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nafex - Re: [nafex] Best Dog Breed for Orchard Protection?

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  • From: Elizabeth Hilborn <ehilborn@mebtel.net>
  • To: nafex mailing list at ibiblio <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [nafex] Best Dog Breed for Orchard Protection?
  • Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2014 15:54:29 -0500

Both of my mixed breed dogs eat both mature and immature pomes off the trees. I keep them out of the orchard as the fruit starts gaining some size.

Betsy

On 2/23/2014 10:53 AM, Lori Rizzo wrote:
If you want a varmit dog, think of the sighthounds - whippets will keep the
squirrels and rabbits and possums out - and they can catch them! - however,
they aren't much on deer, though they may give chase. However, they have
to also be house dogs and don't tolerate really cold temps - and it's best
to have 2 of them. gOTOH, they don't require much training, are very calm
as adults, and are extremely personable to people and children. They also
don't bark much (some not at all), and are extremely clean dogs. But no
breeder will sell you one if it is only an outside dog or you don't have a
good fence - you do have to train them to come, since they are fast dogs.

Your other choice is a terrier or beagle. However, beagles bark and dig.
Rat terriers or Jack Russels are great varmit dogs - but they do bark
sometimes and are not always great around kids - you do have to train them.

Problem with the herding and livestock guard dogs is they don't really go
after small game, though they are easy keepers. Also, they can be
territorial and taking care of their coats requires quite a bit of time.
But they can be left outside - i.e., are o.k. with just being barn dogs.
Some people get Australian Shepherds, but they are very territorial and
barky towards strangers and other outside animals.







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