Large Breed dogs???

Queen Bee · #1 07/26/12, 02:33 PM

Could you all make suggestions on large breed dogs for the home (first) , homestead (second)???

Some info for you to consider:

We own 100 acres and lease 65 more. We have a small but comfy home. We will have chickens, milk goats and maybe a few sheep.. We will always have a Dachshund or two... Over the yrs. we have adopted/rescued/taken in 100's of dogs but we are down to 1 young Doxie,1 young large mixed breed and two elderly (at least 17yr old) feist type dogs.. We are ard 60yo, we have 3 grands (5, 12, 13) but the two oldest are only here once a month--for a short while maybe.. Our dogs are not allowed to run loose. They are either with us, in the house or in their kennel. After losing 8 dogs (to old age) in the last three yrs and leaving a huge void in our hearts, I really would like to have a puppy. So, I would be looking for a great breeder but it will not be for show.. Pet quality or companion will do just fine as long as they are healthy. The dog will be part of our family and will be spoiled rotten but must have manners.

Thank you QB

akane · #2 07/26/12, 02:48 PM

We had great pyrenees, australian shepherd, and a rottweiler at various times while growing up along with our rat terrier and only 1 issue ever. My stepmom grew up with doberman pinschers on their farm.

Whether it has manners or not has nothing to do with the breed and everything to do with how you handle them. I would suggest finding some local obedience classes. All dogs benefit from that even if the owner is experienced in training dogs.

Molly Mckee · #3 07/26/12, 03:05 PM

There are all kinds of good dogs, if you put the time in training. The best large farm dogs we've had have been Doberman's. Ours have been great with kids and animals, good watch dogs, learned quickly where all the animals belonged and would put them back if they were out. Ours were instinctive herders with you but not so driven they bothered the animals. We've never had a problem with them hurting anything or anyone.

Maura · #4 07/26/12, 10:33 PM

I was also going to suggest a dobie. They are wonderful household pets, but will enjoy the 100 acres. They will protect the property, so need to be trained so you can call him off. A standard poodle in a field clip would also be a good choice.

opportunity · #5 07/26/12, 10:42 PM

We have a newfoundland, stbernard and a lab right now they are all fairly good dogs but have all taken a lot of time as they all are pound dogs (didn't get as puppies so came with bad habits)
I love the stberanards on the farm they are happy in the house and have been good with all the animals we know lots of people around here that have them as farm dogs have had good luck with them "finding" lost animals for me

MO_cows · #6 07/26/12, 10:56 PM

We have had Great Danes and just loved them. They can go from couch potato to active and right back again. They just want to be with you and whatever you are doing is just fine. In general they have a very good disposition, all of ours loved kids, anybody's kids. But a strange adult would get "woofed" - and nobody ever called their bluff. But if it somebody you want to have there, just call the dog off, no problem. We had 2 purebreds from totally different lines and one lab/dane mix and they were all very similar. Very eager to please and trainable. I will have them again someday, just had to take a break after the last one who was especially selected from a breeder who had good longevity in her dogs died at 6 from osteo sarcoma and broke my heart. RIP Secondhand Rose.

Queen Bee · #7 07/27/12, 12:18 AM

Thanks everyone.. MO cows, I saw two Danes in a pick up truck, today and thought that might be a good dog for us... I know nothing about the breed but I guess I can learn...

Joe.G · #8 07/27/12, 08:13 AM

Everyone is going to have different favorites, I have had most of the dog's listed above along with Bull Mastifs and GSD. My Favorite is the Rottweiller and I currently have two of them, They are great on the farm do great with horses and pig's goats you name it, they are great herders and wonderful family members. I suggest what ever dog you chose you get it from a reputable breeder not just one with a fancy website, and that you also take the time to offer proper training.

Check this thread to see some pic's.

My Rottweilers in action doing there LGD Job.

Tracy · #9 07/28/12, 12:30 PM

I have had Great Danes for many years and probably always will.
Any giant breed dog has a shorter life span so if you decide on a giant breed dog it is important to buy from a reputable breeder.
I look at it this way. Spend the money on getting the best you can and you hopefully will eliminate vet bills and health issues down the road.

Normal life span on a kibble fed Dane is 5-7 years of age. Look at nutrition when feeding. Personally I feed raw and I find puppies from raw breeders. If you cant or wont feed raw then find the best grain free kibble you can.
My oldest Dane lived to 14 years of age which is unheard of in this breed. My other Dane passed at 8 which is not that old BUT she was the only dog in her litter that lived past 5. All the other dogs in this litter died of cancer by age 5 and were kibble fed. Zada was raw fed her entire life and lived till 8 so food is an important factor.
My oldest Dane now is 6 1/2 and going strong.
We also have a 4 month Dane old puppy.

