Wanted: Opposite of a deer dog ...

[VSS]

Just reread your post ... I have never seen a bearded collie. Don't know much about them either.

But like old English sheepdog ?

Smaller, hardier and more intelligent than an old English sheepdog.
There are still working / farm strains of beardie. Less hairy than the show type.
About the same size as a border collie.
I have seen some that have made really good pet / yard dogs, without too much urge to herd and chase stuff all the time, but enough to be trainable and useful.
I think one of them would suit your situation very nicely.

This is the type I'm thinking of:


(They also come in red-and-white, and tricolour).

 

[Fursty Ferret]

Dogs that are just happy following you about really, but are not going to disrupt resident wildlife too much....apart from wandering foxes and badgers

Some mild stock protection for poultry in the future

But can live outdoors all year, that is the most important bit

I still dont see the purpose of these dogs but each to their own.

 

[lambic]

Never great getting two pups at the same time, they’ll form a bigger bond with each other then you.

I want that though, so they are more independent

 

[lambic]

Smaller, hardier and more intelligent than an old English sheepdog.
There are still working / farm strains of beardie. Less hairy than the show type.
About the same size as a border collie.
I have seen some that have made really good pet / yard dogs, without too much urge to herd and chase stuff all the time, but enough to be trainable and useful.
I think one of them would suit your situation very nicely.

This is the type I'm thinking of:
View attachment 422376

(They also come in red-and-white, and tricolour).

A fine looking dog

 

[VSS]

I want that though, so they are more independent

The last thing you want is dogs that are "independent". They have a habit of going self-employed as soon as your back is turned, which generally ends badly.
If you must have two, start with one and get a second pup after a couple of years, by which time the first is well established and knows the routine.

 

[SikaSeeker]

I want that though, so they are more independent

You want everything but nothing so, so want a dog that’ll chase fox/badgers away but not too have much drive. You want a dog to be independent but to stay in one area. An independent dog has very little respect for its owner. He does everything for itself.

 

[NoIDeer]

Sounds like you want a pastoral dog, look at the European herding breeds.

 

[Jon P]

Google Search

www.google.com

 

[Bo Diddley]

I would be looking to take a pair to pups I think, ideally brothers.

Personally, I wouldn't take two pups out of the same litter unless you have a great amount of spare time and experience training. You will struggle to break the sibling bond if you're not careful.
Edit; someone has already said this , I should have read the whole thread

 

[Camdig]

Two pups at same time will egg each other on when upto no good chasing etc, id be looking at pommerain, agile enough, bark a fair bit and good coat for outside life and a pretty poor prey drive and yer mates will shred you every time they see them

 

[Lloyd90]

Can you still get working golden retrievers?

Yes although the people I know who have them / work them have stated to me they’re not a patch on a Labrador for working.

Also they’re about £2.2-2.5k …

 

[phillips321]

Never great getting two pups at the same time, they’ll form a bigger bond with each other then you.

THIS! You want the dogs to be loyal to you, not each other! You'd be better off getting a single terrier than 2 other breed males from the same litter!

 

[norma 308]

They would be off the leash most of the time amusing themselves, but would attempt to train them to not stray over fences lines and boundaries and pass gates.

I would be looking to take a pair to pups I think, ideally brothers.

Just looking to find the right breed that can amuse themselves a fair bit but not create total carnage when left to their own devices.

Young dogs turn most things to carnage ! Most working breeds have prey drive to be honest usually getting themselves into trouble

 

[Sol]

A livestock guardian breed seems the only sensible choice here, but even then I dont think its sensible.

 

[lambic]

You want everything but nothing so, so want a dog that’ll chase fox/badgers away but not too have much drive. You want a dog to be independent but to stay in one area. An independent dog has very little respect for its owner. He does everything for itself.

When you put it like that, it sounds a challenge.

 

[lambic]

Looks like a year gap between pups then is the way to go

 

[moeggesit]

They would be off the leash most of the time amusing themselves, but would attempt to train them to not stray over fences lines and boundaries and pass gates.

I would be looking to take a pair to pups I think, ideally brothers.

Just looking to find the right breed that can amuse themselves a fair bit but not create total carnage when left to their own devices.

Would appear that two pups (especially males) from the same litter is generally not recommended.

We have certainly had major issues with rivalry between pups and know of others who had similar issues to the point that one had to be rehomed.

 

[GBR66]

We had an abandoned lab turn up in a field one day - stud dog in Wales developed a heart murmur and owner ditched him near the M4. Barked ferociously at anyone strange while keeping 5 yards away from people, I think I probably touched him twice in 7 years. Lived in a kennel in the yard all year by the house of the girl who did our horses. Perfect hardy yard dog and used to follow the girl on exercise and was traffic safe.

 

[AndrewS]

Hello

Yes, huskies et al, plus the pointers are not an option based on my experience. We sold our old house with resident hens to some people who had 4 husky type dogs, the hens were slaughtered within weeks apparently

I have thought about the classic Lassie collie. Appreciate the Border collie is very intelligent, but not for me.

However, looking at all the evidence, I think the Clumber is currently the strongest candidate. Mainly because of the character and laziness.

Just need to try and find some when the time comes, as well as building their h

ome.

I'm no dog expert, but the only Clumber I've encountered was a grumpy old thing! Could have just been that dog though.

 

[lambic]

I have been trying to make progress with finding Clumber breeders, but not really got anywhere