Farm Dog

What was the best farm dog you ever had? Just curious of some of the stories that some of you may have.

Hard to beat a good Faithful companion.

I have an english springer spaniel. Liver and White. He is very well behaved and lives for me and the kids. He is very mild mannered and stays put on the yard. Loves being in the Shop, doesn't bother him a bit.

Just don't sit in seat in the Pickup or his eyes will ask you to sit in the back.

Sam is just a good ol boy.

I got a beagle/ratareier mix now I think he is a good dog, his name is buddy will bark if he doesn't know someone or knows something's up he is an awesome watch dog, if I yell go get him boy he will go after any animal or person who is near by, only thing I don't like is he likes to get in the house, somehow he can manage to get on his back legs and open a door knob if he plays with it awhile he usually just goes in and sits in a chair and doesn't harm anything even though he knows he isn't suppose to be in the house.

A Border Collie named Molybdnum. Always ready to do things that needed to be done. Herding deer, pigs, cats, elk, or cattle. Voice command for the tasks I needed done, and her own imagination for those she thought up. Jim

Lady was a collie of some sort. She was so smart it was almost like she could reason with you. She understood how things could affect how she acted. If the gate swung open and a cow was coming close she knew that she needed to move them. If a gate wasn't open she knew to leave them alone. She also understood not to mess with the mama cows if their calves were under a certain size. She lived to be 17.

We have two worthless dogs now. Against my better judgement we got two from the pound - a male and a female. She is the most annoying dog I have ever seen and has taught the male every bad habit she has. He is a sweetheart and would be a great dog without her. I knew I wouldn't be happy with older dogs (they were just under a year). You have to get them young on the farm so they can learn respect for everything. It's a miracle these haven't been run over. I think I have successfully proved my point and won't have to do this again. There's nothing wrong with pound puppies, but you have to be more selective with dogs that you expect to do any amount of work.

what can i say 10 years riding shotgun barkin at any critter two or four that messed with her truck. part spitz part poodle so i got a spittin poodle .litter box trained good thing shes small!! and one christmas sheri called me and wished me and the mutt a merry christmas only it was not this larry i hope he erased that message before his wife heard that!! so we bought her in chicago but for a city dog she does well on the farm

I have heard that man has only one really good dog during his time here on earth, so I must have gotten a few from someone else. Ding Dong was my first border collie, followed by Wizard, and now Willie and Jake, an Aussie. Al four have been exceptional farm dogs. Each with his own little quirks; almost eccentric. Ding Dong liked riding tractors and trucks. In back, on the deck, in the cab. As long as he was going. Wiz hated riding, but loved to run alongside the truck or tractor. Jake loves herding cows, as did Ding and Wiz. Willie isn't quite the herder, but when it comes to chasing sticks and balls, he is heads above Jake and Wizzie. Yeah- I have been fortunate!!

Ziva, Tractor Dog

Sorry button stuck

Blue heeler, very intelligent, loyal and a great companion.

we had a blue healer mix. he would follow the tractor around all day long no matter what. wouldnt chase cars but hated trucks. he got after one one day and got run over. we were just sick about it. never had a farm dog even come close to matching him since.

A Border Collie named Jaska [Finnish for Jack].. Very smart..... Too Smart

Field bred English Springer Spaniel, hard to beat as a buddy, but busy in the bushes on a farm.

Best dog I ever had was a 90lbs female Pit Bull that saved my life more then once like when the car fell of the loader bucket and trapped me she pulled me out form under that car. She was trained for hand commands and when and if I was attacked she would defend me no questions asked. Plus when my 2nd daughter was born that dog protected that child form any thing and let her ride like the dog was a horse

Just lost our dog this week. He was a Terrier had him for fourteen years on my Dads farm. Had him since he was a puppy. He was a very smart dog. My dad would go in for a pop at 9am and 3pm and at lunch time. Dad and I new when it was getting close to these times because(sneezer)our dog would not leave us alone until we went in he knew my mom would have snacks for him in the house. One of the biggest things I can remember is when my dad was combining a field of corn and I was driving a tractor pulling a grain cart, Sneezer was riding with me in the tractor. I was at the house unloading the grain cart into a bin and I had to get out of the tractor to go up to the top of the bin to see how full it was getting. I left Sneezer in the tractor with the door open and went to check on the bin. In the mean time my dad had an accident in the combine, the ground gave away by a drainage ditch and he had went down in the water in the combine. My dad was calling on the c b radio for help and Sneezer could hear him. Sneezer got out of the tractor and climb the stairs to the bin all the way to the top and was just barking at me to get my attention inside the grain bin. I couldn"t believe he had climbed all the way up there. So I came out of the bin and we climbed down the stairs and when I got to the ground I could hear my dad on the c b calling for help. Sneezer was letting me know that my dad was in trouble and needed help. He truly saved us that day. Things could have been a lot worse had we not got there when we did to help him. That was the first time and only time Sneezer ever climbed the stairs on the grain bin. I truly believe Sneezer knew dad was in trouble. Sneezer was very loved by all and will be truly missed.

