dogs..

[Genny]

Hey, we have a lot of ducks, and we have 3 small dogs that stay in the house. We wanted to get a dog that would guard the ducks, but we aren't sure what kind to get.

What kind of dog would everyone suggest getting? We want one that can stay outside all the time, too. We have a huge fence that it could also run and play in.

Thanks,
Genny :)

[wolf_Q]

My personal opinion is that no dog should have to spend their entire life outside.

Every dog I've had wouldn't guard ducks, they'd prefer to chase them, so I have no advice on breed.

[BC_MoM]

My personal opinion is that no dog should have to spend their entire life outside.

I agree.

I'm not sure if there is any breed specifically bred to guard ducks, but I hope if you get one he/she's NOT outside all of the time......... It's the wrong reason to get a dog.

[MajesticCollies]

Maybe a great pyrenees. If introduced to the flock as a puppy with training.

We all have to remember here that even though we are all pet lovers, out in the country people do still use dogs as "the working dog" Many farms have them and most working dogs if trained to do a job are perfectly happy in that environment. I'm sure it would be loved and staying in a cozy barn also. I have seen many documentaries on the working dog and they just aren't breed to be pets all the time. Not trying to offend anyone but if you have a horse you love are you telling me it should be in your house? Goats make great pets, sheep make great pets, but they don't live in the house because they serve thier purpose outside. I grew up on a farm and our dogs lived thier entire lives outside working the farm with our sheep, chickens, horses, steers and rabbits. They were quite content due to not knowing any better and shared the families love just as well.
Now if you get a dog for a pet than it should be in the house as a family member for sure!!!

[Jessika]

Maybe a great pyrenees. If introduced to the flock as a puppy with training.

We all have to remember here that even though we are all pet lovers, out in the country people do still use dogs as "the working dog" Many farms have them and most working dogs if trained to do a job are perfectly happy in that environment. I'm sure it would be loved and staying in a cozy barn also. I have seen many documentaries on the working dog and they just aren't breed to be pets all the time. Not trying to offend anyone but if you have a horse you love are you telling me it should be in your house? Goats make great pets, sheep make great pets, but they don't live in the house because they serve thier purpose outside. I grew up on a farm and our dogs lived thier entire lives outside working the farm with our sheep, chickens, horses, steers and rabbits. They were quite content due to not knowing any better and shared the families love just as well.
Now if you get a dog for a pet than it should be in the house as a family member for sure!!!
Ah you said exactly what I was thinking. So long as the dog has some sort of house to protect it from the elements and keep it warm in the winter, and it is well taken care of and loved, then there is nothing wrong with having an outdoor dog.

I vote pyrenees also <3

[buttercup132]

Maybe a great pyrenees. If introduced to the flock as a puppy with training.

We all have to remember here that even though we are all pet lovers, out in the country people do still use dogs as "the working dog" Many farms have them and most working dogs if trained to do a job are perfectly happy in that environment. I'm sure it would be loved and staying in a cozy barn also. I have seen many documentaries on the working dog and they just aren't breed to be pets all the time. Not trying to offend anyone but if you have a horse you love are you telling me it should be in your house? Goats make great pets, sheep make great pets, but they don't live in the house because they serve thier purpose outside. I grew up on a farm and our dogs lived thier entire lives outside working the farm with our sheep, chickens, horses, steers and rabbits. They were quite content due to not knowing any better and shared the families love just as well.
Now if you get a dog for a pet than it should be in the house as a family member for sure!!!Exactly what I was going to say:) As long as the coat is kept free of mats and burs. I saw a show once where they got a Pyranese pup and started training it to become like the other gaurd Py they had for their sheep I thinki it was. And he did great! I highly recomend one. But please do your reaserch first;)

[buttercup132]

Ah you said exactly what I was thinking. So long as the dog has some sort of house to protect it from the elements and keep it warm in the winter, and it is well taken care of and loved, then there is nothing wrong with having an outdoor dog.

I vote pyrenees also <3Exactly and if its a farm dog then it will have human interaction from people working on the farm.

(sorry about double post)

[Genny]

Hey, thanks for understanding. If we got one, and it's neat that you all thought that a GP would be good, because that is what kind we thought about--but, if we did get one we have a child sized doll house, and 4 dog houses that we keep hay in all the time. It would have plenty of warmth in the winter, and also gets tons of love from all of us! We have 3 small dogs, and we really want a big dog, not only to guard the ducks, but to also be a family pet for everyone to love on.

We also have a goat, and like you said, Magesticcollies, there is no way we could keep the goat inside! LOL, he is definitely an outside pet. But, he gets plenty of love.

That is probably the breed we'll go with--a great pyrenees--I've read so much about them, and they are so beautiful....

MagesticCollies, do you or did you use to have a collie? I use to have one, and she was the most perfect dog ever! I carried her every where with me. I got her when I was 7 for my bday, and I had her until she was 10 years old. Just in 2005 she had a tumor on her stomach and it ruptured. She went to Heaven with her head in my hands. I miss her so much.

Talk to you all later, Genny

[MajesticCollies]

Genny

MagesticCollies, do you or did you use to have a collie?

Yes Genny we used the collie to bring in the sheep and steers back from the pasture. It made our job of penning them up for the night much easier.

Now I have the three permanent ones and are all for companionship and enjoy thier time lounging in my house. I no longer live on a farm. That was oh.....25 yrs ago. :rolleyes:

[gardengirl]

Tim, where did you get the adorable collie chorus line animation? Love it!

[VTJess03]

Mom and Dad have 2 Great Pyrenees to guard their critters (mostly sheep and goats). Cassie is primarily kept in the barn to guard the goats (she was, however, a chicken killer when they rescued her and they have had to work hard at getting her poultry-socialized...and sacrifice a lot of chickens before the birds caught on). Rufus roams the farm freely...he knows that the road is the boundary and can get in out of the weather when he wants to. One thing to keep in mind though is that they are very very big dogs at maturity. Also, these 2 are solely attached to my mom, dad, and brother, since they are the only ones that live there. I cannot get close to them myself, nor even go into the barn without it sounding like I will be torn to pieces, and the same goes for my sister. They are loving enough to the people they bond with, but everybody will have to be around the dog all the time to avoid cases of mistaken identity. If you ever have to go away and get someone else to feed the ducks, they may have a hard time. Cassie even guarded a baby goat from its own mother so that she couldn't lick it off when it was born. :rolleyes:

I vote for a goose, rather than a dog, myself, to guard the ducks, and a rescue dog for a pet...there are plenty of big dogs waiting for loving homes.

[Genny]

Thanks Jess, but I had a goose, and he flew away I really miss him. He went with some others the same kind he is. At least he is happy....

[cloverfdx]

What about a Maremma Sheepdog? (http://dogbreedinfo.com/maremmasheepdog.htm) . Great with livestock, but pretty independant ;).