No homestead is complete without a DOG! A faithful companion, tireless hunter, brave protector... If you have enough property and the time to train one, you should ABSOLUTELY add a dog to your homestead!

But what is the right breed? What jobs can they do? Where should you get your homestead pup? Lets dive into Homestead Dogs

What is a Homestead Dog? 

I feel that the perfect homestead dog is a bit like a Swiss army knife. The dog has many talents that a homesteader can take advantage of. The dog is safe around livestock, helps put food on the table, keeps the family and farm safe, and provides companionship for the family. 

What does the Perfect Homestead Dog do? 

Companionship Of course the most important job of a dog is being man's best friend. Companionship is a huge reason I own dogs. Having a buddy to walk beside me while I am working on the homestead is great. But it isn't the only role they play. 

Hunter A homestead dog can help put food on the table. It might be pheasants flushed from the high grass, or venison that your dog tracked after your shot.

Guardian Just the presence of a large dog can keep trespassers away, and one good bark keeps strangers in their vehicles when they happen to drive down the driveway.

Livestock Guardian In addition to protecting humans a good homestead dog will protect, not harm, the homesteaders livestock. For some breeds this means they actually will patrol the flock, living amongst them, keeping unwanted predators away. Other breeds, while not living with the livestock, will keep predators away with just their presence on the property.

Herding and Working Animals This is a very breed specific ability, but for some dogs working a large flock of sheep or goats around a property is wha they love to do, and if you know what your doing, you can help work your flock with your dog!

These jobs and more can be covered by the right homestead dog. So what kind of dog is that?

What is the best breed for a Homestead Dog?

Choosing the best breed of dog for a homestead is like choosing the best flavor of ice cream. Hard to pick one best one for everyone. That said, I have my 2 favorite breeds that I know would do well on any homestead. 

Labrador Retriever Labs, one of the most popular breeds of dogs, are an awesome choice for a homestead. Their hunting drive makes them a great partner in the field. Their kind nature makes them a great family dog, one that will protect the family from danger when needed, and snuggle up to the kids the rest of the time. 

Despite the fact that Labs are bird dogs by nature, they can absolutely be trained to NOT harm the livestock. I have had farm ducks walk into the dog run and drink from my labs water dish unscathed. 

Putting food on the table, keeping predators away, and keeping your face smiling is a labs job and they do it well. 

The downside to the labs, with a wide breeding pool you need to be sure you get one with good genetics and train it to NOT attach your chickens. As a hunting breed labs can be prone to wander, and if you blink they may be in your neighbors field. Many labs are very active and will want to hunt, or at least retrieve a ball daily, so be sure you have the time to put into a lab.

German Shepherd My second pick for a good homestead breed is the German Shepherd. If your not as much of a hunting homesteader, and you focus mostly on livestock, a German Shepherd is a great option. They are naturally protective of the family, which I like, and when trained will learn to patrol your property, not wandering away like your labs might. 

I would not choose to use a Shepherd as a bird dog, but they certainly can learn to track wild game and can help put food on the table. 
A shepherd has a drive to herd livestock. Untrained this can cause problems as they will want to nip and chase animals, but with the proper training they can be an awesome aid to shepherding your flocks! 

When it comes to guarding the homestead, no dog says KEEP OUT like a big shepherd, and when strangers drive down your driveway your big guardian will keep them in their cars until you decide otherwise. 

Where should you get your dog from?

Rescue dogs seem to be the favorite option these days. If you have livestock, chickens, goats, etc, and you want to add a dog to that mix, you will want a young dog that has been well socialized. That is hard to find in a rescue, and so I prefer to buy my Homestead dogs from reputable breeders. 

Not every breeder who has a newspaper add out for puppies is a reputable one. A good breeder wants to meet you before agreeing to sell you a dog. They make sure their dogs are going to a good home. They can give you names and contact info of other people that have purchased their dogs. Call those referrals, check and see if they are happy with their purchase. 

Buy from a good breeder and you will get a good dog. 

You can homestead without a dog. But I wouldn't recommend it.