Oh, and while folks are looking, they ought to give the Belgian Tervuren a long look, too! A working dog needs a job without one they can become bored, destructive and a down right nuisance. Choose wisely and make sure the breed you choose meets your needs and never chosen on looks alone. The homestead dog will quickly become your partner and another member of the family. Working dogs still need love from their family.An excellent quality dog food or a raw diet for prime health and wellness and plenty of water.Be cautious and know if your neighbors are setting poisons out for pests too many dogs lose their lives to this means of rodent control.Have a dog-specific first aid kit readily available.
Do not give him or her free access to your animals until you’ve done some test runs with them and be prepared for them to NOT want to live outside with your livestock if they’ve never done that before. So if you decide to go with a mixed breed or a rescue dog for work on your homestead make sure you get as much history on the animal as possible. I am not a breed snob in any way but there is something to be said for a animal that has been selectively bred and raised for the purpose or job you need them for.
But because you may never know the breeds, history, etc of these animals you will want to proceed with caution. Mutts and rescues and be a great addition to the homestead.
Your needs may be different than another homesteader. Home protection, whether you’re out in the country or an urban homesteader, is an important consideration. I won’t say much on this topic, except to say do your research on this topic. You want to make sure you get your pup from a reputable breeder who has their moms teaching the pups from the get-go. Livestock guardians can live among chickens, goats, sheep and more. These animals become their pack and they naturally become protective of them. Most livestock guardians grow up and live with the very livestock they are meant to protect. Homestead Dogs The Best Breeds for Every Job Homesteading Dogs – Livestock Guardians And almost every dog can work hard and still be a loyal friend and family companion.įor this post I am going to group homestead dogs into 4 general groups: Livestock Guardians, Home Protection, Herding and Pest Control. Sure, many breeds offer a combination of those qualities as well. Some offer they skills in guarding and protection, others can herd and keep the livestock contained while others will help you keep the pest population down. Dogs have been companions and co-workers for thousands of years and can make the homesteading life more rich and rewarding… they aren’t called man’s (woman’s) best friend for nothing! A good dog on your homestead can make such a difference! But not every breed is suited to every job on a hobby farm or homestead. Homestead dogs, the best breeds for every job.