Working the Goats with the Best Herding Dogs Breeds.

Anyone who has worked with goats will agree they are probably the most mischievous of all domesticated animals. A herd will never miss escapees, stubborn bucks, and a few renegades. As such, driving an entire herd single handedly can be physically draining and frustrating; and this is where man’s best friend comes in handy.

There is a long list of both guardian and herding dogs, each with its own unique subset of characteristics. The herding character of dogs is basically modified predatory instinct, which is adapted to maintain its hunting skills but at the same time not treat livestock like prey. A few include the Kelpies, Koolies, and Heelers. Guardian dogs or LGDs are protectors; they follow herds, blend in, and aggressively defend stock from intruders.

For goat owners in particular, some types that are beneficial include the Great Pyrenees, Analtonian, Appenzeller Sennenhund, Australian shepherds, Border Collie and Maremma Sheepdogs among others. Pyrenees in particular have exceptional protective instinct and bond well with goats straight from birth. Some dogs have been known to nurse orphaned kids and even eat goat feed.
Alternatively, the Australian Kelpie is excellent at herding and mustering livestock with minimal or no supervision. Kelpies like to ‘head’; that is budge animals from the front, turn them around and assemble them towards the herder. So all you need to do is walk to where you want the herd, and the Kelpie brings the party to you. This skill is especially priceless when flocking goats since they always tend to diverge and roam. Because Australia is world-renowned for livestock herding, Australian stockdogs provide outstanding help for goat herding.

There are plenty of breeds that work well with goats. The Labrador is generally calm, loyal, never wanders, and is quite gentle with young goats and at the same time barks menacingly at rebel and jumpy goats. Golden retrievers are happy and sociable dogs with exceptional smelling and hearing that is very vital in pinpointing lurking danger. Most herding and guardian dogs harmonize with all types of livestock including goats with just a simple whistle or one-word commands.

On the other hand, be careful not to get dogs that may harm your goats. Before you run to the nearest pet shop or dog trainer, Husky dogs are one such breed. Many people who have acquired Huskies have learned that the hard way. With a natural instinct to wander and hunt, it is unsafe to have them around young goats.

If you intend on getting a dog for goats, do some research about dogs and their characteristics, and most especially their compatibility with goats. Ensure you get one from a reputable breeder and take proper care of them.