10 Best Dogs Breeds to Work Your Farm or Protect Your Livestock
Whether you're a newbie farmer just dipping your toes into raising goats and chickens, or you've got a spread that supports grazing cattle, chances are good you work long hours on your land. Feeding your animals, milking them, mucking out the barn, cleaning the chicken coop—there's a lot to keep you busy, which is where livestock dogs/farm dogs can lend a hand...or, er, a paw. Pretty much since the Neolithic period, when ancient humans turned to agriculture as their primary food source, man's best friend has been making farmers' lives easier.
As Dr. Julie Hunt, Veterinary Consultant for Embrace Pet Insurance notes, "A good dog can serve not only as a companion, but also as a protector and a help with some farm chores, such as rodent control, herding, and guarding livestock. Certain breeds offer similar personalities and temperaments that may make them more suited to farm life, but each individual is different, so if a farmer wants a particular personality, it’s best to get to know the puppies or dogs in order to make the best decision."
Below you'll find large breeds and small breeds that make excellent livestock dogs/farm dogs. Some, like the German shepherd, can also guard your home and family, while others, including the Jack Russell terrier, are small enough to fit on your lap. But all are incredibly intelligent, faithful and perky puppers that would be a treasured addition to just about any ranch or homestead. Take a look to see which of our top ten would best suit your needs, and then read up on Actually Indestructible Dog Toys that will survive even these very good boys!
Great Pyrenees
If you own sheep or goats—or are just looking for a mellow, majestic bundle of floof to add to the household—the great Pyrenees may be the doggo for you. Bred hundreds of years ago to guard and herd flocks in the southwest European mountains for which they're named, they're legendarily good with children. "Typically used in pairs, they live with and protect livestock from common predators, such as coyotes," says Dr. Hunt. "Great Pyrenees are friendly and loving dogs, though their long coats may need to be clipped in the summer if living in warm locations."
Height: 27-32 inches
Weight: 100 pounds or more
Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
Related: Dogs that Look Like Bears
German Shepherd
This noble beastie is perhaps dogdom's most versatile and hardest-working breed. German shepherds are variously employed all over the world as police, military, service and guard dogs. They've even been movie stars! (Who can forget Rin Tin Tin?) But, as their name hints, they started out as herders.
Says Dr. Hunt of the breed, "German shepherds are very intelligent and therefore typically easy to train to a job. They are also very sensitive dogs and can be protective, so their best role on a farm may be protection of property, animals and humans. Some German shepherds can be hypervigilant or nervous dogs—that stems from being sensitive and intelligent—so they should be considered with caution by farms with children or small animals such as cats or chickens."
Height: 24-26 inches
Weight: 65-90 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Related: Best Guard Dog Breeds to Consider Adopting
Jack Russell Terrier
Developed in the mid-19th century by a British pastor for whom they're named, the Jack Russell terrier was originally a hunting dog. Small but mighty, they are "very high energy dogs and thus well suited to the open spaces of a farm," according to Dr. Hunt. "Their best farm job is in rodent control. Extremely effective at killing rats, the JRT can be a valuable addition to farms where grain is stored. JRT’s very high energy can be challenging in a home setting, so a farm is an excellent place for these dogs."
Height: 10 to 15 inches
Weight: 13 to 17 pounds
Life Expectancy: 13 to 18 years
Related: Lap Dogs for When You Need a Good Snuggle
Anatolian Shepherd
With roots said to date back some 6,000 years, the Anatolian shepherd originated in the Turkish peninsula for which he's named. Massive in size, calm and constant in temperament, this doggo is a protector above all else, according to Dr. Hunt.
"Anatolian shepherds are often used as livestock guardian dogs, similar to great Pyrenees," she says. "Typically deployed in pairs to live in the field with the animals, they can repel predators such as coyotes from attacking livestock. Anatolian shepherds, unlike some other farm dogs, generally do not herd livestock, which is helpful for a dog who is meant to be guarding them!"
