Are you looking for the best dogs for guarding chickens? I get it. Before getting a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) we lost two flocks of chickens to predators. We quickly realized we needed a trained and reliable dog to guard the coop day and night.
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The Best Dogs for Guarding Chickens
There are a few things to consider when choosing the right dog breed to guard chickens. First, the dog needs to be large enough to defend against the predators in your area.
Our homestead is located in a remote part of the Rocky Mountains. We regularly see bears, coyotes, and mountain lions. With that in mind we knew we needed a large dog. In fact, we have three since our property is large and the livestock we keep are spread out.
Next, even though you want a large dog that’s ready to fight off predators, it also needs to be able to reign in its instinctual prey drive and refrain from chasing and eating the chickens.
In my experience, this is the hardest part. LGDs have a deep instinct to chase and protect. Pair that with flighty chickens and you have a challenge on your hands. While every dog breed will require training (see below for tips), these breeds will have an easier time adapting to life with chickens.
Colorado Mountain Dog
It’s no secret that this is among my favorite livestock guardian dog breed. This is a relatively new breed, designed to protect livestock on small homesteads. They’re friendly, great with kids, and expert guardians. I love that Colorado Mountain Dogs are incredible athletes, with a very kind heart.
In my experience, they do an excellent job guarding chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, and horses. They come from lines of Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherd dogs, and really bring the best of both breeds to the forefront. I’ve written an in-depth article all about Colorado Mountain Dogs, if you want to learn more.
Great Pyrenees
Great Pyrenees are a well known and beloved livestock guardian dog. When people think of an LGD, the Great Pyrenees is often what comes to mind. Large, white and fluffy these dogs are as cute as they are reliable.
Slovensky Cuvak
Also known as the Slovak Cuvac or Slovak Chuvach, this large white dog is one of the only LGD breeds historically known to protect poultry. It has been well documented back to 17th century and was known for watching over sheep, cattle, and turkeys.
Other Dog Breeds to Guard Chickens
Can you use another dog breed to guard your chickens? The short answer is yes, of course. That said, there are certain breeds that will take to it more naturally.
But a lot of it depends on the demeanor of your particular job. And while there are many friendly family pets that will easily become friendly with your chickens, they may not properly defend against threats. So that depends on what predators you have in your area.
I once had an adorable Labrador Retriever who was convinced he was part of the flock. He would spend hours each day wandering the yard with them and hanging out. But he was a big softie and would never have stood up to a bear or other large threat. He did great in the urban homestead setting I lived in at that time, but wouldn’t have been a good fit for wild mountain living.
Training a Dog to Protect Chickens
Even a Livestock Guardian Dog from the best lines will still need some training to safely be around chickens.
We got our first Colorado Mountain Dog as a 10-week old puppy. He was a heart-melting ball of fluff. And while he had great breed lines and natural instincts, he still had a lot to learn. At about 6-months-old, he took to chasing chickens and even killed one. We quickly realized training was necessary. Here’s what worked for us:
- Consistent Exercise Time – We dedicated ourselves to a long walk around the property every morning and evening, plus several play times throughout the day. Helping our giant puppy expel energy was critical.
- Consistent Training Time (Away from Livestock) – My husband and I took turns each day working on basic commands (sit, down, stay).
- Supervised Time with Chickens – We slowly reintroduced our LGD to the chickens. First through the chicken coop, then on a leash, and finally with free range. Any display of lunging or getting too excited was quickly shutdown with a verbal warning.
- Use a Leash or Dog Run during Peak Hours – The evening time was our most difficult. Not only was it peak crazy hours for taking care of two young children, but it’s when our puppy wanted to get the zoomies and go crazy. During these hours, we put our dog-in-training in a dog run to avoid any unwanted incidents.
- Send Your Puppy to LGD Bootcamp – To finish it all off, we were blessed to be able to send Wyatt to spend a week with a local Colorado Mountain Dog breeder. Being able to see how the seasoned dogs act was paramount for him. We made several months of progress in a short time thanks to this mentoring.
And that’s one of the best things about having an older dog when you get a puppy. They immediately learn the ropes with far less effort on your part.
If you are new to livestock guardian dogs, keep in mind that starting out is always the hardest. Once you have trained livestock guardian dogs working with livestock, introducing and training new puppies is much easier. Not only will your puppies naturally model the behavior they see from your trained LGDs, but your trained LGDs will also “correct” the puppies.
For the Love of Livestock
FAQ About the Best Dog for Guarding Chickens
What is the best animal to protect chickens?
A Livestock Guardian Dog (my favorite is the Colorado Mountain Dog!) is an excellent choice for watching over chickens. If you live in the city, you can also train your family dog to watch over your chickens. I once had a Labrador Retriever that thought he was one of the flock. A donkey can also do an excellent job guarding, but in general I recommend an LGD.
What is the white dog that protects chickens?
The Great Pyrenees is a well known large white dog that protects chicken. They make an all around good Livestock Guardian Dog. But if you’re looking for the best dog to protect chickens and live on your small farm or homestead, I recommend a Colorado Mountain Dog. They also tend to be large and white, but the look may vary slightly, as the breeding is focused on pairing excellent guarding skills with friendliness. These gentle giants are great with kids, chickens, and all kinds of livestock.
Will livestock guardian dogs protect chickens?
Yes…with proper training. Even the best livestock guardian dog may be tempted to chase or “play” with chickens. Follow our detailed steps to train your livestock guardian dog to protect chickens and you will have an expert chicken guardian in no time flat.
Can you break a dog from chasing chickens?
You most certainly can, but it will take time and effort. The amount of which will depend on your particular dog. If chasing is already problem you need to reign things and start from the beginning. Ideally do this before any chasing ever takes place.
Introduce your dog to the chickens slowly. Use a leash and quickly admonish any behavior of growling or lunging. Spend time around the chickens with your dog on a leash. This can take hours, days, or weeks depending on your dog. Once this is accomplished, spend time with your chickens and the dog off-leash. Be on alert for any chasing behavior. Continue this progress and slowly allow your dog more time around the chickens as you move further away.
Conclusion
A well-trained dog will become a requisite part of the team and excellent chicken guardian. We rely on our Colorado Mountain Dogs to protect our chickens from bears, foxes, mountain lions, and all manner of predators. For the best success, choose a skilled Livestock Guardian Breed and take the time to train your dog to protect chickens.