For a farm dog it was my Son's German shepard mix,
Piper. Never could start a tractor without her running over.
When I'd cut hay in the hot weather she would walk between the front wheels. As she got older she would tire from running with us and keep stopping in front of the tractor 'til we put her on it!

My childhood dog which was a black and white English Shepherd. He was not only a good stock dog but also a very loyal friend. He understood much more than simple commands. He always did the exact task that was asked of him. He knew no meant no. If he knew something was forbidden he left it alone. He wasn't much of a guard dog. He loved everyone that ever stopped by. He would have greeted and adored whoever was robbing the place. We shared many ice cream cones and bags of M&M candies. We even napped together on the porch.

He saved by tail when I was a small boy. I was freeing a calf that had is head stuck in the hay ring. Once the calf was free, he was on me like white on rice. The old English shepherd sprang into action and grabbed the calf by the neck until I was back on the tractor. He let go of the calf and ran to guard the gate just like nothing had ever happened. It was just all in a days work for him.

He lived to be an old guy. He became both blind and deaf at 14 or so. The fuel delivery truck ran him over at about 16. His hips got stiff during his last year. It was nearing the time to put him down anyway. We have had many dogs since then but none have been worth a nickel.

I'd suggest an English Shepherd to anyone who has a farm with small children. It's important to buy from a breeder that offers puppies that are raised outside and never kept in a kennel. Kennel dogs are idiots regardless of the breed but shepherds seem to take it worse that other breeds.

Lab/shepherd cross that grew up with our three daughters on the farm. She would never let them out of her sight whenever they were outside. They would try to sneak away on her while sleeping, but within a few minutes she would be back at their side. She considered it her priority job to look after them.

My father came to visit us at one point. He was relatively frail and had to walk with a cane. As soon as he left the house for a walk, she would again stay at his side, no matter how long he was outside, where he went, or what else was going on.

A great companion, very intelligent, gentle disposition but tough when she had to be. She died at the age of 14, and I have yet to find a dog that can compare to her.

Best one we ever had was the biggest collie I ever saw. Duke weighed about 110#, and he wasn't fat, just big. He quickly worked his way into the heart of anyone he ever met and could get the disciplinarian of the family( my wife) to let him get away with laying on the furniture and anything else he wanted. He never figured out that his size was like having a pony loose in the house, thought he was a lap dog. He kept the groundhog population down to zero. He died at 14, 20 years ago, and I still miss him.

luv2wrench, I am with Erik Ks Farmer here! Best dog out there Period! Blue Heelers hands down!!!
My Blue Heeler was great on verbal commands, had more Truck Knowledge and miles hauled than most. Mine could finish your sentences for you! Made 13 yrs old before I had to put him down!
Later,
John A.

We had an 80 pound mutt looked like a Kelpie I saw a picture of. When the kids were growing up we told them if you want to go play/walk in the woods take the dog, if they were alone after school for a while bring the dog in with you. Never worried, someone would have had to kill the dog to get near those kids

The 2 Pyrenees I have now that dropped my lamb losses from coyotes from 50ish to 3! And those 3 got way outside the fence where the dogs couldn't protect them. Best $500.00 I ever spent.

Blue Heelers are the norm around here. Most ride the back of flatbed one ton duallys. It amazes me how these dogs can hang on with all the junk usually in the back, and not get thrown off.

I asked my neighbor that question and he said that he lost his a couple of times. Doesn't seem to bother him. He said he stops, the dog jumps back in and away they go.

I personally wouldn't go for that but it's not my dog.

Mark

my old buddie Bear was a verry good dog he was a chow chow lab cross and looked a bit like a small newfie he knew what I was going to do before I did I miss the old fellow maybe I will get lucky and have another dog that good

We have had Border Collies for years and years. Just be sure to get a pup from working parents, not show dogs. They are very smart and loyal.

On the negative side Border Collies are not the best hunting dogs (gun shy). Some are excellent watch dogs, others are not.

Best/only farm dog I ever had was given to me by an old old guy who used to own the farm we were on.
He was telling me what a smart dog it was and his wife speaks up and says "She's smart alright, she can chit." An old dog that looked like a collie, but she was good at bringing in the cows and totally dedicated to me, 60 yrs ago.