Height: 29 inches
Weight: 110-150 pounds
Life Expectancy: 11-13 years
Related: Which Dog Breeds Are the Smartest?
Australian Cattle Dog
A distant cousin of Australia's famous wild dog, the dingo, this breed is endlessly loyal and deeply determined. "Australian cattle dogs are very high-energy dogs, so they do best with a lot of room to run and with the focus that comes from having a job," Dr. Hunt says. "They are intelligent and easy to train, but they can be uneasy or anxious when not doing their job or with their preferred humans, so they should be owned with caution by farms with children or small animals such as cats or chickens."
Height: 18-20 inches
Weight: 35-50 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-16 years
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Believe it or not, this adorbs little short stack makes for an able and athletic assistant for agriculturalists. "Corgis are herding breeds that are also good all-around family dogs," notes Dr. Hunt. "They often will serve to keep animals that should not be on your farm from threatening your livestock or property. Some are also good at catching and killing vermin. Generally, corgis are tolerant of cats and chickens, so they can be a good choice for farms with these animals."
The Pembroke Welsh corgi, whose ancestors were first brought to Wales by Flemish weavers in the Middle Ages, counts the Pomeranian, chow-chow and Samoyed in his gene pool. Famously beloved by Queen Elizabeth II, the wonderfully affectionate breed also makes a fine watchdog.
Height: 10-12 inches
Weight: up to 30 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-13 years
Related: Best Dog Breeds for Seniors
Bernese Mountain Dog
Serene and sweet-natured, Berners are "good at keeping watch over a farm and its inhabitants, and can be trained to herd livestock such as cattle and sheep," according to Dr. Hunt. "As they are a giant breed, these dogs have also historically been used for draft work—that is, to carry and pull things on the farm. While this use has decreased over the years, the Bernese remains an excellent farm dog. Bernese living in warmer climates may need to be clipped during the warm season in order to remain comfortable."
Hailing from Switzerland's Bern region, the Bernese Mountain dog's ancestors were brought into the area some 2,000 years ago by invading Roman soldiers. They are loving toward family members and especially good with children.
Height: 25-27.5 inches
Weight: 80-115 pounds
Life Expectancy: 7-10 years
Related: Best Dogs for Families
Border Collie
Border collies, which grew to prominence in the region around the border between Scotland and England (hence their name), "are very intelligent, motivated to work, and are a good herding breed," says Dr. Hunt. "Very trainable, they can be taught to move cattle or other livestock, such as sheep. Because of their intelligence and drive to work, they do best with a job to focus their energy. They are also excellent agility dogs for owners looking to compete with their dogs."
Height: 18-22 inches
Weight: 30-55 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Australian Shepherd
For anyone with a lot of land and livestock to move, the Australian shepherd can be a no-brainer addition to the ranch. Dr. Hunt calls them "intelligent, motivated dogs that are good at herding cattle and sheep. They are very high-energy dogs, so they do best with room to run and with having a job that they can focus on."
Despite their name, the breed originated along the border between Spain and France, before they were brought to Australia by their Basque masters, and, ultimately, the American West. This rugged. resolute canine has been associated with cowboys ever since. Australian shepherds are surprisingly versatile however, and also make fine search-and-rescue, therapy and police dogs.
Height: 20-23 inches
Weight: 50-65 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Airedale Terrier
The largest terrier breed, the Airedale makes for a "good all-around" farm dog, according to Dr Hunt. "They can protect their farm and humans and control vermin on the farm. Airedale terriers tend to be aggressive towards cats, which they see as prey, so farms with cats would need to obtain a young Airedale and train it with cats to prevent this aggression."
As bold, brave and, yes, bull-headed as their smaller relatives (like the Jack Russell), Airedales were developed in England's Aire Valley to hunt rats and even ducks. With genes borrowed from breeds including the otterhound and the Irish and Bedlington terriers, the Airedale is as versatile as the German shepherd.
Height: 23 inches
Weight: 50-70 pounds
Life Expectancy: 11-14 years
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