I need a farm dog.

I’m a non-dog person in need of a dog. I don’t hate em all. I was attacked more than once as a kid, and have always (naturally, I think,) just been a cat person.

The dude bush-hogging the field saw a coyote this morning...only saw him because *his* dog went tearing ass after it.

I’d been thinking I wanted a farm-dog anyway, and I think it’d be good to have for our girls if nothing else.

Mama and I have been talking about it all day. I *think* our short list of requirements goes something like:

Short-haired, preferably less than 50-60lbs fully grown. A non-barker unless there’s a real threat (I berkeleying hate barky dogs.) Willing & capable of running off animals/people while, obviously, being safe for the girls.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE every blue heeler I’ve ever met. But I understand it’s (understandably) in their nature to herd/nip-at kids, and that they require a lot of interaction/stimulation.

I also know a kickass bird-dog/pit mix who’s everything I’d want in a dog, but honestly (and maybe it’s irrational) the pit part will always frighten me a little.

I’m rambling. Any thoughts/suggestions? Whatever we get, we’d get a puppy and spend whatever time/effort/money is necessary to train it. 

Don't worry about the pit; it's not the breed, it's the dog.  If it's an awesome dog the more love you give it the more you are going to get. 

Our best farm dogs have been Spitz family dogs and wiener dogs. Good at keeping the riffraff away and for playing with the kids. 

The Boykin Spaniel is a damn fine dog. ChrisD has one that is the finest companion one could want. He is quiet unless provoked and not much provokes him. He stays with me regularly. In my fenced in backyard he will chase a squirrel and yap 4 or 5 times then shut up. The neighbors dog on the other side of the fence taps continually as th Boykin just stared at him. He is a little bit of a gun nut. He gives a gun, or gun case, his full attention. If you point a gun at it he will attack it. 

In reply to oldopelguy :

Agreed. Every pit bull I've encountered has been a big, slobbering mound of wanna-be lap dog.  I've also heard they are incredibly gentle with kids - some how they just "know".  This plays out with my friend who has a pit and a special needs kid.  While the kid generally ignores the dogs and vice-versa, whenever they do interact the dogs will let him do pretty much anything to them. 

But woe be any raccoon that mistakenly strays into the yard.  

They do bark like crazy, but usually only if there's actually something there.

Find a heeler mix. Another herding dog so some issues with nipping in some of them. Mines lab/heeler and she's only loud if someone's coming in my house. The biggest issue we have is her wanting too chase wildlife. She does weigh 75lbs though.

Anatolian Shepherd but its twice the size you are looking for. Livestock guardians so without a herd to protect, they protect you. Low energy, low barking, no prey drive, will run off anything that threatens its herd, very attached to its family and needs little attention.

Downside is they can be a bitch to train and they are very willful. They will protect you whether you like it or not, and they will think for themselves in absence of commands. This usually means when you tell it to stop barking and it still does......its because theres something that damn well need to be barked at.

Rhodesian Ridgeback.  That's what they were bred for.

Dr. Hess said:

Rhodesian Ridgeback.  That's what they were bred for.

Funny. Was just reading about them, and have always liked them. Exceeds gross weight though, yeah? Any smaller “mixes?”

Second the vote for the Rhodesian.  Had one when I was a teenager and she was an amazing dog!

Also have to say, as sweet as my short term pit was, he bit my neighbor and had to go to the pound.  My sisters’ pit had to be destroyed for failure to stop killing things around the farm.  As much as I want to agree with the “it’s not the breed, it’s the dog” sentiment, they have been breed for a purpose for too long.

I’d generally avoid anything wildly popular as they get “bred stupid”.  Dalmatians, Irish Setters, Dobermans, etc.  Any breed that became the flavor of the year likely becomes a dog you don’t want.

Came in to say Pit. I remember being scared the first time I saw one, then it rolled over showing its belly wagging it's tail.  Raised right they are great and as pointed out they're great with kids. Louie was my last dog and he was a lab/pit mix. Best dog ever. 

Catahoula for the win.  They do require some clear direction, clarity on who’s boss.  They are incredible family animals and quite intelligent.  They are afraid of nothing and would fearlessly go down to protect their family.  Equipped with only 50% Of the Aussie crazy associated with others. 

