Property Guardian Animals

[Aztec Death Squad]

Dogs, donkeys, llamas, geese, and guineas

These are the most common recommendations, but breed and temperament are everything. I want a guardian dog for my person and property, but I'm undecided. I'm leaning towards a Great Pyrenees. I've heard stories about them fighting off whole packs of coyotes, but I don't know how well they protect people compared to livestock.

Donkeys are smart enough to notice and bray at unfamiliar things, but they are maintenance heavy and dangerous if not socialized.

Guineas are extremely loud all the time, but eat ticks and other pests.

Any recommendations?

 

[mindlessobserver]

What do you want your dog to do? Do you want it to do the fighting for you? Or just let you know if someone comes onto the property? I'm really partial to Spaniel dogs myself, just because they are good natured. They are also little perimeter alarms that let me know when anything gets into proximity of the house. Be it deer trying to eat my garden, or the Jehovah's witnesses stopping by to try and save my soul. If something actually has to be fought off, that's what the guns are for IMO. Much more dependable and easier to control then a literal fur missile.

But that is personal preference.

 

[Sithis]

I don't know how well they protect people compared to livestock.

A well raised Pyrenees will fight to the death to protect its "pack" which you would be a member of as well. They are fantastic dogs to have but not really one that will come off as a "get the fuck out of here" animal by sight alone. They are large and can be imposing but they also come off as gentle giants until someone unfamiliar gives them reason to sense a threat, then the teeth come out and they will growl and bark very deeply before getting more aggressive. If you're wanting a dog that sends "I will fuck you up if you step on this property" vibes a chow chow or a German shepherd would be options but they will also enthusiastically murder any smaller animals and possibly other dogs you might have.
Husky breed dogs (Siberians, Samoyeds, etc) will alert you to someone being around but tbh are not ideal for protection. They have incredible hearing and are very active though so they will patrol the property and bark like maniacs at any perceived intruder. They also love to chase and kill small animals like moles, groundhogs and weasels so if any of those are issues for you a husky will gladly leave them in dismembered pieces on your lawn.
Never buy a shitbull. Never own a shitbull. Same goes for rottweilers.

I knew an old lady once who kept peacocks instead of guineas. No one went to her yard because those bastards were ferocious. I've read about some prisons adopting the use of guard geese but geese are unloyal bastards.

 

[Aztec Death Squad]

What do you want your dog to do? Do you want it to do the fighting for you? Or just let you know if someone comes onto the property?

The best dog I ever met was some sort of mix that killed everything except the cat: possums, woodchucks, snakes, and even one time an adult deer. Barked at strangers but was never aggressive with anyone or other dogs. I think it was an American Bull Dog, but they have been so crossbred with pitbulls in the name of saving the breed that most are basically super-buff pits.

My ideal dog would help with pest control and also be protective enough to bark at strangers.

 

[Phalanges Mycologist]

My ideal dog would help with pest control and also be protective enough to bark at strangers.

I have a dog that looks like an Alsation that is hot on Pests, Hot on intruders but soft as all hell with the family but if someone threatens her people she is a foaming at the mouth independent missile BUT will listen to any an all commands given to her, she can also judge threats - 2 jack russle puppies playing with my niece no threat an if they get a bit boystrous with her she will put them back in line - XL Bully she will shield her with her own body and make it known she's not going to let her get armed, she does the same with me, but is totally cool with squirrels birds and cats.

 

[Steverambo]

Can't recommend geese enough if you've got chickens, pigeons, ducks, etc. Raise a gosling up around your chickens and other livestock and not only will it go toe to toe with 'yotes, but hawks/owls/etc. that dogs have more trouble with. Just gotta be fine with gettin goose bit. I use dogs+geese for livestock protection and early warning for intruders.

 

[The Cheese Aisle]

If you grow and store food, cats are better at controlling faster, smaller pest animals like rats that most guard dogs would struggle with. If you have livestock as well, a good combo is cats + livestock guard dogs (+ herding dogs if you have a lot of land). The only thing is training them to get along.

 

[Procrastinhater]

Never buy a shitbull. Never own a shitbull. Same goes for rottweilers.

Sorry but thats fucking bullshit. Rotties are great dogs. I've always had them.
I've got four of them.
They're loving and protective as fuck of family and livestock (they were originally cattle dogs) and they make great all around working dogs.
I'd take a rottie over a snappy fucking collie any day of the week.
They can be stubborn and they take a lot of training and exercize and if you dont have the personality that they look to you as a leader they can be defiant but well trained they're big cuddly bears that will die for their family or animals they see as being under their protection.

Rotweilers got a bad rep in the 90's because niggers and retards bred the most aggressive and mean ones to use as poser dogs the way they do with Pits but no offense, to compare Rotties to Pits tells me you don't know what you're talking about. Pit Bulls were bred for aggression and to fight.
Rottweilers were cattle dogs, They're working dogs, so they need discipline and exercize.
They have a natural guard instinct and will protect your family and property with their life.

