strongly with their flock and will not hesitate to defend them from threats. Most doggos will scare away cats without problem, but they may not know how to react to snakes. This is why they also excel in dog sports. Like other guarding breeds, these four-legged family members can become aggressive and destructive if bored or left alone too much. Technical Service (Livestock): 800-211-3573. This coat protects these farm dog breeds from attacks and helps them weather many climate conditions. THANK YOU! Fax: 973-937-5557. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Your dog should have obedience training so you learn how to control your dog and strike the delicate balance between protecting and attacking.