Herding of kids, animals, and ina,I ate objects comes free of charge.

A pit and a wolf served us just fine. Wolves are shiny happy people though, but it would definitely keep the coyote away. 

shiny happy persons as they manage to be dumb as a rock, stubborn as a mule, and somehow smarter than you all at the same time. Lock them in the house, they jump out a window. Leave them out, they get tangle in the electric fence. But damned if he won't open the door, piss on your stuff, and close the door behind him. 

 I wouldn't worry too much about the breed but I would reach out to your local rescue group. Try to find a decent one. If they want you to fill out an incredibly long and involved application that's a good sign. If they offer dog training, really people training, that's also a good sign. If they insist on a home visit before they place a dog that's a good sign. Tell them exactly what you're looking for then be patient.

 My wife and I both grew up with dogs and we each had a dog when we met and got married 25 years ago. We've never been without a dog or three. We've also fostered a bunch. We've had laid back Border Collies and a high strung Basset Hound. The breed accounts for something but not everything. Having said that you'll never stop a Beagle from following it's nose, you won't stop a Border Collie from herding and Pit Bulls were bred for a purpose. Dogs have different personalities and their upbringing is vital but in a moment of stress or excitement the breed traits can surface.

Irish Wolfhounds are in the "slobbery-wanna-be-lapdogs" range as well.  They don't fit your 50-60lb range though.

As someone who has spent a fair amount of time training dogs and knowing how they tick, your needs are a bit contradictory.  My Pit is an amazing pet because she's not an Alpha.  She lives to please because she knows I'm the alpha.  It makes her a great pet, but she just got bested by a squirrel the other day.  Last month she couldn't get the upper hand on a cricket.  (tried to video it, but she gave into the insect's iron will before I could get my phone out).

Having a dog that is big enough and protective enough to ward off a pack of coyotes needs REALLY special training and discipline to prevent it from becoming an intolerable pet.  It's a bit like gun ownership.  Anyone can buy a 30-06 to protect their property, but in the hands of an untrained person it is a lot more likely to end up being a liability.

Here is one thing you need to know about dogs; They don't know size.  They know alpha and not-alpha.  The only way they determine who is alpha is to scuffle about it.  What this means is you could have a 5-lb Chihuahua that will run right up to a coyote without seeing size and end up being a snack.  You could also have a 100-lb St Bernard who will do the same thing and end up being a three course meal.  You need the combination of a strong desire to protect in a non-alpha dog with enough size to get the job done AND comprehensive training so the dog isn't an shiny happy person.  But rest assured, a protective dog (even many unprotective dogs) will follow their instinct and chase a coyote.  Whichever one wins is a toss up depending on which coyote they encounter.  The winner will be the dog with enough size AND the right protection drive.

Owning a dog with strong alpha tendencies is incredibly challenging, regardless of breed.  My ex has a Pit right now that she is rehabbing from being a fight dog.  That dog is a lethal combination of alpha tendencies, zero trust of humans, and a history of winning.  Add in that he was not neutered AND he is blind in one eye and feels over-vulnerable means that he would likely kill a bear to protect her, but he is a hideous pet.  She's working with him and making great strides.

Long story short, it takes a very special dog to be a good pet and a good guard dog that doesn't die on its second encounter with a coyote.  It can be found, but don't just buy a breed.  Just like people, you have no idea how the relationship will become until you've owned it for a while.  Get a dog because you want a dog, but expecting the dog to behave a certain way is no more realistic than expecting another human to do the things you expect or want them to do.

I'm reminded of a repair shop that used to be owned by a guy who trained police dogs.  He had two Rottweilers that lived in the shop.  When he locked up, they were vicious killers.  Seriously. Once he opened the shop the next morning, they were lap dogs who loved their bellies rubbed. 

