Choosing a Farm Dog from a Shelter

Dogs and farms go paw in hand. A capable dog can be a big asset on a country property as a livestock guardian, home protector, or herder. With so many dogs in shelters (over 3 million enter shelters a year), it makes sense to look there for the farm dog of your dreams.
By Karen Weir-Jimerson

Finding a Farm Dog

“What kind of dog do you want?” is the first question you’ll be asked at a shelter or rescue, so identifying traits beforehand will help you be matched with the best breed/mix for you. The type of dog you want may depend on the type of property, as well as the area of country you live in. “Typically what people are looking for in a farm dog when they come to North Florida is one that will chase off a bear or anything that comes onto the property,” says Karen Martin, director of Franklin County Humane Society in Eastpoint, Florida. People who live in rural areas often like the idea of a dog that sounds the alarm when something is out of order.

Understanding Dog Instincts

Over decades, dogs were bred to do specific jobs, and each breed had a specialty. Herding breeds moved sheep and cows. Working breeds pulled wagons or guarded livestock. Terriers killed vermin. Hunting dogs helped track quarry through smell or sight. And retrievers worked with hunters to bring back the kill. Each group of dogs was bred to do very specific (and very different) things on a farm.

Choosing the Breed or Mix for You

Purebred dogs, as well as mixed breeds, carry their breed instincts with them. And when you go to a shelter, you may see dogs of all groups. Nationwide, 25 percent of dogs that enter shelters are purebred dogs; the remaining 75 percent are mixed-breed dogs that are a sum of parts, some of which may be fairly identifiable. Identifying a dog whose breed instincts match up with your farm needs is a good way to narrow down adoptable dogs. If you are looking for a livestock herder, choose from among herding breeds, such as border collies or Australian shepherds. But keep in mind that instincts are a double-edged sword. For example, the terrier that gleefully pounces on a mouse in your garage (a good thing) may not be able to curb that killer impulse in your chicken yard (a bad thing). “Dog breeds were bred that way,” Martin says. “So don’t put a dog in a situation that may bring that behavior out in a bad way—and then get mad at the dog.” But while each breed may have a set of inbred behaviors, not all dogs of that breed exhibit those behaviors. For example, there are border collies that won’t herd sheep and terriers that won’t go crazy over mice. Each behavior is individual to the dog.

Putting Dogs to Work

“If I were to pick a good all-around farmstead dog,” Martin says, “it would be a Lab or Lab mix.” Labs were bred as retrievers, but they are also smart, easy to train, and companionable. They’re good swimmers and love to be outdoors. If you’re looking for a livestock guardian, breeds such as Anatolian shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Komondor, and Kuvasz may fill the bill. Generally these dogs are raised with the livestock they protect, so introducing a dog that has never been around livestock may not yield the results you want. “You can’t expect a dog to have certain skills; you need to train them,” Martin says. Traditional livestock herding breeds include border collies, Australian shepherds (sheep), corgis, and Australian cattle dogs (cattle). And if you seek a dog with a strong prey drive,consider terriers or dachshunds.