They need a lot of exercize and training and they're better if you live rural or have the ability to give them a lot of exercize, they're hard workers and its not a good dog to be locked in a home all day.
But they'll stick by you dawn till dusk, they never get tired, and they're great with family. My kids love ours.

Didn't mean to go off on you but its a pet peeve of mine people comparing hard working loyal dogs like Rotweilers to fucking Pit Bulls.
Its a comparison nobody who has owned them would make.
I'd trust a Rottie around my kids before any snappy terrier.

 

[ye's Official KF Burner]

Zebra are actually really easy to get a hold of here in the US and can be put with other ungulates (hoofed animals).

They're notoriously vicious, but if you get them young enough and have some equine experience plus a well behaved buddy animal they will be good to you but any intruders be it human or animal are fucked.

Donkey + zebra pair are efficient as fuck.

 

[The Cheese Aisle]

I'd take a rottie over a snappy fucking collie any day of the week.

Collies out here catching strays because of Pitbulls

 

[mindlessobserver]

Big issue with aggressive dogs is they are a walking liability. If you are looking for general pest control of vermin, oddly enough the best is the Jack Russel Terrier.



These little buggers were bred to kill rabbits, rats, mice, moles and snakes. They are also very very good at it, and will even go after bigger things like possums, skunks and foxes. A common mistake people make with the breed is assume they are some sort of toy dog due to their relatively small size. They coop them up in their apartment like a purse puppy and wonder why they get aggressive and yappy. They are 100% working dogs though a need alot of space to romp and alot of small animals to murder. Give them that and they will be very happy and good natured.

If you want something a bit bigger, the English Cocker Spaniel (not to be confused with the mutant American version) is a good bet too. Very affectionate, active and alert.



Not very good at killing things, but very good at alerting you to the presence of other animals and people.

But the big benefit of Jack Russels and Spaniels (of any type) is that they are very good natured, easy to train and low effort.

If you are willing to put the work in, then the best option would be a Bluetick Coonhound



Or the German Shorthaired Pointer


These are HIGH training requirement dogs, but will do everything for you from defend your property from coyotes, to protect you from home invasion. You can also take them hunting in the woods. In fact this latter thing is genuinely recommended. They need ALOT of exercise. If you are the outdoorsy type though then that is perfect.

Middle of the road requirement, would be your bog standard Shephard dogs like the German Shephard or the English Shephard. Very protective, genuinely amiable but moderate training required. English Shephards are pretty cool to watch at work though.

I would not recommend any Bull Terriers or Terrier mixes. Recent decades have seen absolute mongoloids cross breeding terriers with Pit fighting dogs. Almost all the breeding lines for Staffordshire Terriers, American Bull Terriers and so on have been hopelessly adulterated. Impossible to train, they are all a time bomb waiting to go off.

 

[Procrastinhater]

Collies out here catching strays because of Pitbulls

Lol to be fair I love collies too, they are tireless working dogs, and some of the best herding dogs around, just they can just be snappy, any herding dog can. You're far more likely to get nipped by a collie than savaged by a rottie.

you are looking for general pest control of vermin, oddly enough the best is the Jack Russel Terrier.

Jacks Russels and the like are invaluble if you keep livestock or birds, they are great for keeping the rodent population down.
We don't have one but my buddy has a couple he brings over every now and again to scout out the feed store (since our cat just sits on his ass on the porch hissing at me when I step over him lol)

you are willing to put the work in, then the best option would be a Bluetick Coonhound

Coonhounds are another awesome doggo, great hunting companions and will drive off coyotes and the like, and are smart enough to not get lured out by coyote packs and ambushed, which coyotes are known to try with less smart dogs.
Thats why if you live rural and have to worry about that sort of thing you need more than one. You need a pack to look out for each other.

Labradors I'd mention as well if you're a duck or turkey hunter, they're the best gun dogs I know. This is more a protection animal thread though thats why I didn't mention them before.

 

[Merton J. Dingle]

Are there any non-domesticated animals that can be useful for self sufficiency? Like one that can get along with humans from a young age?

 

[mindlessobserver]

Are there any non-domesticated animals that can be useful for self sufficiency? Like one that can get along with humans from a young age?

Raccoons and Possums have been successfully made pets if found young. I've heard Skunks too can be tamed, but you have to remove the stink glands, obviously.

 

[Sithis]

If you grow and store food, cats are better at controlling faster, smaller pest animals like rats that most guard dogs would struggle with. If you have livestock as well, a good combo is cats + livestock guard dogs (+ herding dogs if you have a lot of land). The only thing is training them to get along.

A good barn cat will absolutely fuck up a snake too, something which could put a dog's life in jeopardy is EZ PZ for a barn cat because their reflexes are much faster. I've also seen guineas surround a copperhead and gangmurder it by stomping its head with their clawed feet. But both of those would potentially be prey for a hawk.

Collies out here catching strays because of Pitbulls

Collies can be very prone to warning bites and one off bites, they're especially bad around kids because kids are annoying little shits and this leads to collies being commonly associated with biting. They're not going to tear into someone and rip them to shreds but they will bite someone if they feel annoyed.