When looking for a dog, it is easier to build up a dog than knock it down a peg.  Look for a dog that approaches you meekly.  Be the alpha to a dog that doesn't need to be reminded that it isn't an alpha, and chances are it would die for you and defend your property from a frog.  Don't go for the damaged ones... if they evacuate their bladder and roll over in fear, move along.  Look for the ones that crave your interaction from a posture of humility.  If they jump all over you and lick you to death, they may not have much protection instinct.  But, again, it is so hard to tell.  You can't buy a guard dog that is a good pet.  You buy a dog and it might be a complete failure at everything you want it to do.  Getting a dog is a first date.  She might end up being the love of your life and be a perfect match, or you might date for a year and realize that she's just not right.  It's not her fault, its just how your personalities mix.

The funny thing is, I'm not a pet person at all.  I prefer house plants.  But you couldn't pry my Pit from my hands with a shotgun and a baseball bat.  We found each other.  I didn't want a dog, but after meeting her, I wanted HER.

Why the weight limit? Serious question. 

You are looking for a livestock guardian dog. Great Pyrenees have exactly the sweet, kid loving but coyote killing instinct that you want. Literally will let a toddler swing from their fur one minute without noticing, and kill the coyote the next. But too big, too furry, and wayyyy too barky. Anatolian would be a good one to look at. 

mtn said:

Why the weight limit? Serious question. 

 

You are looking for a livestock guardian dog. Great Pyrenees have exactly the sweet, kid loving but coyote killing instinct that you want. Literally will let a toddler swing from their fur one minute without noticing, and kill the coyote the next. But too big, too furry, and wayyyy too barky. Anatolian would be a good one to look at. 

Agreed on the Livestock Guardian. i thought about Pyrenees but i think the Anatolian is better

RevRico said:

A pit and a wolf served us just fine. Wolves are shiny happy people though, but it would definitely keep the coyote away. 

shiny happy persons as they manage to be dumb as a rock, stubborn as a mule, and somehow smarter than you all at the same time. Lock them in the house, they jump out a window. Leave them out, they get tangle in the electric fence. But damned if he won't open the door, piss on your stuff, and close the door behind him. 

That is the most accurate description I'm going to read in a LOOOOOONG time.

We had one we named "Bubba".  He would, and could, let himself in and out of the house without any assistance (hear the door in the middle of the night?  it's Bubba going outside to poop).  yet, somehow that guy was just dumber than a bag of hammers.

On subject:  The Rhodesians I've known were great dogs, but they're bigger than you want. If you were looking for a specific breed, I think a Vizsla might be a good runner up (smaller, just as intelligent, but higher energy level than a Rhodesian). 

Honestly though, I strongly second the rescue group idea.  Hit up a rescue shelter and try lots of dogs on for size.  Take home the one(s) you fall in love with.

Also, I wouldn’t put a pit near little kids unless it was a very known entity (or both its parents were). Love them, but there are far too many horror stories that I’ve seen-and not just heard about on the Internet seen. 

Everyone says that rescues are the way to go. Well, not always. I say this as someone who has had dogs from a breeder, rescued dogs, and fostered dogs as well. With young children, there are very few breeds I personally would rescue without insight into the exact situation. 

We always had Blue Heelers, my folks still have them.  Grandparents had them too.  Occasional Red Heeler and "purple" Heeler mixed in there over the years.  Out of 11+ Heelers over the years, there was only one that never grew out of and/or was trained out of nipping at kid's heels. 

In his defense, he only really hated kids feet when they were on bicycle peddles.  There was just something about those ankles pumping up and down in a circle that was irresistible.  When he wasn't biting at ankles, he'd be biting at bike tires, we replaced a lot of inner tubes as kids.  He was still one hell of a cow dog.  

Had a Labrador/Blue Heeler mix that was "my" dog as a kid, affectionately called a "Heelador," that dude had so much personality, and was the perfect dog for a farm boy in his early teens, we were inseparable, loved to wrestle, hunt, and catch birds.  That dude could stalk and catch cattle birds better than any cat.

We had various mutts, a few Beagles, Labs, a Golden Retriever, even a Husky, and grandpa usually had a bird dog or two, but we always had/have Heelers on the farm.  I'm obviously biased, but I think Heelers are the best farm dog.

I am massively biased.  You have been warned...  German bird dogs kick ass as farm dogs.  There is quite a bit of variety out there even within certain breeds, so you would need to do some research, but you can get the dog you want.  They have lots of prey drive, and they tend to be protective.

