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What is a farm without a dog? It’s like an unspoken rule that if you have a farm or homestead, a dog is needed to complete your home. But how do you find the right one? The glorious thing about dogs is they are wide open with hundreds of choices. There are a few things to consider, but it is truly simple to choose.
First are you looking for a companion, or a dog who will have a job working on the homestead with you? Dogs have been selected over time for different jobs or to fit niches. Jobs on the homestead that dogs can have include Livestock Guardian (LGD) and Herding. Working dogs can also make great companions too.
If you are looking for a dog to fit one of those jobs, you will want to select a breed in that category, FROM actively working parents. This is key, because a LGD raised around livestock with their parents have a head start on their training, as the parents will start training them as soon as they can move. Key breeds to consider here are Anatolian, Pyrenees, and mixes.
If you are looking for a herding partner, check out the herding breeds, and again make sure they are from ACTIVELY WORKING PARENTS. The instinct in puppies from working parents is stronger and therefore easier to train when they come from working parents. Again, they also watch and learn. Popular breeds are the Collie, Border Collie, Australian Shephard, and Red/Blue Heelers.
If you are simply looking for a companion on your farm, you really have no limits. Even a companion dog hanging around will still tend to keep predators at bay as they establish their territory around your home. They may not be strong or driven enough to take on a coyote head on though.
Keep in mind when selecting a companion whether they will be mostly outside or inside and how much brushing/grooming you want to do. When selecting a companion dog, the best way is honestly to let them select you. Find a shelter and start hanging out with the dogs. One will kind of attach to you a bit more than others and the connection is off.
In summary, when choosing a dog for your home, keep in mind if they will be working or companion, mainly hanging out inside or outside. And above all if you can, let them choose you.
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Join the FREE Community
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