The Rottweiler argument by @Procrastinhater just illustrated further why I advise against buying them, because they are high maintenance dogs that can fuck someone up quite easily. And to be fair, a German shepherd or chow chow can be just as dangerous and aggressive and get you a lawsuit by biting the mailman, that's why I specified those dogs are more for a "get the fuck off this land" presence.

Edit - if you can raise an opossum or keep them around, do it, they love eating ticks and won't be too much of a nuisance.

 

[Procrastinhater]

The Rottweiler argument by @Procrastinhater just illustrated further why I advise against buying them, because they are high maintenance dogs that can fuck someone up quite easily. And to be fair, a German shepherd or chow chow can be just as dangerous and aggressive and get you a lawsuit by hiring the mailman, that's why I specified those dogs are more for a "get the fuck off this land" presence.

I do see your point bro, I just disagree. Any dog needs discipline.
Theres few more loyal family oriented dogs than Rottweilers.
If you can't control and have the dog respect you you shouldn't have a big dog though.
They're certainly not for everyone. They wouldn't do well in small apartments and with no exercize for example. They won't get mean unless there a problem with the bloodline, but they'll likely chew and get destructive from boredom.
As far as guaranteeing healthy, well balanced animals goes, get your working dogs from a Farm is my best recommendation, for working dogs at least.
Farmers need healthy, dependable dogs so they won't breed defective bloodlines. The dog will have less health problems and live longer too.

Oppossums are awesome btw.

 

[Agent Abe Caprine]

Sorry but thats fucking bullshit. Rotties are great dogs. I've always had them.
I've got four of them.
They're loving and protective as fuck of family and livestock (they were originally cattle dogs) and they make great all around working dogs.
I'd take a rottie over a snappy fucking collie any day of the week.
They can be stubborn and they take a lot of training and exercize and if you dont have the personality that they look to you as a leader they can be defiant but well trained they're big cuddly bears that will die for their family or animals they see as being under their protection.

Rotweilers got a bad rep in the 90's because niggers and retards bred the most aggressive and mean ones to use as poser dogs the way they do with Pits but no offense, to compare Rotties to Pits tells me you don't know what you're talking about. Pit Bulls were bred for aggression and to fight.
Rottweilers were cattle dogs, They're working dogs, so they need discipline and exercize.
They have a natural guard instinct and will protect your family and property with their life.

They need a lot of exercize and training and they're better if you live rural or have the ability to give them a lot of exercize, they're hard workers and its not a good dog to be locked in a home all day.
But they'll stick by you dawn till dusk, they never get tired, and they're great with family. My kids love ours.

Didn't mean to go off on you but its a pet peeve of mine people comparing hard working loyal dogs like Rotweilers to fucking Pit Bulls.
Its a comparison nobody who has owned them would make.
I'd trust a Rottie around my kids before any snappy terrier.

Cane corsos are in a pretty similar situation rottweilers were in and have pretty similar requirements. They're guard dogs that can also be used as livestock guardians and cattle herding dogs. Like rottweiler, they came from Roman war dogs. There's backyard breeders breeding them to be aggressive and way, way too big. There's no need to do that when their normal size and bark are enough to scare off almost any troublemakers.

Corsos aren't as great for families with kids. It can work with teenagers and preteens, but not little kids.

 

[CryptoHermit]

Get an Irish Wolfhound for real. Very gentle breed towards their bonded owners. They were bred to hunt bears, wolves and boars. Absolutely huge dogs with a keen sense of attachment to their territory and are ferocious when they feel you're being threatened or intruded upon. Of course these dogs need a large open space to roam in and patrol. They can get pretty sick in their old age sadly because of their size.

 

[Agent Abe Caprine]

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Get an Irish Wolfhound for real. Very gentle breed towards their bonded owners. They were bred to hunt bears, wolves and boars. Absolutely huge dogs with a keen sense of attachment to their territory and are ferocious when they feel you're being threatened or intruded upon. Of course these dogs need a large open space to roam in and patrol. They can get pretty sick in their old age sadly because of their size.

That old age comes fast. Giant breeds are typically considered elderly by about 5-7. It's considered impressive if you manage to have one in their double digits.

 

[Cirrhosis_of_Liver]

If you get a livestock guardian dog, know that the beginning two years will be a MASSIVE investment in training. They aren't genetic robots. An untrained or worse poorly trained LGD is effectively just a wolf that will kill both coyotes and your livestock.

Buying an older, trained LGD is an option. It will be more expensive, and dog will have fewer years of service to offer you, but if you're not prepared to train a pup, I think it makes more economic sense.

Littermates can be a pain in the ass, egging each other on to greater heights of mischief.

I love my LGDs. I've lost zero goats to predators since we got them. My wife did all the training with them. Even if I had the time, I'd never have had the patience and skill to turn rambunctious puppies into loyal, intelligent, brave guardians.