I own a German Shorthair.  German Wirehairs and some others are similar.  I have seen him chase down and kill *several predators.  He'll wake the dead if someone suspicious is getting close - sorry FedEx driver lady.  He is a good bird dog, not perfect thanks to imperfect training, but good enough for me.  Most importantly, he is awesome with our kids.

Caveat... Tons of energy.  If you don't let them burn off some energy, they don't behave as well in the house.

*Four of those "several" were skunks.  That's lame.  A bunch of possums and raccoons too.  Ironically, he got most of them as they were trying to get into the chicken coop, but he will kill chickens if he gets the chance.  I see where I might not be selling this idea very well, but seriously if you're looking for something with guard dog instincts but gentle with kids you might look into them.

We have a lab/pitt we got from the pound last year. She's a good looking strong dog, that wants to lick your face off or get pets. That said, she has a fairly terrifying bark. But we took her to a neighborhood block party the other day and she was as sweet and gentle as could be. It's our younger King Cavalier that acted like a jerk the whole time to the point we had to leave. Mainly would just NOT stop barking at everything. But I also think he's a little slow, at the house, he will sometimes start at the wall, or the TV (turned off), or into the bedroom and just bark.

 My little sister has a Blue Pit that she's had for 10+ years and with 5 kids. But also remember "pit bull" is a generic term that encompasses many different specific breeds. 

As for being around small children, I'm of the opinion that no small child should be left unsupervised with any large breed dogs. 

I have had a lot of dogs over the years and many of the breeds that have been mentioned here. I'm trying to resist posting pics of all of them, but can't completely resist. Highlighting a few... All of these were loyal and protective of their family, without being overly aggressive.

Rhodesian Ridgeback mix with Weimaraner: Big and friendly, stubborn and tactical. Not a significant barker. She would lay down silent and still to let chickens or ducks gather around her, then spring for the kill - that cost us some money with the neighbor.

Catahoula: High energy, dedicated, focused, mischievous. Mid-sized and wiry. Needs to get out and be active to burn energy and wants to be on-the-job. My daughter's Catahoula ended up moving to her in-law's farm because it didn't fit in a small house/yard.

Irish Wolfhound: I have read that they are more bred to protect their family than territory and that seems true with Annabelle. A very big dog that thinks she can fit on your lap, gentle, great with small kids. Very scary to anyone who does not belong, but settles down after a I greet a newcomer.

American Staffordshire Terrier: Not quite a Pit, but probably the best choice. Breeding split from Pits in the 1800s and do not have the aggressive fighting spirit as much, but are still tough muscular protectors. We just picked up Lilo 'The one-eyed-wonder-dog' from our local Humane Society a few days ago. Calm temperament, focused and obedient, solid muscular build about 50-60 pounds. She does not take E36 M3 from the little, bouncy Chihuahua-Pug mix (Chug), but will not hurt him.

Ovarchka...

Cane Corso fits the bill pretty well, other than being close to double the size requirement. They're bred to be multi-purpose estate/farm dogs. Imposing build and a nasty bark, but they're super gentle with their "pack" and don't typically have much desire to venture out on their own. We have 3 rural-ish acres and no fences. My dog goes out unsupervised multiple times per day, and has left our yard once in 3 years (chasing after a rabbit).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih431uzbmZI

But if you're not a "dog person", then they might wear you out. Mine is by my side pretty much all the time, and isn't afraid to nudge me for attention if I'm sitting on the couch or something. To be a good dog, they need to feel like part of your family, so full-time outside dog is not a good fit.

Mine's a bit undersized for the breed @ 85lbs, but she's a lap pup once you get to know her

Personal opinion. 

Any large enough dog is going to keep a coyote away. If its just the coyotes you are worried about just carry a field gun. 

As for dogs. Any 60-70lb mix is going to be great. Any pit mix is going to be great minus a few things like pit/chow or pit/mastiff. I would worry more about the time the dog is not in the field. IE around you. My inlaws inbred poodle/lab mix at 80lbs will chase off a coyote and even keep bobcats out here from stalking you on a trail.