A Home in the Country: Rural Farming
As city life becomes increasingly fast-paced, marked by phone notifications and rushing deadlines, many Americans feel more drawn to country life. Of course, we can’t make the move without our BFF (best furry friend)!
And yet, living in the country is not as easy-going as one may imagine. There are countless matters to attend to when running a homestead, and some dogs are more suited for farm life than others. It’s important to know what makes a good companion for a homestead and we’re here to help you!
Here are some important tips to consider when choosing a dog breed for your rural farm or homestead.
What Makes a Dog Farm-Friendly?
A homestead is a home located in a rural area, typically with less industry, people and noise. Homesteads are designed to be self-sufficient, meaning they produce some or most of the resources they need to live. Many homesteads own livestock and have a farm. It’s not for everyone, but life in the country can be a peaceful and rewarding experience and it teaches you to be self-sufficient.
Before choosing a dog as a homestead companion, the first thing to consider is how farm-friendly the dog is. This means considering the dog’s personality, such as its prey drive and homing instinct, as well as its physical characteristics, such as its coat.
Setting Goals for Your Pup on the Farm
You must also ask yourself what goals or purpose you have for your dog on your homestead. This is a good idea for two reasons: firstly, a dog with a job does much better than a dog without a job. Secondly, knowing what your goals are will determine which breed is a better fit for your homestead.
For instance, if you are concerned about vermin, there are dogs that are better suited to catch vermin and pests. For example, you could consider a fox terrier as they typically have a high prey drive towards small rodent animals such as rats and raccoons. If you would like for your dog to help with herding animals, dogs from the “herding” group will make great companions. If you would like your dog to protect your livestock, then a great pyrenees with a high guardian instinct would do very well.
Low-Prey Drive: Will they eat the chickens?
Not only does a homestead aim to be self-sufficient in general, but much of the income they receive comes from selling animal products like eggs and milk. This means that the farm animals need to be protected at all times, especially the small ones like chickens.
A prey drive is a dog’s instinct to hunt or play with small animals. Most dogs have a prey-drive, including herding dogs like the border collie, but this doesn’t mean they’ll attack small animals. However, dogs with a strong prey-drive, such as beagles and greyhounds, may threaten your livestock.
This concerns not only the integrity of your poultry but also your dog’s security. Dogs with a high prey-drive tend to run off into other residences, which poses many dangers for them. They could be confronted by aggressive dogs or even hurt by laser fences or land owners concerned for their own livestock.
Breeds known for having low prey drives are pugs, labs, golden retrievers, and great pyrenees.
Homing Instinct: Will they wander off?
The second thing to consider is your dog’s homing instinct. A dog’s homing instinct is their instincts to stay close to home. The country offers open spaces where dogs can easily wander off and risk getting lost, hurt, or shot. Some dogs are instinctively drawn to staying home, while others may be more adventurous. These breeds include the Shar-pei, with its adventurous and stubborn personality, and the Siberian Husky, with its natural inclination to roam.
A strong homing instinct discourages your dog from wandering off and helps them return home if they do find themselves too far away. Through their keen sense of smell, dogs familiarize themselves with the scents surrounding its territory, which aids it in returning home. An important detail to consider is that dogs that are stimulated and have an activity will be less prone to wandering off.
Breeds with a strong homing instinct include pugs, spaniels, corgis, and golden retrievers.
Pet coating: is their coat field-friendly?
The third thing to consider is your dog’s coat. Pet coating is a crucial subject to keep in mind when taking a dog to the country. On farmland, a dog will be in an area deeply embedded in dust, mud and grass. In time, a pet’s coat will start to become matted, tangly and dirty, often hurting the dog if not groomed properly. On a farm or homestead, its always best to opt for a breed with an easy-to-maintain coat.
This is especially true for dog breeds with long hair instead of fur, like the Maltese, Afghan Hound, the Shih Tzu, Yorkies, and Mini Poodles. These breeds may develop dreadlocks and have thorny sticks and filth stuck on their hair that can be hard to remove.
Dogs with fur have two coats: one serves as a raincoat to wick water away, while the other is like armor and gives them solid protection from additional threats. Also, dogs who shed are much more conditioned to be in the countryside. Shedding serves a unique purpose: a dog’s coat is renewed during shedding, keeping it clean and free from filth.
Dogs with field-friendly coats include the mountain mastiff, border collie, and the Australian shepherd.
Active and Alert to Dangers
If you are looking for a dog to protect your homestead or your livestock, it’s important to choose a breed that stays on high alert but won’t attack on a whim. Most of the strangers that will come to your homestead will not pose a threat, so you don’t want your dog prone to attacking. However, an active dog will keep a watchful eye while remaining self-restrained and controlled, limiting their aggression to barking.
Some excellent guardian breeds are German shepherd, Akita, Australian shepherd, and boxer.
Provide your Dog with Proper Training
Dogs such as in the “herding” category will have strong instincts to perform their duty with minimal or no training. However, it is possible to train dogs to stay home, to bark and not attack, as well as not to play with small animals. Before taking your pet to the countryside, ensure that your dog is trained to follow your command. Training your dog is more than ensuring they’ll adapt well in the country, but it’s also an essential bonding experience between you and your countryside companion.
Living Your Best Life in the Country
The country is a powerful place where nature thrives and reigns. Whether you go to the countryside to spend some quiet time in nature, or if you plan on being self-sufficient by bearing the fruits of your labor, the experience is much more rewarding when shared with your furry best friend. With proper planning, you can live your best life in the country and spend days between dusk and dawn, delighted in nature.
