When selecting a dog for your homestead, it all comes down to not only finding the right type of dog but also deciding what types of jobs you want your dog to do once it arrives. Thus, it takes careful planning on your part to ensure the dog and your homestead are a good fit. If you want to get it right the first time and select the perfect dog for your homestead, try these tips for success.
What Do You Need Your Dog to Do?
Since not all homesteads are alike, take the time to decide what type of job you need your dog to do each day. For example, do they need to herd livestock, or is their primary job to be guarding the herd? If guarding is the primary task, consider such breeds as Great Pyrenees or Anatolian Shepherd. However, if herding will be their job, look to proven winners such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherds.
Consider Their Temperament
If your dog is primarily a livestock security guard, then you may want a more aggressive dog to scare off predators. However, if you want a dog that will also be around your young toddler, then a less-tempered dog is ideal. That being said, many homestead owners consider separating their homestead dogs from their homes so they don’t have to worry about how the dogs interact with the family.
Of course, you will still need to create a relationship with your dog so make sure that their attitude and personality works well with yours.
Is a Mixed Breed Okay?
Rather than get a specific breed of dog for your homestead, you may decide a mixed breed will work just fine for year round goose control and other jobs on your property. Additionally, jobs like chasing away critters and fowl can typically be trained for most athletic types of dogs. If so, you may save yourself quite a bit of money, since you’ll probably be able to find a suitable dog at your local animal shelter.
However, if you should go this route, you may need to invest some time and money into properlytraining your dog. If you don’t, you may find your dog just wants to chase chickens and other farm animals all day long, rather than doing the job to which they’ve been assigned.
Consider More Than One Dog
Finally, consider getting more than one dog, especially if you have a large homestead. Since some dogs are better at guarding while others excel at herding, don’t think you have to find only one dog that can do it all.
Once you get the right dog or dogs for your homestead, you’ll have a safer herd and a canine companion you can trust for many years to be on the job 24/7.
