Training Dogs With Livestock

The entire Farm Dog Series revolves around training “normal” dogs to be farm dogs. It doesn’t talk about training specifically bred dogs to do their tasks. Dogs like cattle dogs or livestock guardian dogs require training that I have not personally worked through. My dogs are pound pups and companion dogs. Their only job is my enjoyment AND raising the alarm. If you are in the same boat, then I am here to talk to you about training dogs with livestock, the pitfalls and triumphs. As well as some general how to’s to get you headed in the right direction.

Training Dogs With Livestock

Training dogs with livestock isn’t really any different than regular introductions with other animals, except some key points. Most livestock is bigger than the dog and poultry is usually much smaller than the dog. Also, most livestock/ poultry are prey animals and most dogs are predators. Those key differences are pretty big. But the introduction phase is still always the same, regardless of the animals being introduced. The tools for introduction need to be on point because you don’t want your dog getting a cow riled up.

But before we get started into training dogs with livestock, I want to quickly mention a few things. First, your dog should already be decently trained. They should be able to walk on a leash without going crazy or dragging you around. They should have bonded with you before and during training to ensure that they will listen to you. Their recall should be damn near perfect. These things are absolutely essential in introducing your farm dog to livestock.

Start With Introductions

As I stated above, your farm dog should be easily controlled. I NEVER recommend introducing animals to other animals without having some measure in place to maintain safety. In this instance, with dogs, the dog needs to be leashed. Period. I don’t care how well they respond t you, other animals or how well trained.

Due to the nature of dogs and livestock, especially large livestock, you should never put your animals in a position where they can get injured or killed. That means that Fido goes on a leash and the livestock is behind a fence. Initial introductions should always be made through a fence or other barrier. This will allow both animals to feel safer.

Once brought to the fence, you should then, keeping your dog calm and focused on you, allow your livestock to sniff or investigate the dog. If the dog feels threatened, then talk to them and work to calm them. You have to remember that a cow, horse, donkey, or other large animal can be absolutely terrifying to your dog. This thing is huge compared to them. Keeping your dog calm and reassured is key.

If the dog and livestock are both calm and neither are acting riled up. You can get the animals closer, and closer and closer until you are in the pen with the livestock. Sometimes, this never happens. Other times, it’s all within the same day or training session. It really depends on the animals involved.

Introductions for any animals should always be done with at least two CALM people. You don’t want to do this with someone, especially kids, that are going to be distracting or freaking out. Make sure that whoever is helping you is going to either control the dog or be with the livestock.

Introductions with smaller livestock

I wanted to talk briefly about introducing dogs to smaller livestock or poultry. When you have medium to extra, extra large dogs, you really want to be careful with introductions to other small animals. The biggest concern when introducing larger animals to smaller animals is the fact that the large animal is well…. large. If you don’t think you can control that animal, you do not need to start making introductions at all.

When you are introducing a 75# pound pup to a baby goat, you need to be ready that the dog is going to at a minimum try to play with the goat, at a maximum, try to kill it. We want to make sure that all animals being introduced are safe. So make sure that no matter what, you are able to control the dog.

You need to understand that small animals and poultry sound a lot like squeaky toys to dogs. And most of us have used squeaky toys to work with our dogs. This has taught them that chewing on these toys creates a squeak…. well guess what that dog is going to do with your baby goat, lamb, chicken, etc. So I recommend not introducing dogs, especially puppies, to small livestock or poultry until you have a Leave It command on point and it’s solid.

Introducing Predator To Prey

One of the things that most people have forgotten is that their dog is a predator. I know, it’s shocking. But your dog is descendant of a wolf. And while we have bred most of those instincts out of them, they are at their core a predator. But as we start letting our dogs be dogs, you are going to find that your normally docile apartment dog is now chasing chickens. This is totally normal. Please don’t get mad at your dog because they are doing exactly what they should be doing. They are dogs and dogs are predators.

But most dogs don’t want to eat chickens, baby goats, and other animals. To be honest, every time Blu would catch a chicken, she would kind of freak out because she didn’t know what to do with it once she caught it! Most dogs are like that. They aren’t trying to hurt the creature, they were trying to play with it. But they do because they don’t know any better.

The best thing that you can do is to make introductions. Then make those introductions as stress free as possible for everyone, yourself included. The best way to do this is to teach your commands and basic obedience with your dog. The next step is make introductions through a barrier and with leashes. After that, start working on getting those two animals close to each other and let your dog know to leave it alone.

Tools And Training Dogs With Livestock

I talked in depth about the tools to needed to train your dogs here. That list is full of all the things that I use to train my dogs. Since we are talking about potentially dangerous situations, I would hold off on all introductions with livestock until you get to the point that your dog is trained on an ecollar. The reason is that we want to protect our livestock. If for some reason everything goes to hell in a hand basket, that ecollar may be the only thing that keeps your goat or chicken alive.

Personally, I would not let any dog meet any livestock until they are damn near perfect on their recall, leash work, and your bond. Also, I wouldn’t let Fido anywhere near livestock until you have safe, effective fencing or barriers for your livestock/poultry.

In real life, I am a paramedic so that means that I meet a lot of dogs. And the vast majority of the time, every pet owner will say something along the lines of “Oh, he’s friendly. He doesn’t bite.” And my response is always the same…. “Maybe, but today could be the day.” That being said, your dog may be the friendliest dog out there, until there is a baby goat running around screaming and jumping. Even the best trained dog is going to be freaked out until they know what this thing is.

I am going to repeat what I said before. When it comes to training dogs with livestock, you first have to have adequate control and protection over both animals, dog and livestock. Then you start with introductions through the fence. Then you bring them closer and closer and closer until they can safely meet face to face. Provide tons of reassurance and praise when everyone is happy. Don’t be afraid to correct if either of the animals starts showing out.

Finally, patience. This training doesn’t need to happen in a day. If it takes a year to get your dog comfortable with livestock, then it takes a year. Period. Both animal’s safety is more important.

Farm Dog Series

If you liked this post and want to read the rest of our farm dog series you can check those out here.

Other Posts From Training A Farm Dog Series

How I Train My Farm Dogs

How To Train Farm Dogs

Tips, Tools and Hacks For Training Farm Dogs

Best Breeds For Farm Dogs

Commands For Training Farm Dogs

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