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Farm Dogs - See Spot Work, continued

by Sheri Dixon

Farms harbor vermin. It’s a fact. You can deny it, you can ignore it, but they are still there - mice and rats will be wherever there is a food source and that means your farm. Terriers have been bred to dig out vermin - the word "terrier" comes from the Latin word "terra' or earth, so they are literally dogs bred to "go to earth". The most commonly known terrier right now is the Jack Russell Terrier, thanks to the TV show Frasier and Eddie, their dog.  Today’s terrier will kill mice and rats. Unfortunately, like the Collies, the terriers of today are usually so far away from being working dogs, that they are indiscriminate in their prey and will seriously deplete your flock of chickens as quickly as your mice.  

Back in high school I worked on a poultry farm where the house pet dog was a Cairn Terrier. Like Toto in The Wizard of Oz. Now, if you recall, Toto was a farm dog and there were chickens blowing by during the tornado that he had not killed. The terrier on the poultry farm, however, was kept firmly chained when outside because if loose, he had been timed at killing a chicken EVERY 30 SECONDS till caught. My own flock of hens was recently diminished by the Jack Russell Terrier down the street, and the neighbor gave up on chickens because her rat terrier made short work of them. 

For a large terrier, an Airedale is a good choice. When used as working farm dogs they are more for guarding and pulling carts, but individuals can be gifted as herders and hunting dogs as well. They are usually good babysitters and are strikingly handsome. 

Be very careful with small terriers. I currently have a crossbred terrier who is wonderful at not killing chickens. She does not kill mice either. She will absolutely tear up a rogue cookie however.  In fact my best mouser, up to and including any cats I’ve had is my four pound toy poodle. Go figure. 

If a terrier is appealing to you, do your homework and find some out of ‘farm working stock’. Here would be a good place to start (http://www.terrier.com/breed/working.php3) for Jack Russells and (http://airedale-nawata.tripod.com/nawata/index.html) for Airedales.

Jack Russell Terrier

Working Airedales

There are a lot of other "specialty" dogs who fit in on the farm - previously we discussed the Livestock Guardian Dogs in an article devoted just to them.  

The hunting dogs - pointers, hounds, spaniels and retrievers are all good choices for farms where hunting is part of the routine.

Every once in a while you will find, by accident, a dog who is completely suited for a job on your farm - my four pound poodle is a good example.

And of course, there’s nothing quite like a good mutt. Employing a mixed breed dog can be a very good thing. They are usually much more inexpensive as far as initial outlay for purchase. There are people who believe that the mixed breeds possess ‘hybrid vigor’ making them less prone to health problems. This is not true. I’ve seen just as many mixes with hip dysplasia and skin conditions as purebreds. The best reason for getting a mutt is that they usually really need the home, and although I’m not one for anthropomorphism, I truly think rescue dogs tend to try a little harder to be Good Dogs than their counterparts who were born into good situations.  

Even with the best of intentions, common sense must play a factor in choosing your mixed breed. Collie/Shepherd/Retriever crosses are a good bet. Chow/Pit/Rott crosses may not be. Individual dogs will be as varied in temperament as in looks, so blanket assumptions should just be guidelines, not set in stone rules.

Chester, a good Farm Dog - even carried buckets of feed.

Just like everything else on the farm, your dog will need regular maintenance and upkeep. A good quality dry dog food should be given twice daily - especially with the larger breeds, multiple small meals lessen the possibility of gastric torsion (usually fatal, always expensive), and in all breeds, food is just assimilated better if not given in one big meal. Regular worming and vaccination schedules should be adhered to according to your local laws and climate. External parasites need to be kept to a minimum. Expect yearly upkeep expenses on your dog (not counting food and squeaky toys) to be several hundred dollars. 

A good dog is as valuable an asset as anything else on your homestead, with the added benefit of also being your friend.

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