Multiple dogs for multiple purposes?

[wyojdubya]

Who here has different dogs to serve different purposes? I'm at an inflection point-my bird dog (a lab) died two years ago and his brother, a guard dog (Rhodesian ridgeback/pitt mix) is in his last days. Accordingly, I'm thinking about my canine needs, and which dog comes next.

My aims are noted below, with initial thoughts about how I might meet them. I'd greatly appreciate the collective wisdom here on where I'm right, wrong, or otherwise.

-Family dog and bird hunting: I have two little kids, spend lots of time hunting waterfowl in southwest Idaho, and 7 or so days every year chasing chukar, huns, quail, and pheasant in Idaho and Oregon. Our last lab was great, and I'm inclined to get another one to fill this role.

-Livestock guard dog: We live on a multi-acre, irrigated property, and want to add livestock to our efforts. But, we have yotes, foxes, raptors, and a host of other predators that can pick off sheep, chickens, and geese. I'm thinking an Anatolian or a Pyrenees would fit this bill (I've spent lots of time with the latter working on a sheep ranch, but those dogs were trained to be suspicious even of humans).

-Big game hunting companion: I spend a couple weeks every year chasing big game in the back country, much of it solo, and occasionally in dangerous bear country. I'd love to have the extra senses of a canine on these trips, as well as the companionship. The other thread on this subject got me thinking about a heeler--my first dog as a kid, Abby, and one of the best I've had.

Am I crazy to think I should get multiple dogs for multiple purposes? In what order should I proceed? I'm inclined to get the lab first, take care of the family and bird hunting needs, and have it as a big game companion, too. Maybe not long thereafter get the guard dog, given the independent task, and spend time getting the two acquainted. Then, after 3-4 years, add the heeler as a new family/mountain dog.

Please share your experience, tell me where my thinking is wrong, and how I should tackle the multi-need problem. I'd much appreciate any input.

 

[Billy Goat]

I currently have 3 Great Pyrenees, 2 Border Collies, and a Lab.

Guard dogs cam be a real PIA, I'm lucky with 2 I have, and really happy the third has gotten old enough to not be an issue. He was a good guard dog, but if he got loose he took off. One I currently have I can't keep in, she climbs over gates, digs under, whatever it takes, but is bonded well. Hardly leaves the farm, and only when stock is in a boundary field. They are docile, too many people around here to have aggressive guard dogs. They aren't pets, they are working dogs, they get some attention, but really just enough to keep them around and so you can get ahold of them.

Border Collies are of course working dogs too. They can be weird dogs, extremely high drive, sometimes hard headed, but have a purpose.

The Lab, I spent a long time looking for a bird dog, buddy had an accidental breeding and I got one. Trained him up for waterfowl, a little upland, haven't hunted nearly as much now. He's getting older, coming up on 10 and is the pet. Actually pretty useful working sheep, he doesn't have an outrun, but listens well enough to push them and is helpful loading trailers, working the funnel of the chute.


I have zero experience with chickens and Fowl around, it would be a headache training a dog to leave them alone for a while. My lab is fine around chickens at a friend's house, my guard dogs would probably have a field day.

Good fences is going to be a good starting point. My experience with Great Pyrenees is a long adolescent period and they need a companion to play with, will tear up your stock if they dont have another dog. I'd recommend getting one several years old that is trained, then adding another that will learn off the other. Playing with a dog of a different purpose likely won't end up well, tho if handled properly might not be the end of the world.

 

[wyojdubya]

I currently have 3 Great Pyrenees, 2 Border Collies, and a Lab.

Guard dogs cam be a real PIA, I'm lucky with 2 I have, and really happy the third has gotten old enough to not be an issue. He was a good guard dog, but if he got loose he took off. One I currently have I can't keep in, she climbs over gates, digs under, whatever it takes, but is bonded well. Hardly leaves the farm, and only when stock is in a boundary field. They are docile, too many people around here to have aggressive guard dogs. They aren't pets, they are working dogs, they get some attention, but really just enough to keep them around and so you can get ahold of them.

Border Collies are of course working dogs too. They can be weird dogs, extremely high drive, sometimes hard headed, but have a purpose.

The Lab, I spent a long time looking for a bird dog, buddy had an accidental breeding and I got one. Trained him up for waterfowl, a little upland, haven't hunted nearly as much now. He's getting older, coming up on 10 and is the pet. Actually pretty useful working sheep, he doesn't have an outrun, but listens well enough to push them and is helpful loading trailers, working the funnel of the chute.


I have zero experience with chickens and Fowl around, it would be a headache training a dog to leave them alone for a while. My lab is fine around chickens at a friend's house, my guard dogs would probably have a field day.

Good fences is going to be a good starting point. My experience with Great Pyrenees is a long adolescent period and they need a companion to play with, will tear up your stock if they dont have another dog. I'd recommend getting one several years old that is trained, then adding another that will learn off the other. Playing with a dog of a different purpose likely won't end up well, tho if handled properly might not be the end of the world.

Great input here, especially about starting with an experienced guard dog and taking caution mixing purposes. Thank you.