North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Deb Schneider <debs913@gmail.com>]

I don't think it's a matter of a breed at all.  Just about any dog is going
to alert bark at deer.  Whether that is enough to chase off the deer or not
depends on the deer.  Larger dogs will be more intimidating.

All dogs need training for good manners.  Most dogs dig, many will eat ripe
and unripe fruit (and this may make some of them sick.  Dogs will also pull
up newly planted trees (had a Malamute that "retrieved" one for me once).
Dogs need shelter, water, and food and dog food may draw rats and other
small vermin.  Dogs will need to be fenced in the orchard, tying them out
is pretty cruel.

Some dogs may actually manage to pull down a deer.  This might get the dog
injured, so I'd be prepared for vet bills as well.

Dogs generally do not want to sit out alone, they are pack creatures and
love their people.  Bored and lonely dogs get into mischief, bark, dig,
chew.  Getting two dogs might alleviate this, or you might get two bored
barking dogs that fight with each other.

It would probably be cheaper in the long run and kinder to build a really
tall fence around your orchard and/or periodically cull the deer.


On Sun, Mar 2, 2014 at 3:54 PM, Elizabeth Hilborn <ehilborn@mebtel.net>wrote:

> 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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