The Lady Upstairs Wants A Dog...

[~Janessa]

I was locking my front door to take Ruckus to petsmart a couple days ago, and the lady that lives above me came downstairs to me and said hi to Ruckus. She wanted me to help her pick out a dog breed and come look at dogs with her when we decided on a breed, so I said yes.

I'm researching a lot of dog breeds right now.

Here's the thing:

- she's moving onto a farm
- she needs a dog that can heard livestock
- will be gentle with younger children
- will not murder all the barncats
- will be intelligent and listen off-leash

Now, I'm thinking about a collie for her, because she is elderly and I don't want her to be injured by a really spunky dog.

I want you all to tell me if you think of something. =)

- sicerely Janessa
(Ezzy)

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I would recommend a ceramic dog, and a 4 wheeler to herd the livestock.

Dogs require lots of training to herd livestock. Most dogs who will herd livestock will also herd (and nip and bump etc) children.

The "will come when called" thing just gets me to the bone. That is all TRAINING.

 

[Renee750il]

Red's right - as usual.

Some dogs will herd purely by instinct (Bimmer, Buffy and Kharma, for example), and I could always just tell them to "go to work" or "put the cows in the barn" or, when they were out, "put the cows in the fence" and they'd do it quite efficiently. Bimmer and Buffy would stop when they'd finished the specific task. Kharma, on the other hand, has never been able to stop until ALL the cows were in the barn. Reliable herding takes training - first for the handler, then the dog.

Recall . . . . takes training AND a bond. Even then it's not always 100% dependable!

IF she is willing to put in the work, I'd say a Collie - probably smooth or an Australian Shepherd. And I'd strongly suggest she rescue an adult dog.

If she's elderly, I'd be a little wary of the four wheeler with livestock. Get something bigger - an old Jeep or truck. A lot of livestock takes exception to four wheelers and even with lightning reflexes you can get yourself hurt badly by a critter who figures out that all it's got to do is kick that soft thing on the back of the noisy thing.

 

[bubbatd]

How elderly is elderly ??? I would say she should have a companion dog rather than a working dog ...........

 

[Romy]

What kind of livestock does she want? Different breeds are made for different kinds.