How best to find a farm dog?

There is only one reason I won't go to a shelter or rescue for my next dog. They all insist on neutering. I want an intact male. I won't have a neutered dog on the place.
Bill

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Well anyone familiar with Navajo sheep dogs would rethink the breed thing. Dogs can learn. I drive down the highway and it is not unusual to see some mutt out with their sheep. No people...just a dog. And they are all as different as can be.

Our male dog was neutered at 8 weeks, he still marks territory. He marks the perimeter, I think leaving a message for the coyotes. And if a neighbor dog comes in heat we don't have to tie him up. And he isn't living in a state of frustration Try it, you'll like it.

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I agree. Our neutered boy was also neutered at 8 weeks and he marks as well. Other than the marking he is very well behaved.

I believe that she will. Just go to a shelter and try some different pitties out. The shelter will help you find a wonderful match. We found our boy in a shelter. Is he cute or what?[/QUOTE]

very cute..

I won't keep an intact male of any species on my place, unless his job is to breed the girls.

Why? And I sincerely hope you make absolutely certain he never leaves your place.

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If I get into the reasons why I am bound to offend some people. Let's just say it's personal and leave it at that. It's more friendly that way. And no, my dogs do not run the neighbourhood. They don't leave the property unless one of us is with them.
Bill

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Michigan has strict regulations on Animal Shelters spay/neutering pets. As a result, many people/Groups go to other states and pick up their unwanted pets and haul them into Michigan.
PetFinder and Craigslist and most "Rescues" are about one step away from being Puppy Mills. I have seen ads showing a litter and they are all cozy in the house with the family, but out back is a shed with a dozen bred bitches. Same for those cages of puppies that are at every Livestock auction, farmers market and flea market.
I have seen every Animal Shelter in southeast Michigan, plus many other areas. Most are over run with Pit Bulls. Tiny dogs generally find homes. But there are plenty of "farm-sized" dogs that get lethal injections due to the lack of a forever home.
Go to a few Animal Shelters in your area. Let them know what you are seeking. Call them each week.
Then be sure it is spayed/neutered, wormed regularly and keep up the rabies vaccination.

Some people, like me, just don't like the looks of pitbulls. I don't like pit crosses either. Look like they have fetal alcohol syndrome to me. I don't trust 'em either, but first and foremost, I don't like their looks. People are allowed to have druthers.

I never would have thought I'd want a pit, but the best dog I've ever had is part Pit (only about 1/4, but he sure looks Pit). He's half Border Collie, though, and most of his intelligence and character seem to be Border Collie. The other little bits are German Shepherd and Lab, both also smart, trainable breeds.

My mother and step-father also had a small dog who was about a quarter Pit, and he was a good little guy.

So I have come to the conclusion that PART Pit isn't such a bad thing for a farm dog. Mine, Mac, is almost three years old; I've had him since he was six weeks old. He has never bothered the poultry or the dairy goats. He will run stray cats off the place, but coexisted just fine with my cats when I still had some. He never goes more than a few hundred feet from the house, and when I call him, he always comes, even if he's got a stray cat treed. He backs up our Livestock Guardian Dog when the coyotes get too close (he'll hide behind her, though, if something scares him!). He is fixed, and I'm glad he is -- if he was intact, I'd have to worry about him roaming, and wouldn't be able to keep him loose in the yard. (It isn't completely fenced; we live way out in the sagebrush so it's not really a problem to have the dogs loose.)

I wouldn't recommend getting a dog from a shelter only because you won't really know what you are getting until you've had it for a couple of weeks (plus they get exposed to diseases). Expand your search area (sometimes people will meet you half-way, or you may be able to coordinate a ride for a puppy), and keep an eye out for mixes. You may have to pay something for a healthy puppy, but probably no more than a shelter dog would cost unless you are looking for a small dog. If at all possible, meet the parents of the puppies, and spend a little time watching their behavior.

If your ten-year-old daughter is going to be the 'owner' of the puppy, and your family doesn't have much experience with dogs, I STRONGLY recommend she join a 4-H dog club, or go to a training class for a few months. There's a lot more to having a dog than simply bringing one home and throwing it out into the yard, if you want one that will be a pleasant companion for many years to come.

Kathleen

I think most any dog can be a good farm dog with proper training. I have 3 dogs. The first is an anatolian shepherd. SHe is our livestock guardian. I have a beagle what just showed up one day. I called the owner (she had a tag with all of his info) and he never came to get her. After a $350 vet visit to get her healthly again, she was mine. And finally, I have a 5 month old Smooth Coat Collie. (like lassie but without all of the hair). He is super fun and a very good dog. As I type he is outside entertaining my goats. THey seem to find him interesting.

That is a key. Unfortunately all too many people are not willing to put in the training. I've trained the "untrainable" and they have become great farm dogs. It does help if they have the right body form and such as well as instincts to bring out. Can't expect a beagle to cover terrain and fence jump like a collie but then that isn't always necessary either.

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See I don't like how early they neuter. 8 weeks is far too early imo. We do not neuter our big boys until they are over a year for health reasons.

My dad lived on an average property with a rotti blue healer mix. The dog had never seen anytime of farm animal until the cows from across the creek at the back of my dad's property broke out. The dog immediately herded them up and was able to keep them on our property until the owner was able to round them up. Every time my dad came home the dog would "secure the perimeter" as my dad pulled up the driveway and then would escort him to the house. This was an excellent, well behaved dog that seemed to have excellent instincts for the protection of the property and my dad. He was never aggressive though and made a great companion/pet as well. It seems a lot of people here have found a great dog in a blue heeled mix.


Courtney

My black mouth cur pups just royally disappointed me by cleaning out two batches of chicks. Mt Great Pyrennees dog was fantastic but was stolen.

Get one from someone who lives on a farm and owns the mother dog. I rather my husband brought one home from a person who lived in town. The dog had no sense around cattle and never did as long as we owned him my neighbor came knocking on my door one day and the dog had been on his place chasing his cows i told him to kill the dog he said no i want you to kill him. I did.
Never did know why he wouldn't shoot the dog unless he was afraid of my husband.
I wasn't and i did.