Akitas and Livestock (long shot...)

mandi224

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I know this is a long shot, but has anyone had any experience with having Akitas or Akita-mixes around livestock?

I've been around several Akitas growing up, and owned an Akita/German Shepherd mix as a teen/young adult, and it was my most-loved, and most-missed dog I've ever had. He was very good with cats and other dogs (including a golden retriever, a pug-beagle mix, a maltese, and a papillon) but at the time we didn't have any livestock, so I have no idea how he would have done with other critters.

We have a whole bunch of free range chickens, rabbits, and goats now. I'm most concerned about the chickens, as they'd be in the same part of the yard where I'd be letting my dog outside. I have a soft spot for Akitas and Akita/Shepherd mixes and I'd love to have another one... but I'm not sure if it would be compatible. I'd sure love to have a big, loyal dog like that to follow me around on the farm, especially when it gets dark at 5pm and I'm outside doing chores!
 

samssimonsays

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I don't know much other than stories and general breed character of Akitas but know they have a high prey drive.... If you got it as a puppy anything is possible to be "ok" with anything you have but not trusted alone with them. My friends shepherd was not allowed near our goats or the rabbits because she was too focused on them to listen and chased. Bad. But, That is what they are supposed to do. Just my personal experience on the GSD's.

My personal opinion would be that there are many other breeds that aren't as high prey drive that make good farm dogs. Consider one of those first. But that is just me. We have a full sized collie and she is amazing with the rabbits and goats. she will stop any rough housing the younger dogs are doing near the goats if it startles the goats. She came from many generations of gentle, low key and farm dogs. Not herding used but used to protect the farm and livestock. I was very particular in where she came from for that reason.
 
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mandi224

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Aw, I love collies. You don't see them very often around here -- don't know if they're not a popular breed in my area or what. Gorgeous dogs though!
Thanks for the advice :) Ideally, I'd love to come across someone that is raising livestock dogs specifically -- like you said, someone that's had them for a few generations. Hopefully I'll luck out and the right dog will just appear when we're ready!

Our poor little pug-beagle is baffled by the farm animals. She was a "city dog" up till now lol. The chickens she totally ignores, but the goats terrify her!
 

mandi224

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My mom's friend used to raise Great Pyrenees dogs and I definitely always admired hers! I'm not sure a LGD would be a good fit for us though, as I would like it to be bonded with the family and be in the house with us sometimes too (especially at night). My impression of LGDs is that they really prefer to be outside with the livestock as working animal pretty much around the clock, right?
 

babsbag

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The LGD can come in the house and really make great family dogs as well but most of them are nocturnal by nature and will pace all night long. Others do just fine, it just depends on the dog. But I would say most prefer to be outside.
 

Southern by choice

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In a word- NO

Akitas are NOT livestock guardians. PERIOD.

Akitas are great family gaurdians and are very powerful and strong yet their demeanor and ability to do what LGD's do are just not the same.

Peoples pet dogs kill more livestock than coyotes do.
Can you train your Akita to be poultry safe. Probably. Although the breed is not known for it's obedience compliance. They are not wired for actual LGD work.

Even those that have animals that they train to not touch livestock are not and will not be LGD's.
 

cjc

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I contacted a dog trainer in our area when we were looking for a farm dog. We were looking for a dog that could come in the house, was good with people and other dogs as well as good with the herd. Good with protecting and good by not killing them! Akita was actually on the top of the list of recommendations. To be honest the only personal experience I have with them is bad in the sense of I have only met one and it was really aggressive towards me, but, when I was looking so many people had wonderful things to say about them in terms of a farm dog.

We ended up with a Decker Hunting Terrier aka Giant Rat Terrier. The dog is a cow whisperer and amazing at keeping unwanted animals off the property, but he is only 40lbs so depending on what you are dealing with it in your area size is important. This dog was said to have prey drive, they are hunters. We tried allowing him to interact with the chickens at a young age as recommended by the trainer and the breeder. At first he was uninterested and then at about 3 months old he killed one. The wild thing about him too is that he doesn't just kill them he also eats what he kills!

My point is that if Akita's do have that prey drive maybe it's not the best dog choice. We just had to change things, the chickens can not roam the property. Our prey driven dog works for us because we made edits to our life, so I wouldn't count the Akita out for that alone.
 

samssimonsays

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In a word- NO

Akitas are NOT livestock guardians. PERIOD.

Akitas are great family gaurdians and are very powerful and strong yet their demeanor and ability to do what LGD's do are just not the same.

Peoples pet dogs kill more livestock than coyotes do.
Can you train your Akita to be poultry safe. Probably. Although the breed is not known for it's obedience compliance. They are not wired for actual LGD work.

Even those that have animals that they train to not touch livestock are not and will not be LGD's.
The original post did not want one for an LGD. I suggested an LGD instead of an Akita ;) just if it could be ok when let out with chickens in the yard.
 

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