PM me if you want some names of reputable breeders.

chamoisee · #10 07/28/12, 01:26 PM

I really love my Newfoundland cross. His other half is Australian shepherd and German Shepherd. He is extremely gentle and patient with my ADHD Asperger's 6yo son. He is fairly quiet, doesn't wander, loyal, very affectionate and loving, trustworthy. When I first got him, he didn't know chickens were off limits and chased one (didn't kill it). I reprimanded him, took him near chickens a few times and made it clear that it is NOT OK to look at them that way and haven't had to reinforce this since.

akane · #11 07/28/12, 02:21 PM

Really unless you are putting in extra fencing and extreme training the only thing you need to stay away from are the spitz breeds and some hunting breeds since they will have a tendency to wander or high drives to kill small livestock and chase big livestock without quite a bit more work than average. Anything else is going to come down to the individual dog and getting some good basic training in them.

Pink_Carnation · #12 07/29/12, 06:10 PM

I would say a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. They do have health issues to be aware of but the one we had was the sweetest dog ever. He didn't understand why rabbits were afraid of him and wouldn't play with him. Alki Swissies-Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs

TxHorseMom · #13 07/30/12, 12:50 PM

One of my favorite breeds is the Boxer. They love their "people". We've had boxers for years and they did fine on our ranch. They are very friendly, yet protective of their families. You do have to be careful of extreme temps though. They can't be left outside in in extreme heat or cold, but you said that they would mostly be with you so that shouldn't be a problem.

ozark_jewels · #14 07/30/12, 05:06 PM

Full size Lassie-type Collies are amazing. Great with animals, kids and everyone. But please, make sure you buy from a breeder who has Collies with brains. There are a few out there that are brainless. I LOVED our Collies we had growing up on the farm.
I now have a Great Dane who is awesome. She is indoors at night during the cold months, *if she wants to be*. She does not always choose to come in. She is outside most of the warm months. She is great with all the animals(had a "discussion" about ducklings when she was about 7 months old, since then has never looked at poultry), great with people and *usually* listens.
I was told when I got her, that Danes were indoor dogs and that I was cruel to keep her outside during winter days. She loves it. If I am home and she wants to come inside, I let her. But she is outside almost all the time, in all weather. I feed her(and all my other dogs) all raw, she does great.
She gets along great with the other dogs too.
I have also had awesome mutts.

tailwagging · #15 07/30/12, 05:34 PM

Newfoundland

Elizabeth · #16 07/30/12, 09:44 PM

The male Rhodesian Ridgeback I purchased as an 8 week old puppy is the perfect farm dog for us. He does it all.

He is my bird hunting dog, used to herd our goats when we had them, helped herd hogs a few times when we were moving them to a new pasture through unfenced areas, has tracked and bayed up someone else's escaped hogs in our corn field, has blood-trailed wounded deer, and last week he tracked and found $1600 worth of calves that escaped from a neighbor's barnyard during a middle of the night thunderstorm. A few days later he and his younger half-sister caught and killed a woodchuck that was digging holes out near our barn. He is earning his keep around here.

He is also one of my show dogs and took Reserve Winners Dog at the National Specialty dog show last September. And, he did volunteer work as a therapy dog at a local nursing home when he was younger- we stopped going because I had issues with the nursing home staff, but the dog was great!

JasoninMN · #17 07/30/12, 11:45 PM

Rescue a grey hound.

YankeeinMarylan · #18 07/31/12, 05:37 AM

I'd love a rottie if I wasn't married. They rotties as a breed seem to know he's afraid and try to eat him.

Queen Bee · #19 08/01/12, 12:40 PM

I am glad to see RR on the list.. My dh has wanted one for yrs.. Will have to ck them out.. thank you all for your thoughts, ideas, suggestions...QB

Maura · #20 08/01/12, 09:20 PM

RR were bred to hunt lion. They can keep up with a horse for 30 miles. Unless you need this kind of dog and can put him to work, he is going to be a handful. Not just another big dog.

Ravenlost · #21 08/01/12, 09:55 PM

Please go to your local shelter and rescue a pup. They have all sizes and breeds literally dying for a home!

cathleenc · #22 08/02/12, 07:58 AM

I had a male rhodesian ridgeback for a few years and he never needed to go, go, go like Maura said - he was very happy curling up in a little ball and staying warm. He liked hiking - we walked 3-15 miles/day - but was just as happy not doing all that hiking.

Mine was a poorly socialized, unfixed male from a local shelter - who developed unfixable human and animal aggression issues. The president of the breed association pleaded with me to put him down as he was clearly dangerous to all. Her words "If you were in the outback and your life depended on a dog then this dog would be magnificent. But in a populated setting, this dog will be fatal to something living sooner or later." I kept trying to save him till he brutally attacked my roommate's dog and then went after me when I broke it up. It was time.

I could be tempted to get a well-bred rhodesian again but it would be a female and I'd only be willing to start with a puppy this time. I will not touch older unfixed males of any breed after that very traumatic experience.

chickenista · #23 08/02/12, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

Please go to your local shelter and rescue a pup. They have all sizes and breeds literally dying for a home!

Yes.
I swear to you..
the best 2 dogs of my life were pound dogs.
My Gilda that I have now is a dream. (white GS mix)
Watches over the chickens etc.. chases off intruder dogs. Alerts if a person is around.. flawless dog. flawless dog.
My Ruby was a pound dog. Chow/Shepherd. Smartest dog ever. Gentle enough to play tug of war with a teeny baby sock with a 6 month old, strong enought to stop that intruder that night..